Bless the Broken Road that Lead Me Straight to You

Chapter 7

Erin woke up the following morning feeling lighter than she had in days, her mind full of Jay Halstead. Her thoughts of him were uninterrupted and she continued her daydream even as she got out of bed and put on her running gear.

This morning, she wouldn't run to clear her head. She didn't need to. She wasn't thinking of Olivia, or Ben, or her apartment. Instead, she felt comfortable with the thoughts swimming around her head - Jay's sexy grin, Maddie's adorable laugh, Grace's shy smile - and she had no reason to push them away.

Two years ago, she and Olivia had trained to run a half marathon. She hadn't particularly enjoyed running at the same, and she had desperately wanted to be one of those people. The type that actually enjoyed waking up early to run with the sunrise; the type that asked for new running shoes for Christmas. Olivia had actually been one of those people, and she had convinced Erin that the best way to transform yourself into a runner was to sign up for a race. To create a deadline for yourself that was difficult, but attainable.

She would be lying if she said the idea of new running shoes as a Christmas present excited her, but throughout the weeks of training she had learned to appreciate running and she had since designated Sunday mornings as her 'long run' of the week.

Jay lived in the suburbs of Chicago, but the distance was doable. She slipped on her favorite activewear, black spandex leggings with a light blue racerback tank-top underneath her dark grey lululemon half zip.

As she walked into the kitchen to grab a bottle of water, she noticed for the first time that the house was quiet and empty. Hank must have already left for work. She slipped her license, a credit card, and a house key along with her cell phone into the black stretchy band she strapped around her left arm. She plugged in her head phones, and started off for Jay's.

It took her almost an hour and a half to reach her destination, and she stood for several more minutes outside his apartment complex stretching and kneading her tired muscles. The 10 mile run had been primarily uphill, and she was more exhausted than usual.

She waited until her breathing evened and then entered the lobby of the apartment building. She found a mirror and fixed her hair, all the while wishing she had the forethought to bring something to wash her face with. And maybe some mascara. Oh well, she thought. This will just have to do.

She took the elevator up to his apartment and then walked purposefully towards the door. She stopped outside and her breathing quickened, she almost lost her nerve. You're here for work, Erin, she reassured herself. It's fine. She finally relaxed when she realized that if she seemed out of breath or her face turned a deep shade of crimson when she saw him, he would attribute it to the long run. Even if it wasn't... not entirely, anyway.

She knocked anxiously, but the nervousness disappeared completely when she saw who stood on the other side of the threshold. "Maddie Halstead," she laughed, "Are you supposed to be opening the door?"

She shook her head shyly, as it to say No, but please don't tell. Instead she just asked, "Am I in trouble?" Then, she immediately pouted her lips a little and fluttered her eyelashes over her big blue eyes. The one's that matched her dad's.

"No," she laughed again. God, she was cute. "Not with me, anyway." She said, as she eyed Jay walking up the hallway behind her.

"Oh because Ms. Annie always calls me Maddie Halstead when I'm in trouble." She contorted her face and furrowed her brows when she voiced her full name, but then lost herself in a fit of giggles.

"She does?" That sounds like Annie.

Maddie nodded, still giggling. Maddie still hadn't noticed her father standing behind her and Erin couldn't help herself when she asked, "What does your daddy call you when you're in trouble?"