Writer's Block (Complete)

Chapter 25

After writing for a week straight I spend the next few days trying to catch up on sleep, although I'm told that you can never really catch up on missed sleep. My body argues that fact as I slept most of those three days.

With my shower and a couple of cups of coffee behind me I jump in my beetle and head down the rocky road at a slower speed than normal, dreading seeing Conner and having to pretend that everything is ok.

Alex sent me a text asking me if I had planned on keeping the job at his office or if I was going to run away with my next big book, putting a smiley face beside it to let me know that he's just kidding but the truth is I kind of like working with Alex. How often does a girl get to go shopping on a week day during work hours, I could do a lot worse.

With the top rolled down and the wind in my hair I travel this dirt road to the main road that leads into town. Tourists and vacationers have started trickling in, making the roads more congested and my trip a little longer but I'm not complaining. It just gives me a little bit longer before I have to look my attacker in the eye and pretend that I'm not scared to death. I can only pray that he steers clear of me because I'm not sure how great my acting skills are.

Couples walk hand in hand down the main drag enjoying the scenery as well as the small gift shops that sell trinket and souvenirs to those that care to waist their money on such frivolities. I guess if I went somewhere that I had never been I would want a souvenir to remember it. My vacations have been in short supply for the past ten years so that's a foreign concept to me.

I pull into the only parking spot left which is nowhere near the office but that's alright, I don't mind the walk. I decide to leave the top down on my beetle, grabbing only my purse from the inside. There's really nothing to steal and it could use a little airing out after the rough winters it's seen when I lived in Chicago.

I smile at a couple as they enter the diner on main and wave at Missy through the window. She warmed up to me once she realized she was just another conquest to Alex. I guess fighting for him wasn't on her to do list after she met some of Mason's military friends.

The door to the station feels heavy in my hand as I push it open. My heart sinks in my stomach and my palms become sweaty when I see all of the men lumbering around, waiting for some sort of a lead. They seem to have become the new police around here and I guess that's alright but if they're going to stay on we are going to need a bigger building.

"Holy cow, Trina decided to come to work," Mason jokes with a huge smile and a hug.

"I really don't think you're supposed to hug the other employees, Mason, it could be construed as sexual harassment," I sock him on the arm playfully.

"Ouch," He pretends to whine like I killed him with that one playful punch but quickly lets his arm go, his deep laughter inviting others to laugh at the both of us.

"Trina, come here! The rest of you get out of my office until I text you!" Alex's voice booms through the confined space of the building bouncing off the concrete walls around us with a slight echo.

"Oh shit, you're in trouble," Mason chuckles.

I head toward Alex's office while the others pack their things to leave. A hand lands on my shoulder making me turn. Conner smiles down at me, an obvious reminder of our deal. I jerk my arm away releasing his hand from my shoulder before I race to Alex's office, shutting the door behind me. I stand facing the door for a moment trying to calm my racing heart and force my features into a passive expression.

I suppose we can carry on a conversation this way, but I prefer to look at the person that I'm talking to," Alex says, sarcasm twisting and turning around every word keeping it trapped, just as trapped as I feel right now.