Rundown (Curveball Book 2) Read Free Page B

darkness. 
    Several
minutes later, Corinne grips my arm, effectively forcing me to stop.
    “ I
won’t give you the number, but I’ll make a call.  Just let
me catch my breath.”  I nod and rest my back against a tree. 
I try to keep my composure, but my inner happy dance is in full
swing.
    Thank
God, I thought she’d never cave.  
    I
wipe the perspiration from my forehead and fidget with my necklace as
I impatiently wait for her to place the call. 
    Corinne
walks several paces away and finally takes out her phone.  She
presses a button, lifts the phone to her ear and waits, glowering at
me all the while.  She turns to walk several more steps into the
park we’re near, and I start doubting that she’s actually placed
the call.  She probably just said that so she could call her
partner and buy herself some time before he could pick us up.  I
might be paranoid, but I can’t chance that scenario.  Before
Corinne knows what hits her, I’ve lunged forward and grabbed the
phone from her ear.  I’m actually shocked when she doesn’t
react.
    “ Hello?”
asks a deep, sleepy voice.
    “ Brett,
it’s Breanne.”
    “ Breanne? 
What’s wrong?” Brett asks, panicked.  I’ve no doubt caused
him a minor heart attack by calling this early in the morning.  I
don’t have time to feel too bad though, because I’m somewhat
surprised it’s actually him.
    “ Drew,”
I gasp, still trying to get my breathing under control.
    “ Is
he hurt?” he asks anxiously.  There’s rustling of some
sort and his breathing has changed.   Shit, I really should
have planned what I wanted to say beforehand.
    “ No…I
don’t know.”
    “ What’s
happened?  Is he backing out of the meeting?”
    “ I’m
not sure.  That’s not why I called.  I just—” I stop
talking and start wondering what meeting he’s talking about.
    “ Look,
if this is about the flight, I can get him a prescription to help
calm his anxiety.”
    “ What
do you mean his flight?  Where is he going?”
    Brett
sighs.  “He didn’t tell you.” 
    It’s
not a question, and the tone of his statement make it clear that he’s
just figured out that this news shouldn’t have been shared with
me. 
    “ Look,
I don’t know what Drew has told you, but we had a fight a few days
ago.  I was stupid, Brett.  I said some horrible things. 
I’ve tried to get in touch with him but he won’t return my
calls.  I don’t know where he is but I have to speak with
him.”
    “ I’m
not getting involved in his personal life, Breanne.”
    “ I
wouldn’t ask you to if I could contact him on my own.”
    “ Breanne.” 
The way he says my name, it comes out as a warning.
    “ I
love him, Brett.  After everything Drew and I have been through
I cannot let him get on a plane w ithout
telling him.  Please, Brett,” I plead.
    I
hear shuffling on the other side of the phone, followed by Brett
cursing under his breath. 
    When
the silence stretches on too long I clear my throat.  “Brett?”
    “ I’m
here.  I’m packing.”
    “ For
what?” I ask.
    “ I
might need the six hour flight to convince Drew to let me keep my
job.  If you want to talk to him be at the airport before
6:00am,” he tells me and abruptly disconnects the call.

TWO
    Getting Up

    “ Mr.
Scott,” the driver calls for the third time.  “Should I pull
over?” he asks, idling near the curb outside the entrance to the
airport.
    “ No.
 Go around one more time,” I tell him, staring out the window,
completely lost in thought.  I’m not ready.
    The
car heads back under the tunnel that leads to and from the airport,
as I rest my head against the cold window and stare at absolutely
nothing.  There are four people in this car, including me, yet
I’ve never felt more alone.  Something has got to give, and
soon.  Until I get on that plane and sign that contract, I’ll
be in this perpetual limbo…stuck between what has become my past
and not allowing myself to accept my