Running Into You

By Paigee Turner

Falling in love is easy but not so easy for this couple. They come from very different backgrounds and are 10 years apart, her being the the older of the two. She is an ordinary woman who life has put through the ringer and he is a movie star with a career on the rise. His older, protective sister doesn't approve, her ex wants her back, obstacles are lining up. Can they break free and find the love they were meant to have?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Paigee Turner
• Release date: Nov 20, 2014
• ISBN: 9781311286079

Book preview

139

Running Into You

By Paigee Turner

Published By:

Paigee Turner and

Taking A Leap of Faith Publishing

Copyright ©2014. Paigee Turner. All rights reserved worldwide. This e-book may not be reproduced in any manner whatsoever, in whole, or in part, without express written consent from the author. Violators with be prosecuted.

This story is a work of fiction. While reference might be made to actual historical events or close to those events or existing locations, the names, characters, places, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual person’s, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

www.takingaleapoffaithpublishing.com

Table of Contents

Chapter 1 The Run In

Chapter 2 Sparks Fly

Chapter 3 Heading to the Beach

Chapter 4 Beach Bombshell or Flavor of the Month

Chapter 5 Colada’s

Chapter 6 Drinks at Saki

Chapter 7 Colada’s Take Two

Chapter 8 Opening Up

Chapter 9 Dinner Party for Eight

Chapter 10 Karaoke and Ethan

Chapter 11 The Party

Chapter 12 Being Questioned

Chapter 1 The Run In

I had been in LA proper for a total of three hours. You know what I had to show for it? Hours spent in rush hour traffic, two of which were spent going only 5 miles because I decided to come into the city not knowing rush hour was still alive and thriving. Just as I get out of traffic and drive down a normal yet upscale street, I stop for a pedestrian crossing the road and get rear ended.

I can’t believe this is happening! I yelled at my steering wheel after I hit it. I counted slowly to five, taking deep breaths, and then got out of my van. I had my phone in my hand along with my wallet, to exchange information with the other driver. As I walked to the back of the van to check the damage, I surreptitiously took pictures of the other car’s damage, their license plate, and the damage to my van. His silver sports car looked mangled, and mine had a couple minor dents, but who knew what could be damaged underneath it, since that’s where I had some extras attached to my van. The other driver got out to meet me.

Okay, so this is pretty cut and dried. I have my information, just give me your information and then I can call the cops so we can fill out the accident report, I said

Why did you stop?

A woman with a stroller was crossing the street. Admittedly, it wasn’t at a crosswalk, or even at the corner, but it’s not like I could just run her down. I looked around, There she is, walking that way. Do you want me to call her back here? Do you not believe me?

No, no that’s not necessary.

It’s not like I slammed on my brakes, I did slow down before stopping. You should have had plenty of time to stop without hitting me. Especially in that expensive car. You’d think the brakes in something like that would work really well.

Look I’m really sorry, okay? I dropped my phone and…

Please don’t tell me that you actually bent down to grab it.

No, of course not, but I did glance down at it to make sure I wouldn’t step on it when I pushed on the brake pedal. I only looked down for just a second and…well you know the rest.

Great! I said, and sighed. Look, let’s just exchange information okay? I just got in to town. I’ve been stuck in rush hour traffic for hours, and now this happens.

I’m sure this isn’t much consolation, but it’s obvious my car was damaged a lot more than your van. Just the fender of my car will be more than the repairs for your whole vehicle.

What’s that supposed to mean? You ran into me. You could’ve knocked any number of things loose underneath my van. Is there a reason you still haven’t given me your information? Do I need to call the cops now?

God please don’t! I’m begging you. Shit my insurance will skyrocket, since this is a performance car. Look, I’ll pay for any damage to your vehicle. I’m sorry about your van, I really am. It was my fault. I’m upset because the car is brand new; I just got it two weeks ago. Just please don’t turn this in to the cops or insurance.

Why wouldn’t I turn this in? We were in an accident. That’s what you’re supposed to do when this sort of thing happens.

Look, I have my reasons. I swear I will pay to get your van fixed.

I looked him over trying to figure the guy out. He was in a t-shirt and baggy shorts, the shirt was sweat stained. My guess was that he had just been to the gym. And he looked fit, also attractive, but with the baseball cap, sunglasses, and the way he kept looking down, I couldn’t tell for sure. Frankly, he kinda looked suspicious.

I consider myself pretty reasonable. So, if you can tell me why you don’t want me to report this, I’ll think about it. But just so you know, I’ve already taken pictures of your damage, my damage, and your license plate, so if you think you can get out of this somehow, I will report it. What’s the reason?

Promise me you won’t tell first.

I can’t do that without knowing the reason. Look, I’m just gonna call the cops and let them sort this out, I said starting to dial.

Please, don’t! I’ll...I’ll tell you.

Okay, so what’s the deal?

If insurance or the cops get involved it will be a matter of public record, and if that happens it’ll be in the tabloids, and I’d really prefer that didn’t happen.

I know this is LA, and you’ve got a cool car and all, but why would the tabloids be interested in some minor fender bender?

Slowly he reached up and took off the sunglasses and hat.

Oh my god! Put them back on, are you crazy, someone could recognize you, I said.

I could not believe that I had just been in a car accident with Zack Preston. I’m Evelyn by the way. Let’s pull the cars around the corner, where there isn’t so much traffic. We’re kinda blocking the road anyway. You will follow me right?

You have pictures; of course I’m going to follow you. But I would even if you didn’t have pictures, because it’s the right thing to do.

We each got in our respective vehicles and drove around the corner to park in the back of the nearby parking lot. I know it only took 30 seconds to drive and park, but my mind was racing. A major movie star ran into my car. I got out to talk to him again. I am so sorry for the way I acted. You have to believe me, I have been driving since really early this morning and then I got stuck in your rush hour traffic. It took me two hours to go less than five miles.

So now you’re apologizing?

Well, if I had known it was you, I wouldn’t have threatened to call the cops. I may not know what it’s like to be you, but I can imagine the tabloids would have a field day.

There is no reason for you to apologize. I ran into you. And you had every right to be leery. LA has a whole other breed of people. Here, it’s eat or be eaten.

It’s getting pretty warm outside, why don’t we go somewhere a little less conspicuous to talk. Somewhere you can take off your hat and glasses and we can chat about what to do.

I hate to burst your bubble, but in LA there is no such place. Well, okay, there are a few places I could go and be left alone, but I get recognized pretty frequently.

If I could take you somewhere, and I could guarantee that I would be the only one who knows who you are, would you go?

How could you guarantee that? You told me you just got into town today. How would you know where to go?

Look, you trusted me with your identity, now I’m going to trust you with something. That way we’re even. Just come with me, I promise it will be okay.

He followed me back to my van. Get in the passenger seat, I said.

He just looked at me.

I’m not going to kidnap you. Here, I said and tossed him my keys. I walked around to the driver’s seat. We both got in.

Now what? he asked.

Now, we go back here, I said and opened the curtain to the back of my van.

Is this for real? he said looking around. I thought this was just a normal van.

And that’s what it’s supposed to look like. But actually, I changed a few things, I said and shut the curtains. I went to the back and turned on the fan to vent and get the air circulating in the van. Like I said, you trusted me, and now I’m trusting you. This is where I live.

You live in a van?

Yep.

How is that possible? Where is all your stuff?

It’s all right here. Come sit down, you can take off your hat and sunglasses; no one will recognize you here. See, I told you I knew a place. This seat, I said patting it, folds out and lays down to make a queen size bed. Underneath is storage. Across from the bed you can see a small sink, a frig, a camping stove, cabinets and other kitchen stuff. Behind the passenger seat, at the end of the bed, is a small closet area with an area for a separate leisure battery system so I don’t run down the car battery, and more storage. Everything I own is in this van. It’s my home."

This is pretty interesting, but what about a bathroom? I don’t see one of those in here anywhere.

Most of the time I stop somewhere to use a bathroom if I need to. Lots of places have public bathrooms. But if I need to go in the middle of the night, I use this for emergencies, I said opening a cabinet behind the driver’s seat.

The cabinet opened and I lifted the lid to show him a 5 gallon bucket with a toilet lid attached. Inside the bucket were trash bags and kitty litter.

You’ve got to be kidding.

Look, I only use it for emergencies. I twist tie the bag when I’m done and throw it way first thing the next morning.

Isn’t that dangerous or unsanitary?

What exactly do you think happens to all the dirty diapers and kitty litter full of cat poop? Besides I use this maybe twice a month.

I guess you’ve got a point. I just don’t see how anyone could live this way. How long have you been homeless?

I’m not homeless. I choose to live this way. It’s simpler. Nothing is wasted. I don’t have a bunch of crap I don’t use. I don’t have to pay rent or utilities, except for my cell phone bill and internet charges. It’s actually a lot easier to live this way, and much less expensive.

I still don’t see how someone could do it.

Well, I could show you if you’d stay in it with me for a couple days, but I mean I know that would never happen. I only say that, because one of my friends back home found out. She thought the same way as you, and she took me up on the offer and I showed her how I do it. She only stayed with me for one night. She understood by the end, but it wasn’t something that she could ever do. Everyone is different. I know that. But you’d be amazed what you can live without; what you don’t really need to have a good life.

I don’t know, I kinda like my place. There’s a lot more room.

Right, you probably live in a mansion or something. How many rooms do you have, including all the bathrooms and everything?

I don’t know, at least 20 I think.

"Okay, out of those 20 rooms, you use your bedroom, your bathroom, maybe a downstairs bathroom, your kitchen and your den or man cave all the time, so the other rooms are completely superfluous. You don’t need them, you want them. Your house is a status symbol. It proves how well you’ve done in your chosen profession and I’m guessing maybe shows off a little.

But I have everything I need here. We’re sitting in my bedroom; it’s just that right now it’s arranged like my den. If I lift up the bed I have lots of storage underneath. This table can be set up and used to eat on, or I can put my laptop on it to work or play around. I don’t have a television, because I didn’t want the expense of a satellite. They do make them for vans and RV’s, but my computer has internet capabilities. I can go to specific channel websites and watch a lot of the programs I like. I also pay a yearly fee for a site that has tons of channels and I can watch TV shows from it. Plus, I have a portable DVD player to watch movies on. My kitchen has everything I need; a working sink with fresh and grey water, a small frig, any pans and utensils I need, and a camp stove. Granted I may buy fresh food more often, but I only buy what I can eat quickly, so nothing is wasted or thrown away. I downsized, considerably, but now all my possessions fit somewhere in the van. Most people have way too much stuff. They even have closets and storage units full of even more junk. The reality is, if you haven’t used it, worn it, or even looked at it in a year, you don’t need it. Most people just don’t realize the difference between needing something and wanting it.

What about a shower. I don’t see one of those hidden anywhere.

Well, for the past year, I was in school. They had a gym there that you could use. I would get up, and go to the gym at 6am, as soon as they opened. I exercised, then took a shower and got ready and went to class. Once school starts again I’ll do the same thing.

What about now?

Right now, I’m here on vacation. I took the summer off to travel a bit. I have a friend in town that I haven’t seen in a couple years and I thought now would be a good time. On the road there are plenty of rest stops where truckers shower. And yes, there are female truckers. It’s not ideal, but there are other ways to get clean too. I’m a CNA, which is a certified nurse’s assistant and I learned how to give bed baths to people who are bed ridden. I can do that to myself just as easily standing up. Usually I find a bathroom that has a sink in the handicapped stall, but if it comes down to it, I can do it in my van. Now that I’m in California, there are beaches I can go to. They have public showers as you are leaving the beach, and I can use them.

You aren’t supposed to use soap with those showers you know.

You can if it’s biodegradable.

You have an answer for everything don’t you?

I’ve been living in my van since September of last year. It’s really not as bad as you think. Like I said, I could prove it to you. But why don’t we get back to the real subject, which is the accident.

Sure. Why don’t you follow me to a garage I know of. I’ll pay for the damages to your van so you don’t have to worry about getting it fixed. I ran into you, so I’ll make it right. The garage isn’t too far away, and while they check it out we can walk down the street to a restaurant and grab some lunch, my treat.

I’ll follow you to the garage, but you don’t have to pay for my lunch.

It’s the least I can do. I did run into you after all.

As I followed him around town I couldn’t help but berate myself for the way I had acted when we first met. It wasn’t like I was rude or anything, but I still felt bad. ‘I can’t believe that Zack Preston rear ended my van! I loved him in the movie Medjai, and the Secret of the Scarab Scepter that came out