56 Days (Black) Read Online Free PDF Page A

you,” Jack said, pulling on his sunglasses.  “You ready?”
    I nodded and we headed east.
    *****
    It was fifteen minutes before either of us really spoke to one another.  He started.
    “So, Elsa, why did you want to come with me today?”
    I peered out the window.   “I like the beach.”
    “Yeah,” he responded, “You said that, but if you wanted to go the beach, you could have gone in Chicago.  Honey, it’s the same beach.”
    “Less people.”
    “How do you know?” he asked.  “Have you been there?”
    “Our dad took us there once,” I said, wincing at the blurred memory.
    “Just once?”
    “Yeah.  He died later that year.”
    “Oh,” Jack said.  “You want to talk about that?”
    “No, do you?”
    “Not necessarily, but I would.”  He paused.  “So, just less crowded then?”
    I sighed. 
    “Jack, do you want me to tell you that I came with you because I just couldn’t wait to get you in bed?  Or that I’ve been thinking about you nonstop since we met?  It’s not some fucking Cinderella story.  I just wanted to get out of the city and you were leaving.”
    He smiled.   “Okay, whatever you say.”
    “I’m sorry,” I whispered.  “Just been a tough week.”
    It had been.  Every day, Tuesday through Friday, Dave had called.  He told me that he had left Charlotte for good.  He wanted to “start over” with me.  I listened to him, but never let him come over… never went to meet with him.  I just sat in my apartment after every phone call, crying like a fucking twit.
    “What happened?” he asked.
    “Eh, just my ex.  You don’t want to hear about that.”
    “It’s a long drive, El sa.  You may as well tell me something.”
    I paused and then started in.
    “We were seeing each other for about six months.  He told me that he was going through a divorce.  Basically, his wife showed up at the bakery and told me that there was no such divorce.  They weren’t even separated.  She found some emails from me and thought she better straighten out our ‘situation.’  So, I packed the stuff he had left at my place and put it on the front porch right before I texted him to pick it up.  I haven’t seen him since, but he’s been calling me almost every day.  It’s been a few months.”
    “Is he stalking you?” he asked, his jaw tensing.
    “Nah, he’s just a guy who fucked up and is trying to get laid.  Who can blame him?  I mean, look at me,” I joked.
    He did not look amused. 
    “If this guy is harassing you, you need to tell the cops.”
    I put my hand on his leg.   “He’s not, Jack.  It’s fine.  He just misses me.”
    He put his hand on top of mine. 
    “Elsa, you tell me if it becomes more than that, okay?  If this guy scares you, you’ll tell me, right?”
    “He doesn’t scare me, Jack.  I loved him ,” I responded, my voice soft.  “Or at least, I thought I did.”
    He rubbed my fingers.   “Well, he doesn’t love you,” he bit back.  “Otherwise, he wouldn’t be fucking around on you.  Or even worse, fucking around on his wife.”
    I had forgotten for a moment about Lana.  She cheated on Jack.  The wounds were obviously still fresh.
    “Yeah, I know,” I said, rubbing Buster’s head with my free hand.
    Jack laced his fingers through mine, definitely an intimate gesture for people who had known each other for one week.  I let him hold my hand though.  He felt safe.
    “Where am I going to sleep, Jack?” I asked , turning towards him.  “You know, when we get to New Buffalo.”
    “I got one room because I didn’t know you were coming with me.”
    “You’ve known for almost a week that I was .”
    He paused.   “I tried to change the reservation, honestly, but there weren’t any extra rooms.  This place books months in advance.”
    “It’s fine.  I invited myself, so it’s my fault .”
    “It’s a king.  Buster can sleep in the middle.  You won’t even know I’m there,” he said, squeezing my