Read Online Full Circle by Jennifer Simpkins, Peri Elizabeth Scott - Free Book Online
Authors: Jennifer Simpkins, Peri Elizabeth Scott
Ads: Link
everything.”
“I can’t put my finger on it, except three or four days ago I was running along the waterfront. It was late, probably around ten or so. Nobody was out, but I was okay with that. You know me, I always run that late. Been doing it since I was a teenager.”
“Please tell me you carried your pepper spray,” Ellie said. Seaside had always been a safe town with the occasional teenage rebellion of course, but everyone took precautions as time drew closer to the tourist months.
“Work ran longer than usual, which had me getting home a lot later. I was trying to get my run in since I’d had to miss the night before because I was meeting with my boss, going over ideas for dad and Renee’s wedding. I don’t like to miss two nights in a row. Rushing out the door, I forgot it. But I didn’t forget my keys. That’s a plus.”
“No, it’s not. That’s it, I’m buying you one of those small cans you can put on your key ring. Kills two birds with one stone.” Ellie had already had this talk with Mia, but Mia being Mia always forgot something. It was a wonder she’d survived alone out in California those few years. “Now, back to your run.”
“I had my ear buds in, jamming to Mumford & Sons. I was passing where Henry Johnstone keeps his tour guide boat when I caught a glimpse of a man. He was leaning against the railing, facing the water. As I approached him, I didn’t think anything about it. But the closer I got, he turned toward me. He resembled someone who’d been living in the woods for the past year. Hair down to here.” Mia gestured to her shoulders. “A wooly beard that would put the Duck Dynasty boys to shame. And I’m not sure how I know this, but he came across as a man who hadn’t smiled in a very long time.”
Mia stayed quiet for a moment, seeming to be mulling something over. Ellie was about to ask if she was leaving something out about the mystery man—who she now knew wasn’t just a rumor being passed around town—when Mia closed her eyes and shook her head, as if clearing her thoughts.
“Now that I think about it, it was silly of me to run screaming in the night. It’s all because of dad. He put all these thoughts in my head, warning me of a stranger wandering the streets after dark. You know how much of a worry wart he is.”
“Doesn’t hurt to be cautious though. You never know about people,” Ellie said.
“I’m fine.” Mia brushed her long braid off her shoulder. “What about some more wine?”
“Sure. Be right back.”
The kitchen was situated in the back of the house. Ellie gathered the wine bottle and another glass for Mia. When she returned to the living room Mia was sitting cross-legged, the same photo album Ellie had been looking through laid open across her lap.
Without glancing from the book, Mia asked, “What did you have this old thing out for?”
“I was purging my closet and stumbled upon it.” She flat out lied. She purposely had rummaged through her closet in search for that treasured part of her childhood.
“Oh. My. God.” Mia squealed, holding the book up for Ellie to see. “Look at my hair! I can’t believe I let you talk me into a perm. Worst. Haircut. Ever.”
They both chuckled, causing Ellie to splash a few drops of wine on the coffee table. Using the bottom of her ragged T-shirt, she wiped it clean. After handing Mia her glass, Ellie palmed her own wine and joined Mia on the couch.
Mia’s mouth went wide. “You have a picture of Jacob Palmer, star quarterback for the Pirates? He was like the most popular guy in school.”
Ellie shrugged. “We went on one date when we were sophomores. He gave me one of his senior pictures.” If she recalled correctly, Jacob was the last guy she’d dated in high school. After that, she lost interest in any guy who wasn’t Heath. How sad that was, she thought now. She’d missed out on a lot those couple of years. All of her spare time went to him .
“You did? Why didn’t I know
“I can’t put my finger on it, except three or four days ago I was running along the waterfront. It was late, probably around ten or so. Nobody was out, but I was okay with that. You know me, I always run that late. Been doing it since I was a teenager.”
“Please tell me you carried your pepper spray,” Ellie said. Seaside had always been a safe town with the occasional teenage rebellion of course, but everyone took precautions as time drew closer to the tourist months.
“Work ran longer than usual, which had me getting home a lot later. I was trying to get my run in since I’d had to miss the night before because I was meeting with my boss, going over ideas for dad and Renee’s wedding. I don’t like to miss two nights in a row. Rushing out the door, I forgot it. But I didn’t forget my keys. That’s a plus.”
“No, it’s not. That’s it, I’m buying you one of those small cans you can put on your key ring. Kills two birds with one stone.” Ellie had already had this talk with Mia, but Mia being Mia always forgot something. It was a wonder she’d survived alone out in California those few years. “Now, back to your run.”
“I had my ear buds in, jamming to Mumford & Sons. I was passing where Henry Johnstone keeps his tour guide boat when I caught a glimpse of a man. He was leaning against the railing, facing the water. As I approached him, I didn’t think anything about it. But the closer I got, he turned toward me. He resembled someone who’d been living in the woods for the past year. Hair down to here.” Mia gestured to her shoulders. “A wooly beard that would put the Duck Dynasty boys to shame. And I’m not sure how I know this, but he came across as a man who hadn’t smiled in a very long time.”
Mia stayed quiet for a moment, seeming to be mulling something over. Ellie was about to ask if she was leaving something out about the mystery man—who she now knew wasn’t just a rumor being passed around town—when Mia closed her eyes and shook her head, as if clearing her thoughts.
“Now that I think about it, it was silly of me to run screaming in the night. It’s all because of dad. He put all these thoughts in my head, warning me of a stranger wandering the streets after dark. You know how much of a worry wart he is.”
“Doesn’t hurt to be cautious though. You never know about people,” Ellie said.
“I’m fine.” Mia brushed her long braid off her shoulder. “What about some more wine?”
“Sure. Be right back.”
The kitchen was situated in the back of the house. Ellie gathered the wine bottle and another glass for Mia. When she returned to the living room Mia was sitting cross-legged, the same photo album Ellie had been looking through laid open across her lap.
Without glancing from the book, Mia asked, “What did you have this old thing out for?”
“I was purging my closet and stumbled upon it.” She flat out lied. She purposely had rummaged through her closet in search for that treasured part of her childhood.
“Oh. My. God.” Mia squealed, holding the book up for Ellie to see. “Look at my hair! I can’t believe I let you talk me into a perm. Worst. Haircut. Ever.”
They both chuckled, causing Ellie to splash a few drops of wine on the coffee table. Using the bottom of her ragged T-shirt, she wiped it clean. After handing Mia her glass, Ellie palmed her own wine and joined Mia on the couch.
Mia’s mouth went wide. “You have a picture of Jacob Palmer, star quarterback for the Pirates? He was like the most popular guy in school.”
Ellie shrugged. “We went on one date when we were sophomores. He gave me one of his senior pictures.” If she recalled correctly, Jacob was the last guy she’d dated in high school. After that, she lost interest in any guy who wasn’t Heath. How sad that was, she thought now. She’d missed out on a lot those couple of years. All of her spare time went to him .
“You did? Why didn’t I know
Similar Books
