Shattered Rose Read Free Page A

and down as if to check my credentials. “You’ll do just fine.  By the way, we’re heading to Caesars tonight to catch the Wild Cats play. They totally rock…you wanna come?”
    “Um, thanks,” I answered, considering it for a moment. I had been to Caesars one time last year when I first met my old roommate. She was hooked up in a matter of minutes and left me to make conversation with complete strangers until I finally dragged her home. Remembering what a colossal disappointment that night was, made it pretty easy to decline. “You know what? May I get a rain check? I have a ton to do tonight.”
    “Suit yourself, but if you change your mind, you know where to find us.”
    As I watched Issy frolic and sing around the apartment as if in her own Disney movie, I almost changed my mind out of sheer curiosity, but I hadn’t gotten in my run today and was definitely feeling it. Aaron’s full examination of my body had agitated me.
    I envied Issy’s lightheartedness; she was so dynamic and free, whereas I felt like I was constantly contained in a box. Ironically, I had spent most of my life running in different directions just trying to escape, but realized last year I was my own jailer. I had put these expectations and standards in my life that I just had to achieve, making perfection my unending pursuit.
    I looked in the mirror as I pulled my golden hair back. “What is wrong with you?” I scolded myself. “This is a great day, and you are a strong, self-sufficient woman.”
    With my perspective back on track, I put my headset on and headed out the door. At least for the next thirty minutes or so, I would feel free.
    My run was amazing. I wasn’t sure if it was from the adrenalin of moving or my own frustration with my shyness. Either way, I felt great. This was a new start, a chance to have it all. Tomorrow I would come out of my shell and take time to get to know Issy, even if it meant small talk with large groups of people.
    With new determination, I put on my favorite tank and pajama shorts and started unpacking my mess. Music…I needed music. On-demand radio is the greatest invention of our time. Tonight, I was in the mood to dance. Nothing like a beat to keep spirits up and get lots of work done. My dancing skills may be less than stellar, but hey, I was the only one there, and I was going to enjoy it.
    My room was finally finished after what felt like hours. The closet was just big enough for my scarce wardrobe, and each one of my enormous engineering books fit nicely on the bookshelf over my desk. The two blank walls were now covered in my favorite photographic art pieces, each one selected from a local artist. The one above my bed was a large black-and-white photo of a pier in the ocean.  The perspective was from underneath the pier, looking up, while the ocean water receded around it. I knew I had to have this picture the minute I saw it, not just because the lighting was breathtaking, but there was something about that pier, fighting against the powerful ocean forces, that spoke to me.
    The second picture was also a black-and-white. This one was a high, swinging bridge completely engulfed in dense fog. The bridge appeared to disappear into the fog and reminded me so much of the unknown and how my path was not determined yet.
    Hugging myself, I looked at my final product. One word—inspirational. I turned up my phone and started brushing my teeth, fully enjoying every beat of the song. Next thing I knew, I was in full rock star mode, using my toothbrush as a microphone and my bed as a stage. It was only after the song ended, and I heard the applause die down in my head that I opened my eyes and saw him standing there, casually leaning against the door frame with his arms folded…and a totally amused smile on his face.   
    The scream I let out even startled me as I jumped off the bed and slammed my door shut, allowing him only a second to jump out of the way. Oh my gosh, that did not just happen! I