Don't Turn Back (Coming Home Book 1) (4 page)

BOOK: Don't Turn Back (Coming Home Book 1)
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Fine, if that’s the way she wanted to be, she could have her way. It was inevitable that we were headed in the wrong direction. Her constant complaining and whining had begun to get on my nerves. While I really wanted to blame her for our problems, I knew, deep inside, everything had been my fault. 

Looking back to how it all got started that night, we had been planning a nice dinner with a few friends when the evening had imploded. Macy had discovered a slight oversight on my part and, basically, ended our relationship right there on the spot. She kicked me out and wouldn’t give me a chance to explain. There was so much animosity between us that night, she had told me I needed to come back later to get my things. She couldn’t stand to look at me for another single minute.

The next morning, I had parked just off to the side in the lot of the apartment complex and watched her as she got into her car to head to work. When I felt it was safe, I pulled up to the apartment and used my key to get inside to grab my things. I guess she forgot last night when she was kicking me to the curb that I still had my key to the apartment. Rather than wait for her to come home tonight to get my belongings like she had suggested, I entered the apartment and pulled my duffel bag from the closet. I grabbed my clothes, even throwing in a few extra things that belonged to her--a blanket, a towel, a pillow, and some junk food from the pantry. While tossing the food in my bag, I figured I probably needed to eat something for breakfast. I reached on top of the refrigerator for the container that held the bread. I popped a few pieces of bread into the toaster and hoped it would be enough to hold me over ‘til lunch. I glanced through the pantry for the peanut butter and stumbled across a container with something unusual-looking inside. Laughing to myself, I couldn’t believe my eyes. How had I never stumbled over this before? I pulled out the folded bills and started to count. It was only four hundred dollars, but since I had decided it would be best if I left town permanently and not knowing where I was headed, it was enough to get me to my next stop. Sure, she would be pissed when she realized her hidden stash of money was gone, but let’s face it, stashing it in the Tupperware container in the back of the pantry wasn’t exactly the best hiding spot on her part. Besides, I looked at it as payment for me to get away from her. I tucked the money in my front jean’s pocket and didn’t feel the least bit guilty about it.

On a few occasions, I would sleep over at my brother’s house, if the fighting with Macy got to be too much. One night, my brother Jake told me, “Man, just grow up, will you? Get a job, take on some responsibilities, and just please stop being an embarrassment to the family.” 

Jake had worked hard and saved up enough money to buy himself a fancy new truck. Feeling sorry for his little brother, he passed down his old silver Honda to me. The car had so many miles on it, I’m surprised it still ran, but each time I got behind the wheel, I would always cross my fingers and say a little prayer that it would hold up and get me where I needed to go. So far, the car was still hanging in there and I was thankful.

Throwing everything in the backseat, I backed out of the driveway quickly, causing the tires to squeal on the pavement. I was anxious to get away from the apartment in case someone happened to see me. I had no idea where I was going, but I decided I would drive as far away as I could to get away from everything that had turned against me lately. The money wouldn’t last long, but it would take me far enough away until I could decide what my next step would be.

So I drove. I traveled from one end of the state to the opposite end. I figured this was about as far away as I needed to be to start fresh-- away from a whining ex-girlfriend, away from my old life and bad habits, away from everything and anyone who knew me. No one was going to tell me how to live my life. A fresh start was just what I needed to rebuild my self-confidence.

Hours later, the red light had come on, indicating the gas was running low. I was really tired and had been battling a massive headache for the last few hours. I was also mentally exhausted, despite having no set plans, so I pulled off of the interstate at the last exit before crossing the state line. The sign on the side of the road said this was Morgantown, ‘Home of the Bears’. “Morgantown, now that’s a nice enough name,” I mumbled to myself in a sarcastic tone, wondering if I would be able to blend in here, unnoticed. 

I drove through a couple of red lights and pulled into a hotel parking lot. I hated to park so close to the front; I preferred to park further out, towards the highway, hoping not to draw any attention to myself, but all of those spots were full. It appeared a bar was next door to the hotel, so I assumed those patrons were spilling over into the hotel parking lot. Not wanting to waste any money on a hotel room, especially since I had used over a hundred dollars already just on fuel alone throughout the day, I opted for the parking lot for a quick nap. I figured I could grab a couple hours of sleep, get gas in the morning, and check out the town to see if there was an opportunity out there for me. Maybe even start looking for a job.

It’s still dark in the early morning hours. I get out of the car and stretch my legs. My muscles are tired and stiff from the drive yesterday and from being stuck in the front seat for so long. I walk across the street to the gas station and into the bathroom. Looking at myself in the mirror, I see just how tired I really am. My eyes have dark circles under them, and my hair is looking pretty rough, sticking out in all directions. Good thing I put my baseball cap on before I left the car. I am going to need a shower soon since I’ve been on the road for a full day. The last thing I needed was to start smelling since I had no idea when I would be able to shower again.

After leaving the restroom, I walk over to the soft drinks section and grab a Coke. I glance at some other snacks displayed, and decide on a bag of chips. Hopefully the caffeine will kick in and help ease the dull pain of my headache still lingering from the previous night. I grab a travel size package of ibuprofen and place everything on the counter. I pull out the wad of cash I have shoved in my front pocket, oblivious as one of the bills falls from my pocket to the floor. I hand the guy behind the counter a twenty. As he is giving me the change, I nod and thank him, never glancing towards the ground.

“You must be new around here. Never seen you before.” The guy says to me. 

“Yeah, you could say I’m new here. Looks like a pretty nice place.” I answer him, grabbing the bag containing my purchases and head for the door.
How the hell am I supposed to know if this is a nice place or not?
I’ve only been here a short time, and it was dark when I first came into town. It’s not like I could have really seen anything. 

I really don’t feel like talking to anyone, I just want to take the medicine and hope it eases this headache.

I get back into my car and straighten the pillow, before laying back the seat. The pillow still had a distinctive perfume smell that reminds me of Macy, but I quickly push any thought of her from my mind and drift off to sleep almost immediately. Right now, I just want to get rid of this stubborn headache.

I’m jolted awake from the sound, I assume, of a car door being slammed. Rubbing my eyes, I sit up in the seat and glance around me. For a moment, I don’t recognize where I am. The sun is shining bright, and I really wish I could remember where I left my sunglasses. I notice a couple getting into the car parked beside me, so I glance in my rearview mirror, pretending to be looking for something, not wanting to draw attention to myself. 

While looking in my mirror, I notice a girl in her early twenties or so, walk out of the hotel entrance, and head towards the parking lot.
She must work here
, I think to myself. While I follow her in the mirror, I see she glances towards my car while shaking her head, and I slide down in the seat hoping she doesn’t notice me. The last thing I need is for someone to start asking me any questions.

After a few seconds, when I feel it’s safe, I sit back up in my seat and watch as the car she got into pulls out of the parking lot and disappears into the flow of traffic. 

I look around then rub my face. “Well, well Brian, let’s see what you can get into today?”

It’s kind of nice not having to be anywhere at any certain time or answering to anyone. With nothing better to do, I lock the car up and start walking down the street.

 

 

 

 

 

I wake up some time in the middle of the afternoon. At first, I think it’s later in the evening than what it actually is because the room is dark instead of light, but then I hear rain drops falling outside. Funny how the sun was bright and shining this morning when I left work, but now it’s so gloomy and drab. This definitely makes for a great afternoon to stay inside and watch some television. I don’t have any classes today, so I just decide to take it easy and relax around my apartment. Working nights sometimes confuses me, and I often have to check the calendar on my phone just to know what day it is.

I glance over at my phone for any missed calls or texts, and find nothing. I fix a bite to eat and grab the remote from the coffee table. An hour of channel surfing goes by, and I decide to do some laundry before getting ready to go back to work tonight. I am very fortunate to have my own washer and dryer in my apartment unit. It’s so much more convenient being able to do my laundry any time I need to, instead of having to haul everything to the Laundromat. 

I call Rebecca at work to see how things are going. I hate that she has to work the three to ten shift alone, but at least we are able to catch up for a few minutes when I arrive for my own shift at ten.

“Please tell me that car has finally moved from my parking spot,” I say while laughing. It’s funny that the car has become somewhat of a joke between us. 

“Actually, Jenn, it’s still here. I noticed it when I arrived earlier this afternoon. I should probably check our computer records and see if there is anyone staying multiple nights who gave that vehicle description.”

“You’ve got to be kidding me.” I joke.

“Well, from the looks of it, it should be towed. I don’t know how that clunker made it here in the first place,” Rebecca says.

“Well, make sure it’s gone by the time I come in tonight; I want to be able to park in my spot again. Let me know if you need me to bring you anything. I’ll see you in a little while,” I tell her as I hang up the phone.

I run a tub full of hot water, adding a little bubble bath, and soak for a few minutes. As the water starts to cool, I turn on the shower to wash my hair. By the time I’m finished, my fingers are all wrinkled.  

I dress for work in my typical hotel attire: red polo shirt with the hotel logo on the front, and khaki pants. I allow myself plenty of time to get there should I get stuck behind another slow driver again tonight. It’s Friday night, so traffic will be heavier on the highway, but I make sure I arrive on time. Punctuality was a valuable lesson I learned from my parents. 

I turn into the hotel parking lot and sure enough, the silver Honda is still parked in my spot. By the looks of it, I honestly don’t think that the car has been moved all day.
Grrr
, I think to myself as I pull into the vacant spot beside it.

Looking over at the Honda, even though it’s dark, I see that the car appears to be empty. I grab all of my things from the front seat and head inside.

Walking into the hotel office, I speak to Rebecca and put my things away. “Jeez Rebecca, I thought you were going to make sure that car was gone.” We both laugh.

“I checked our records and couldn’t find any guests registered to stay multiple nights using that vehicle description. Maybe someone is just passing through to visit family and decided to leave their car here.”

“Oh well, it’s not like it’s going to make it too much farther down the road anyway, judging by the looks of it.” 

“You will probably look up later on tonight and see it’s gone and never get the opportunity to tell the driver how you feel about them taking your spot. Maybe I should get you a ‘Jennifer’s parking spot’ sign for Christmas in case something like this happens again.” Rebecca jokes as she gathers her things, ready to call it a night. 

BOOK: Don't Turn Back (Coming Home Book 1)
3.67Mb size Format: txt, pdf, ePub
ads

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