A Fresh Start Read Online Free PDF Page B

women her age tended to go after.
    Then it clicked.
    Gentleness. The ring added to the gentleness of her looks. She wasn’t wearing a dress or anything, but her genuine smile made her appear more demure than anything else could.
    “Justin, bring Paige’s luggage up to the guest room,” Mrs. Seymour ordered.
    He stood and grabbed the luggage. “She should be staying until her bathroom is ready.”
    “Sure.”
    Paige swiveled around and was clearly about to protest when Mrs. Seymour interrupted.
    “You’re staying here until your bathroom is ready.”
    He grinned as Paige pressed her lips into a thin line, then nodded and swiveled back around.

Chapter Three

    Justin jogged down the streets, the music from his iPod drowning out the sound outside. Still, he could hear the surroundings through the memories playing in his head.
    The morning chill felt the same against his skin. The houses that stood on the streets looked the same. Even the indifferent eyes staring at him through the translucent curtains remained.
    Most noticeably, the loneliness he felt while roaming through the streets in the early mornings still lingered.
    He took in a deep breath, huffing it out through his mouth as he stared ahead at the pale blue sky with swirls of gray clouds darkening it.
    He never admitted it, never even thought about it. But as he jogged under the blanket of the familiar sky, enveloped in the surroundings that was supposed to be his home town, he realized how heavy his heart was.
    When he left Pine, he thought for sure that this loneliness would disappear along with memories of this place.
    Neither had.
    He shook the thoughts from his head and stretched his legs, expanding the distance covered with each stride as he moved along to the beat in his ears.
    Nothing much had changed in Pine.
    The houses and people looked older, with some of the houses wearing relatively fresh paints. Most of the people were still living in the same house they grew up in, and gossiping was still the town’s favorite pastime.
    He had only gotten back the day before and by lunch, he could tell that news of his return had already spread throughout town.
    Travis had told him that the gossips began when he had his house renovated a couple of years back. Everyone had started guessing when he would return or if he would sell the house.
    Truth be told, when he renovated his house, he didn’t know if he was ever coming back.
    He hated this place. He hated his childhood.
    He still didn’t know what he was doing here.
    He was flipping through the classifieds when he saw the few houses for sale in Cheyenne. And when he was back in Cheyenne, he thought he’d drop by the house he had built but hadn’t even seen for himself.
    Everything fell into place to bring him back here. But since getting back, all he wanted was to leave.
    He couldn’t stand the stares, the pretentious smiles, and the feigned concerns from people he knew didn’t give a damn about him.
    They were only interested in getting some information for gossip.
    His one trip to the diner for lunch had people coming up to him, welcoming him back into town as if they had been friends all their lives. People whom he didn’t care much about, and people who wanted nothing to do with him when he was living here.
    As the music in his ears changed, his legs picked up speed again.  
    He turned the corner and grinned as he saw the familiar figure. She had just popped into his head when she appeared several feet ahead of him.
    Wearing a black sweater and a dark blue capri exercise pants, she was jogging ahead of him, heading in the same direction as he was.
    He kept his pace, thinking he would catch up with her in no time. But as he jogged on, he realized she was getting further away.
    She was fast.
    In fact, she appeared to be picking up speed as she ran.
    He widened his strides and pushed himself forward, finding it tough to catch up with her. Is she running away from something?
    Eventually, he closed the