Strong Enough (11 page)

My arms immediately become chilled so I am
rubbing my arms to try and warm up. Officer Watts leads me to a
small room that has a long table and two chairs, one on each side
of the desk. There is a single window, but from watching crime
shows on TV I know it’s a viewing window. I take the chair that
puts my back to the wall and in full view of the window. No reason
to hide, I haven’t done anything but pull up into a police station
parking lot.

Officer Watts sits down across from me, pen
and pad in hand. “Ok Reece, tell me what you can about the car that
was following you.”

“Ok, um, Black, BMW, not sure the model but
it was bigger than a 3 series and was a coupe, um I did see a
license plate, it read BSTRNG but that’s all I saw. They didn’t
actually do anything to me. It just freaked me out when I left work
and he was sitting on the road with his parking lights on and then
when I got in my car he started following me. Well I guess he was
following me. I don’t know I just panicked.”

“BSTRNG huh, well that should tell me
exactly who owned the car. I’ll be right back ok?”

Standing, he left the room. The same chills
I had when I first walked in returned. I have only ever received
bad news being at a police station. Found out my dad was dead, my
mom was a good for nothing junkie and well some of the details of
that night 6 years ago. So to say I am not a fan of police stations
would be accurate. My overwhelming tiredness hits me like a brick.
It has got to be at least 4:30 am by now.
Well
no 9:00 am class for me!
Folding my arms over each other
and placing them on the desk my head follows to rest on top. My
exhaustion has caught up to me as my eyes flutter shut.

“
AAhhheeeemmmm……
Ms. Miller?”

Well hell that didn’t
last long
. Lifting my head up and opening my eyes
Officer Watts is sitting in front of me again.

“Sorry about that, it was a late night and
well, I’m exhausted I really just want to go home.”

“I understand, but I was able to find some
information so if you can last a little bit longer….”

Tired but now intrigued, I nod my head in
agreement. “So what did you find?”

“Well the license plate is custom which made
it easy to track. However, the name that came up shocked me a
little bit.” He pauses and looks at me. “Are you sure you don’t
remember me?” His voice concerned, deep and aged. I start to shake
my head no when his voice registers.

My eyes swell and I can feel the tears
rimming my bottom lashes. The blood begins to drain from my face
and my body begins to shake. Sitting back from the table I put
distance between us. I do know him.

He can see the recognition now in me and the
fear in my eyes and it startles him. He sits back further in his
chair to give me space.

“You were so bloody and swollen, you
couldn’t look at me,” he began with a very hushed voice.

“I was the first to respond at the hospital.
You were in and out of consciousness and so beaten and broken. I
had never seen a girl so young, so unrecognizable and so alone.” He
hung his head as if ashamed for me. He lifts his hands on top of
the table as he twists them together.

“I couldn’t see you, but I remember your
voice. I could hear the anger and pain when you talked to me. I
don’t remember much, but I remember you would not leave me.”

“Reece, I have never seen a child put
through what you must have been put through. Come out in the
condition you did and walk away.”

The tears are falling because I can’t turn
the memory off. “I remember. Although, there isn’t much I remember
but I do know you were there until the next morning when Adam
showed up, then you were gone. I never knew your name.”

“I’m glad to see you are doing well.”

I can’t contain the sarcastic chuckle that I
left out. Yeah, I’m doing peachy, school is killing me, the bar is
keeping me exhausted, I have so much anger that I have no friends,
I don’t trust men which means I can’t do relationships, which means
I am always alone which means sex, ha, sex what is that? Yeah I am
doing “well”.

“Yep, I’m doing just fine.”
LIAR

“Look, I didn’t want to remind you of that
night.”

“It’s fine, so what did you find out about
the car?” I asked, quickly changing the subject.

“Well we have a name, so we will look into
it and see what the deal was. I don’t think you have anything to
worry about though, this person is well, not a bad guy and it might
have just been a coincidence that he was behind you. None the less
I will personally check into it.”

Not a bad guy? What is that
a motto for the evening?

“Um, ok, so I can go then?”

“Yes Ms. Miller, you can go now, just be
careful driving home, you look exhausted. Do you need me to take
you?”

“Nope, I’m good, but thank you for the
offer.”

I stand and gather my things. As I walk
toward the door I feel an overwhelming emotion.

“Officer Watts, I know its 6 years later,
but thank you, thank you for just knowing I didn’t want to be
alone. For what it’s worth, it made a big difference.”

He smiles one of the gentlest smiles and
nods his head once. I think it was not possible for him to speak as
I saw a single glisten in his right eye.

I leave the station and head to my car,
checking to see if anyone is parked around or waiting. I slide into
the front seat, take a deep whiff of leather and think how much I
wish my dad was here.

Pulling out of the parking lot I set my
sites on home. This day needs to come to an end already.

D
eep breathe in, the pull
is intense and I feel the fire as it burns in my legs. Down deeper
I push until my legs begin to shake and I can feel it all the way
in my ass. Letting out an exhale I begin to release the tension,
slowly bringing myself to a stand as sweat is dripping down every
part of my body. I take a step forward and relief hits as the bar
and its weight is now resting on the stand and not on my shoulders.
Stepping away from the squat rack I turn toward Sterling. He is
nodding his head in approval. “12, good job Reece, four sets is
enough for today.”

It’s been a few weeks since I started coming
to the gym regularly and working out with Sterling. We have gotten
into a routine of doing cardio together and lifting afterwards. He
wasn’t kidding about not leaving me alone. After my first visit to
the gym, he waited three days before the text messages began. I am
not sure if it was the incessant texts with pleas to “give him
another chance” or if it was the countless phone calls that went
unanswered in which he outlined all the reasons I needed to be in
the gym in each voicemail he left. In my defense I am going to go
with the reasons I should be in the gym as to why I came back. I am
still not 100% sure about Sterling but I can say the guy is a hell
of a trainer.

“Hell of a workout Reece. You’re looking
great, your legs have toned up and your back and arms are seeing a
change. You’re looking even hotter.” His sinister smile appears on
the last of his words. He takes another step closer and his hand
rests on the small of my back while he continues, “I can’t believe
in just a few weeks how much effort you have given and the changes
I have seen. Your legs, mmmmm, your legs are definitely reaping the
benefits.” His fingers knead softly into my back and a twinkle hits
his eyes as he takes another glance down my body. I even catch a
quick lick of the lips before he returns his attention.

My own thoughts turn a bit naughty watching
as his tongue extends out and runs smoothly over his soft pouty
lips. Lost in my thoughts a little too long, I notice Sterling is
staring at me, staring at his mouth and the “caught you” look on
his face has left me a bit embarrassed. I divert my attention to
the water bottle in my hand that I continually open and close
without ever taking a drink.

“Everything okay Reece?” His laugh not
covered by the question.

“Yep, everything’s good,” I spit out quickly
as I step away from his continued caress of my lower back and turn
to face him to not seem as though I am uncomfortable.

Typically I am not the girl that picks up on
the subtle hints of men; however, Sterling has let it be known his
interest. The comments, looks, and the constant touches and
caresses when in close proximity to me, causes a mixture of
emotions for me. Sure Sterling is hot, but I already know he’s a
ladies man and he irritates me with his incessant need to tell me
what to do all the time. Even still, I am curious, intrigued, ah
hell I’m just fucking horny and he’s hot.

My realization puts a grin on my face that
Sterling immediately catches.

“Hmmm and what is it that has you
grinning?”

“Just had a realization about myself, guess
it was kind of funny.”

“Care to share?”

“Nope, if I did that, the fun would be gone.
Can’t tell you everything I am thinking Sterling,” I say teasingly.
God knows if I did we would not be standing
here right now.

If looks could undress, I would be standing
here naked. His face shows lust as his tongue runs over his lips a
few times. His eyes are soft and full of need. Taking a step
forward his hand rests on my right hip and he leans in close to my
ear. “Some things you don’t need to verbalize Reece, something’s
are just a feeling that comes across loud and clear.” My body
trembles not only at his touch but the words he said. Does that
mean he can sense my desperation?
Oh shit, he
thinks I’m desperate! Wait… I am…

He leans back leaving his hand on my hip. “I
was going to grab a bite to eat, want to join me?”
Quick think of an excuse, anything, you cannot go out with
him, bad bad idea….
“Um sure, I just need to shower.”
Dropping his hand from my hip he leans further back. “Yeah about
that, I wasn’t going to say anything but….” He said laughing.
“Haha, you could use one too, and I would have said something to
you about it if you didn’t take one.” I say sarcastically.

“Ok well, go home and shower and I will pick
you up say in about an hour?”

“Ok, that’s fine. I’ll text you my
address.”

“No need, I know where you live.”
What the fuck? How does he know where I
live?

He quickly sees the look of confusion and
concern flash across my face. “You filled out a profile when you
first joined the gym Reece, remember? It has your address, I admit,
I looked,” he said with a sheepish smile. “I wasn’t stalking you or
anything, was just curious.”

Although I am pissed that he looked, I guess
I understand, sorta? “Well in case you didn’t memorize my apartment
number it is 718.” I turn and head toward the front door of the
gym. I give a backwards wave while leaving. “See ya in a bit.”
That was stupid, now everyone who heard me
knows we are going out….Shit.

I don’t bother to turn around because I
don’t want to see what he’s doing or the look on his face. I
especially don’t want to see how many other people standing around
him are looking at me after my very loud proclamation. I push open
the doors to the gym and head to my car. Panic is starting to set
in since I have not been on a date in years. Who am I kidding, I
don’t date. Chris was my last boyfriend two years ago and that
lasted all of three months. This will prove to be interesting.

Stepping out of the shower I grab my towel hanging
on the wall and wrap it around me as I walk up to the mirror. I run
my hand back and forth across the steam covered mirror so I can see
myself. Standing there I look over myself. Wet hair and red skin
from the hot water, I can’t quite figure out what it is that
Sterling might even find attractive. Maybe he doesn’t and I am more
of a game to him. Bed the girl that no one can seem to get? Shaking
my head clear of the thoughts I reach over and open the door to the
bathroom to let the steam out and clear up the mirror so I can see
myself to get ready.

With my hair now dry and straightened and
what little make up I do wear applied it is now time to figure out
what to wear.
This should be the fun part…
not.

I find myself again standing in front of a
mountain of clothes. I now realize it would have been a good idea
to ask where we were going to eat in order to dress appropriately.
Hot Texas summer means no jeans or anything silk unless I want to
talk around with huge pit stains from the amounts of sweat that
could happen. I settle on cute dark copper shorts, a little on the
dressy side, and a breezy ivory sleeveless button down that stops
at the top of my hips. I finish it off with my thin metallic belt
and metallic multi tone strappy heels.