Just One Day Read Online Free

smiled. “Which M are you?”
    His smile grew slowly, and he reached over and plucked a strawberry from my plate. “I’d be on the Montgomery side.”
    I wiped my hand on the towel I had tied around my waist, covering my bikini bottoms. “Well, Montgomery,” I said, offering my hand in a mock professional manner. “Nice to meet you. How long are you here for?”
    “Just today,” he said. “Gotta get back tomorrow.”
    “Then I guess you need to make the most of this day,” I said, shocking myself as the words fell out of my mouth. Still, I couldn’t help the grin that took over my face.
    Especially when his matched. “Fremont,” he said, lifting his strawberry to my lips, which made me laugh. “I have the feeling this will be an amazing day.”
     
    I remember falling madly in love with him in that one twenty-four-hour stretch, and then spending the next few months trying to forget him.
    Lord, the things you remember when you let yourself go. When you let go of the current world and its trappings and—ugh—Brad. I groaned aloud and wished that all of that would just go away. I didn’t want to think about Brad and his perfection and his smile and his freakishly large ring.
    I wanted to feel that crazy freedom again.
    Without thinking, I got up, grabbed a tote bag, my iPod, a change of clothes, and a book, snatched my purse up off a chair, and grabbed Brad’s keys.
    “A drive it is,” I said to the keys, as though they were Brad.
     
    * * *
     
    I didn’t even have the radio on, because all I wanted was the feel of the wind in my hair and the sound of the road under my—or Brad’s—tires. What started as something reckless and crazy, however, started to work on me as the miles ticked by. This wasn’t me—this react-before-I-think-and-drive-toward-God-knows-what, with no plan of what to do when I got there. I planned everything. I made lists to organize my lists, and my planner was color-coded. I blew out a breath and pulled my sunglasses down over my eyes.
    Maybe it was a midlife crisis. Eighty-eight would be a reasonable age; maybe that’s what it was and the halfway point had me all wigged out. Or maybe it was back to Brad and his I can’t brand you and his volleyball-sized diamond. He asked if I loved him . Where was that word for me ?
    I could find a hotel somewhere, maybe. Just to—not quite be home first thing in the morning. I didn’t want to be there when the time was up, because knowing Brad, he’d be back at seven straight up. I glanced at my watch. Almost nine. Only twenty-two hours left. Actually, as long as I stayed gone, that extended my time. I could even push it an extra day, I reasoned. Why the hell not? Buy some clothes somewhere—
    I sighed. I was losing it.
    I hadn’t even left a note, or called anyone to let them know I was leaving town. Hell, I didn’t even know I was leaving town until I passed all the exits and there was nothing but Texas highway in front of me. I had nowhere to go. I rubbed a temple and wished I’d brought some coffee with me. I wished my parents were still around for me to call and ask what the hell I should do. Why did I have to be the grown-up? That was one cruel joke.
    And when was the last time I’d gone anywhere without accountability? The photo album danced in front of my memory, playing out the images like a slideshow. That weekend at the lake. My friends and I, celebrating freedom from school and the excitement of life ahead—and him.
    Oh, to be young and stupid and impetuous again. Then again, being proposed to on a yacht at forty-four wasn’t exactly being in a rut. Maybe something was wrong with me. Why couldn’t I just say yes? I mean, there were worse things.
    Throwing up in front of sixty people was probably one of them.
    Oh God. I banged my palms against the leather of the steering wheel, wishing it could be my head. How would I ever face those people again? How would Brad? He had to work with them—oh, dear God—I was a troll.
    A