Jolted (Conflicted Encounters #1) (34 page)

"You listening?" he asked when I failed to respond after a while.
 

"Yes," I answered quickly. "Just a lot to take in."

"You'll do great," he affirmed. "It's just temporary, until I get sprung from here. Then I will pull some strings and get you back into Georgetown."

I just nodded. That was a battle for another day. I could only focus on one thing right now in order to stay sane. I just had to make it through this obstacle, keep the store afloat, and then I could work on the next step. I played with my bracelet while he made a phone call and instructed Ivan to deliver some things to the house for me.
 

We made small talk until his lunch arrived. He never once asked where I was or what I was doing. I could tell several times, whenever there was a lull in conversation, he wanted to ask. His face went tense, but he kept his mouth tightly snapped shut. I even saw a few warning glares my mom shot his way.
 

I let out a huge breath when I came out the glass doors of the hospital. We walked back to our car in the parking garage and my mom drove us home. I texted Ryder all the way back, telling him my dad didn't yell at me. I told him I was to start managing the downtown branch.
 

You will do amazing bc u r amazing - R

I'm nervous :(

Don't. U will kick ass. I love u - R

Love you too. Miss you
.
 

Later that evening, Ivan showed up with a large box of files for me. He briefly went over the employees with me, the layout of the merchandise, and some of the rules of the mall. I tried to focus and soak in all the information he was giving me. My mind just wandered to Ryder and how much I wanted to be with him. I was just starting to learn a different side of him, a sweeter and softer side, and wasn't ready to be away from that yet.
 

I knew now, from my time with him, that I didn't want to do this anymore. I didn't want to spend the rest of my life in a fancy store, selling overpriced and cookie-cutter diamonds to snotty and rude people. I missed the diner. I missed my regulars and the atmosphere. I missed watching Ryder work on a car and Scarlett doodle in her room.
 

I didn't want to return to school for business. I wanted to have fun in my college years, like other girls my age did. I wanted to live in a dorm, go to parties, and dance. I realized in the few months I spent away from home, how much I was missing out in life.
 

"Kallie?" Ivan asked.
 

"What? I'm sorry," I apologized. "It's been a long day."

He studied my face for a moment before sighing. "Look, I know this probably doesn't sound like much fun for you, but I'll be here for you. I will still be at the store in Cleveland almost everyday. You won't be completely on your own with this."

"Thank you," I said to be polite. It didn't really make me feel any better.
 

The next morning, I parked in a parking garage in Tower City and made my way up the escalators to the lobby of the mall. I quickly spotted our sign on the second floor. I used the keys Ivan gave me and lifted the gate up to unlock our door. The scent of Windex assaulted me as soon as I stepped in. It was a familiar smell, reminding me that I've done this for years.

I sipped my coffee and went about opening the store. I started up the computers and turned on the case lights. I took some time to inspect the new jewelry we had on display. Tasteful. Elegant. Boring. The employees greeted me as they arrived for the day. Most seemed nice, but I'm the boss’s daughter. That was something I was always burdened with. You never knew who really liked you, or who was fake.

The days flew by and I soon fell into a familiar routine, acting almost on instinct. I sold thousands of dollars worth of jewels to old rich men. I watched couples come and go, not being able to afford the engagement ring the woman wants. When the store was closing, I almost didn't realize I was there for twelve hours. It was like riding a bike, I thought.
 

Kallie

Weeks went by the same. Hundreds, if not thousands, of minutes spent on the phone. Thousands of text messages and hundreds of pictures sent back and forth. I missed him with everything in my body. I fantasized about just leaving, getting in my car, leaving the store behind, and driving back to him. He insisted I needed to finish up here. He wouldn't be responsible for me bailing.
 

My dad was finally released from the hospital a couple weeks after I came home. He wasn't well enough to put in the hours, so I was still needed. After a month, they rented me a loft apartment downtown. It was closer to the store and I could have some "independence", as my dad claimed. I think it was their way of making it up to me for forcing me do this for them.

My dad ran the branch in Chardon, close to home, and I ran the Cleveland branch. Ivan floated between the two, going wherever he was needed. I never had down time. I worked all day and spent most of my nights catching up on stuff that didn't get done while I was there during the day. I kept thinking that if I got enough done, I wouldn't be needed anymore. My office in my apartment became a second addition to the business.
 

The days got busier and shorter as winter came. Christmas season almost killed me, with extended hours and the holiday shoppers coming in mobs. I walked out the night before Christmas Eve, admiring the decorations in the building. Garland and lights hung over the balconies. Christmas music played loudly over the speakers as I passed the tallest decorated tree I had ever seen.
 

I made the short walk to my apartment, admiring the city lit up along the way. I shivered as I entered my apartment. I kicked off my snowy boots and hung up my coat and scarf by the door. I put on water to boil and went to my bedroom to change. After getting into something warm and comfortable, I poured some tea and sat on the couch, ready to go over the estimated quarter earnings.
 

I missed Ryder immensely. My calls were getting shorter and shorter to him, and the texts were becoming scarce. I dialed his number, knowing it was too late for him to answer. After leaving him a short voicemail, I tossed my phone to the glass coffee table. I walked to the tall windows and looked out over the city and the coast of the lake.
 

I wondered when I would be released from my chains. I thought of my tattoo and the birds gaining their freedom. There was a time when I realized I was those birds. I thought I was breaking free, free to fly and come into my own.

I went backwards, though. I regretted it everyday that I came home. I felt lonely and overwhelmed every second. I wanted to come home at night and curl up to Ryder. I wanted his arms to hold me and tell me everything would be okay. Instead, I come home and worked only to get up and work again the next day.
 

I wanted to laugh again. I couldn't remember the last time I did. I was twenty-two years old. I shouldn't be sitting alone in my apartment looking over spreadsheets. I should be at a bar with friends. I should be making out with my boyfriend, not missing the rare phone calls. I became everything my family wanted me to be. Even without Carter, I had a path built for me and I was forced to follow it. This time, I walked the path alone.

When spring time came, the world around me woke up and defrosted. The flowers began to bloom and the fresh smell in the air reminded me of growth and new beginnings. I walked down the stairs of my parents home and started my new car, a car I knew would make the journey I needed to make.
 

I looked at the text I received this morning. It was the text that became the last straw and I broke. I had to go back. My life became everything I was once running from, and I didn't even see it happening. I pressed the start button on the dash and pulled out of the driveway. I looked back once to see my mother watching from the doorway.

It had been almost six months since I had been back there. A place I once though of as home was now nothing more that a place I once visited. I found love there and then left it behind. I hadn’t seen Ryder in person since the day I pulled away from his parking lot. Would it be too late? Did he wait for me or did my lack of communication push him away? Would he still love me?

Sometimes, something jolts you out of everything you have ever known and it isn't possible to go back to the way things were. I had been jolted, thrown around, and shook up. It was time I picked up the pieces and put them back together.
 

Acknowledgments

I would like to start off by thanking my family for always believing I could do anything.
 

Thank you to my husband for cooking, cleaning, and listening to me ramble about imaginary people and hypothetical events. You have no idea how much I appreciate that you listen (or pretend to) as I babble on and on. You have been patient, supportive, and understanding. For that, I think I'll keep you around. Thank you also for your knowledge on cars so I didn't sound like an idiot.
 

Huge hugs to Bedroom Bookworms, Megan and Trish. Thank you for your time and taking a chance on me when no else did. Megan, I love you for your LONG emails and notes with this story. :) I enjoyed discussing my characters and story with you. Without you, Ryder and Kallie would be having unprotected sex!

I need to thank the absolute best beta readers in the world. Cassie, Megan, Missy, Ashley, and Kat. Each of you added something to this book and made it better. I have no doubt this would be crap without you all! Make sure you keep hassling me for book two… I need it. Thank you to Taylor at T.K. Editing. You are amazing!
 

Thank you for taking time to read Jolted. If you enjoyed it, please consider telling your friends or posting a short review. Word of mouth is an author’s best friend and much appreciated.
 

About the Author

Alyne Roberts

Alyne lives in Ohio with her husband, dog and cat. Working full time in an office all day, she spends her nights reading, writing, or watching an entire TV series in a night. She refuses to grow up and loves Disney movies and anything with owls. She couldn't live without her coffee or her furry "children".

Find her at:

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