Watch Me Walk Away by Jill Prand Page A

hour so we shouldn’t have to wait too long to get free.”
    I can’t help but laugh. It starts out as a chuckle but starts to build. I feel his responding laugh starting as I pull away and look up at him, “Well this is a familiar dilemma. But I am not jumping in the water to get us unstuck. If we need to lighten up you are going in.”
    “It’s my boat and I have to drive it,” he is still laughing.
    “Yes but you weigh almost two of me so we will rise twice as far. And you’re stronger than me, you can push us off. And I have driven this boat before.” I point out.
    “Like seven or eight years ago,” he says. “It’s a moot point anyway, I don’t mind waiting on the tide.”
    I walk to the bow and sit on one of the benches there, “Fine we will wait for the tide.”
    He comes and sits opposite of me, “Well then finish telling me about Bobby and Stuart.”
    And just like that I have my friend back. I tell him everything, all my feelings and fears. The fact that my body still reacts to Bobby when he touches me or even looks at me. That I’m scared he’ll break me apart but more scared that if I don’t give it a chance I will regret it for the rest of my life. I tell him about my night with Stuart and that I can’t see myself with him this time next month.
    Then he asks me a question that floors me, “Out of all the men in your life, who can you see still being there with you in five years?”
    My only answer, “You.”

Chapter Eleven
    We did get off the sandbar without getting wet but we never made it out to the bay. We agreed to try again in two weeks weather permitting.
    I spent the evening with Jodi in front of the TV with a bottle of wine. We just hung out and talked and I felt more grounded then I had since Friday night.
    With Monday morning came the anxiety of Bobby’s call. Stuart called me while I was on the train and asked how I was feeling and what my plans were for the week. We were going to a fundraiser for Paralympics on Saturday. His boss’ grandson had been in a car accident when he was younger and lost both of his legs. He is now on the US Paralympics track team and most of Stuart’s office would be there. Quite a few professional athletes would be in attendance and Stuart was excited about us going. I had told Brad that I would be breaking up with Stuart after the event since he had already laid out the twenty-five hundred for the tickets. I was going to do my best to dodge him for the week and made up plans I had with Jodi.
    When I got on the subway I glanced at the time and saw that I was running late. I had a nine-thirty conference call and I would have to run to make it with enough time to go over my notes. As I was running up the stairs I got pushed from behind and my ankle twisted when my heel came off. So there I was limping up the stairs and down the street to my office. I call my assistant Allison as I get to the elevators and ask her to get me an ice pack. As soon as I get out of the elevator I take off both shoes and now I am only limping from the pain.
    I get to my office and Allison has an ice pack and a mug of coffee waiting for me. “You are awesome,” I tell her.
    Pulling a chair over next to my desk for me to prop my foot on, “Yes I know.” Allison is like a mom to me. She is in her forties has two kids at home and she takes shit from no one. She tells me that at her age she can’t see playing games anymore. Will my life ever feel like it is not one big game?
    It is nine-twenty before I get to my notes. Handing Allison my credit card, I ask her to run down the street and pick me up some flats. I also tell her I am expecting a call from Bob Harber. She gives me a knowing smile and I explain that he is an old friend from high school. I boot up my computer as she is walking out the door.
    My meeting lasts until just after ten and I am catching up on my emails when my phone rings. “So how was the rest of your weekend?” Bobby asks.
    “Good,” I answer.