Now or Never

and logged off of Skype, she didn’t even stop to think. One by one, she deleted all her accounts and made new ones. New Facebook, new email, new Skype—and every single one she made private and blocked Josh. It was a pain, and took her nearly an hour to accomplish, but by the time she was done, she’d completely cut Josh from her life.
    Well worth the time spent to get away from him.
    Grayson closed the computer’ and wiggled her toes.
    Freedom. The phrase made her think of her favorite movie, “Braveheart.” Back when her Dad was still a part of her life, he introduced her to all of Mel Gibson’s greatest hits; he could recite every single line from “Braveheart.”
    Yeah, but look where that “freedom” got William Wallace , she reminded herself.
    He was killed for high treason. Hopefully, that wasn’t a sign of Grayson’s own fate.
    No negative thoughts , she chided herself.
    The first thing she was going to do was eat. She was starving. Well, the second thing. Shower first. Her hair smelled like mildewed sheets.
    The water pressure was pathetic, so she didn’t linger. She stayed in just long enough to wash off the feeling of sleeping under stinky motel covers. She slipped into a pair of jeans, a green T-shirt with the Recycle symbol, and flip-flops, and opted to go without make-up simply because she could.
    After she was ready, she packed her things and stowed them in the Jeep, then checked out—happy to see the gross guy from the night before had been replaced by a pink-cheeked young girl who was fast and friendly.
    The day was warm and bright as she walked into the parking lot, her stomach growling. She’d been in such a hurry to leave last night; she didn’t bother to eat other than the apple and iced tea she’d grabbed at a gas station. She couldn’t believe she was going to drive cross-country by herself.
    Settling her sunglasses on her nose, Grayson made a beeline for the Waffle House next door.
    The bell jingled as she entered the air-conditioned interior. The sound was abnormally loud and everyone turned to look, making her feel self-conscious. She was always the shy twin, leery of being the center of attention.
    A chorus of a very enthusiastic “welcome and good morning” rang out from behind the counter, and a rail-thin waitress smiled as she wiped down a table just inside. “Seat yourself,” she chirped.
    Grayson grabbed a small table on the outside wall, so she’d have a view outside. She turned over the sticky laminated menu and glanced over the breakfast offerings, even though she already knew what she wanted.
    The waitress came by with a mug and coffee pot.
    “Coffee?” she asked.
    Grayson smiled. “You read my mind.”
    “Coffee makes the world go round,” the woman said and sat the pot down to pull out a pen and pad. “What can I get ya?”
    Grayson ordered eggs, hash browns with cheese, bacon, and toast. She usually ate pretty healthy, so it was nice to order a greasy fattening meal. She’d lost over ten pounds since meeting Josh because he liked her to be on the slim side. She, on the other hand, preferred curves. Just another reminder of how bad he was for her.
    Bring on the carbs.
    Grayson felt awkward eating by herself. She realized she couldn’t recall the last time she had been to a restaurant alone, and she didn’t even have a phone to stare at so she didn’t look pathetic.
    Get used to it , she thought wryly. She needed to learn to be on her own, to enjoy her own company. Somewhere during the last three years, her personality was replaced with a submissive girl. She’d always been introverted, but she’d never been insecure before. Josh made her feel flawed—broken, even. She shuddered at the thought. How could she waste three years of her life?
    No more. Like a snake shedding its skin, Grayson was leaving that person behind.
    For good.

CHAPTER 5

    Two days later, Grayson crossed into Nashville city limits just as the sun was about to set. A beautiful orange glow blanketed the city. Following the twists and turns of the road, she scanned the trees they were alight with brilliant shades of copper, maroon, and yellow. It was truly beautiful, and something she hadn’t seen in a long time. Seasonal changes were practically nonexistent in Arizona.
    This is what fall is supposed to look like , she thought.
    Grayson was peaceful, though exhausted from the trip. She felt warm and happy after two days on the road, alone with her thoughts and disconnected