Read Online The Other Side of Love (Forever Love) by J. S. Cooper - Free Book Online Page B

I think through whatever is on my mind. Many people run to lose weight or to train for a marathon to raise money for some good cause. I run for me. I run to clear my mind from all my unanswered questions. I run to speak to God. I’m not sure when I started having conversations with Him. I’ve never been particularly religious. I didn’t grow up going to church or reading the Bible. I couldn’t tell you the names of the apostles or the gospels, but somehow I had developed a relationship with God. I think my conversations started my first night in Palm Bonita. And while I never heard a voice speaking back to me, I did always feel like I had been heard after my runs. I couldn’t stop thinking about what Sidney had said to me yesterday. I knew, in my heart of hearts, that I needed to stop letting the guilt weigh me down. But it consumed me when the lights went out and I was alone in my bed, all alone. All I could think about was Skylar and the look in her eyes when she realized that I wasn’t her savior. She had begged me to take her away from Palm Bonita, and I had said no. She didn’t know that I had tried. That I had wracked my brain trying to think of a way to save her from the life she found herself in. She’d cried. Big tears filled with sadness and fear. I could still see the look in her eyes when we’d had that last conversation. It was exactly the same as the first time I had seen her. That haunted wide-eyed look was imprinted in my mind. Now when I run, my conversations with God are angry ones, and no matter how many miles I run, I still never feel like I’ve totally cleared my mind.
    “Well , hey, there, stalker.” A voice cut into my thoughts and I looked to the side in irritation. I was surprised to see a familiar face next to me. It was the snotty girl from the restaurant. I groaned inside as I nodded at her. I really didn’t want to deal with the waitress and her issues right now. I also didn’t want to think about the spark I felt when I looked in her eyes. “No hello?” She smiled at me teasingly and I gave her a weak smile back.
    “I like to run in silence.” I spoke finally, and she looked at my earphones with a sharp stare.
    “I didn’t realize that country music was silent.”
    “I didn’t realize that Jay-Z was a country music star.”
    “Aha, so you’re listening to music.” She gave me an ‘I got you’ stare and I stifled a sigh and increased the pace of my run. She grinned at me and increased her own pace. “Trying to get away from me?”
    “Look, I don’t know you.” I shrugged and frowned at her. “We met once, and frankly you were a bit of a bitch. I’m not sure why you really care to talk to me now.” I said harshly, annoyed that I was somewhat happy inside to see her.
    “I’m sorry about the other day.” She made a face. “I had a bit of an attitude. It had been a long day. Thanks for not telling my manager.”
    “Yeah.” I kept my face straight. “No problem.”
    “Don’t you want to know what happened?”
    “Not really.”
    “Oh.” She bit her lower lip and I saw her stare at me uncertainly. “I guess I should let you run by yourself now.” Her voice sounded a bit unsure and I realized that she most probably wasn’t used to being brushed off by guys. Even among all the hot girls in Los Angeles, a girl as pretty as she was would get a lot of attention.
    “See ya around.” I nodded and continued running.
    “ Ow!” she screamed, and I paused to look behind me. She was sprawled on the concrete face down, with scratched palms and a bleeding knee.
    “You okay?” I sighed and ran back to help her up.
    “I tripped.” She stood up slowly and sighed.
    “Over?” I looked at the flat surface of the pavement in bewilderment.
    “My own two feet.” She blushed and looked away. “Thanks for the help, you can continue on your way now.” She pulled her hands away from me, and I felt suddenly bereft at the loss of her touch.
    “Look, I didn’t mean to be