Runner [Book 3; Daddy Series]

8: Surprise!

I set my phone down on the table, and sit back in my chair. Leah found me. How did she know to track my number? Why would she track my number? If I wanted her to find me I would have told her where I was, why does she always think that it's okay to bombard my personal life? I pick up my muffin and walk out the door.

It's only been about 10 minutes, if that, but I need to distract myself. So I walk across the street and decide I need to go back to work.

"Ava, it's only been 10 minutes," Linda says questioningly as I walk into the door. She's wiping off the counter with a washrag.

"I know," I shrug and walk past her to the back room, wrapping my muffin up in the Saran wrap it came with and heading back out to the front.

"Are you okay?" Linda asks, I nod quickly and she raises an eyebrow at me. She knows I'm not okay. She looks around her 50s, she's had a lot of life experience and she can probably tell when someone is lying.

"C'mon, Hun," she says pulling me to the back room again.

"I lied," I say as soon as we walk in the door.

"I know," she smiles at me, "Darlin', I've been alive quite a long time, I can tell when someone's lying."

"I ran away and I came here because I love it here, but it's not as easy as I thought it would be, and my twin sister called me and said she tracked my number and she's coming to get me and I don't know what to do." I sit down on the spiny chair, my head in my hands, "I don't want to go home," I tell her, looking up at her.

"Well, you can keep working here, so I can guarantee you a job, and it sounds like you're hotel hopping." I nod, "I have a flat more toward the center of London, I had it when my kids were still here, my son used it for him and his wife until they moved. You can live there, and pay rent, that way you aren't just out here on your own." I don't know why I'm trusting this lady with this type of information, or why I would actually stay in her house. Right now, though, it seems like the best option.

"I'd love that," I smile.

"We'll head over after we close up tonight," she smiles at me and I smile back.

---

"So, this is the kitchen, there are still a few things here from when my son stayed here, but not much. You might want to go out and buy some things." She walks down a short hallway, "this is the bedroom, and right here is the bathroom, and you saw the living room right next to the kitchen."

"This is such a cute little place," I say as we walk back to the living room.

"Yeah, well, here's the key, I'll be off. Have a good night, Ava," she says and walks out the door.

I decide to walk around the apartment, to figure out what type of things are here. I walk into the kitchen and open the cupboards, there are about five plates, two or three mugs, and a few cups. After searching through everything in the apartment, I found silverware, a few towels, a washer and dryer in the hall closet, some extra blankets and laundry soap.

"What're you up to?" my text to Mason says. I decide to unpack all of my stuff, and by all I mean the little amount of things I brought. I grab my bag and head into the bedroom, putting my clothes into drawers and then I put my hygiene items into the bathroom.

"Just laying around, why?" I see Mason has replied, I text back, quickly explaining the flat situation and he asks if he can come over. After contemplating it, I agree and he says he's on his way.

"I should probably clean this place up," I say to myself, "Oh wait, I have nothing to clean," I smile and sit down on the couch in front of the TV, picking up the remote that was placed on the side table and turning it on.

After about 15 minutes, I hear a knock at my door. Mason's here! I mute the TV and stand up. I walk over to the door and don't bother to look out the peephole, I know who it is. I grab the brass knob and turn it and pull the door open.

"Leah?"

(A/N)

Hey guys! So, after a much too long hiatus, I am back for now. I have a direction of where I want to go with this book, and although it's not Christmas anymore, Merry Christmas!!! I hope you guys aren't like over me, and over this book. I doubt most of you even still have this in your library, but if you do, props to you!

I hope you guys are having a good Christmas break, and I hope you enjoy this chapter even though it's pretty short.

I love you guys!

xx_DatWriterChick xx