Runaway Road

By Mira Day

Have you ever wondered who was in the car next to you? Wondered where they were going and why? A vacation? Business trip?  Or is it someone’s only chance to run away…

Brett Myers needs a change; a soul searching move to another city. Walking in on your brother and girlfriend in bed together will do that. So after getting news of a new job in Austin- Texas is his destination. A new town and a new life. He’s ready to start over.

Mia Brown needs a change; a soul-searching trip to her past.  More than ready to leave her boyfriend and life in North Carolina, Mia uses the chance to see her birth mother for a fresh start. There’s no plan. Just to hit the road, head out West, and never look back.

When their paths cross on a long stretch of Highway 85, these two strangers will learn just how much they need each other to heal.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Mira Day
• Release date: Sep 13, 2016
• ISBN: 9781533786302

Book preview

Chapter 1 

June 1990 

I don’t know why I keep looking behind my shoulder. Mom and Dad have no idea that I’m out here. You’d think at 19 years old, I wouldn’t be so concerned about what they think, but here I am, nervous as all hell at the thought of being caught.  

As long as you live under my roof, Dad would say.  

I guess he has a point. 

Dylan’s silver car pulls up in the parking lot, and a lump forms in my throat. I hate saying goodbye.  

He steps out, sees me, and waves before opening the back door, ducking inside. I grab the little gift bag from the park bench and head toward him. 

He’s such a handsome guy. A decent build with broad shoulders and a head full of thick black hair. 

I don’t usually notice shoulders on a guy. But I like Dylan’s. They look like they could just envelope me and help push my troubles away.  

He has a beautiful smile too. One that stretches all the way to his eyes. He seems to wear that smile often. At least that’s all I’ve seen from him these last three years. He’s the epitome of happiness. He tells me every time we see each other just how blessed he is to know me, how my being here changed his life for the better. That I gave him the greatest gift anyone could give. 

But that doesn’t help me today. The fact that today, he’s leaving with that gift. Going to the East coast and leaving me in Texas. I’ll never see him, nor my-- his family again. 

We meet halfway, as usual, under the giant oak tree. Each step I make grows heavier as my heart breaks just a touch more.  

Stop it, Sarah. You know this is for the best.

Hey guys. My mouth quivers as I try and give them a smile. 

Dylan stops in front of me and pulls me close with his free arm. He’s a good foot taller than me and his embrace is protective. 

His other arm is filled with a little brown-eyed beauty. The girl is smiling at me, her finger in her mouth. Tears prick my eyes as I wave to her. Hi, Mia. 

Sawah! 

Dylan bounces her in his arms. Wanna hold her?  

I nod and cautiously hold my hands out for her. She leans into me, climbing into my arms. 

Mia takes her chubby finger out of her mouth. Daddy says we play on the swide! 

My lip trembles as she continues to gab excitedly over the playground. Her hair is the same color as mine, with loose curls at the end. Her eyes have the same golden flecks. 

I stared at my own baby pictures for the entire nine months I carried her; wondering what she would look like, what kind of person she would be, who she would grow up to be. Would she have my rebellious side and get into the same troubles I did? Would I have to mutter that horrible phrase back in my day to her and worry when she would be out with friends? Or would she be a little bookworm, smart as a tack, bringing home report cards to hang on the fridge? 

I hug her tightly as we walk to the slides. I got you a present, Mia. 

Mia’s brown eyes grow wide as she claps and I hold the small gift bag out for her to take. 

 You didn’t have to do that, Sarah. Dylan chuckles, shaking his head. This one has way too many toys as it is. 

I stick my tongue out at him and adjust her on my hip. Mia reaches in and pulls out a small fabric doll. Its faded pink dress has seen its share of hugs. My heart skips a beat as I wait for her response. 

Mia’s eyes light up, and she hugs the doll firmly. A dolly?! Tank you! Gripping the doll, she wraps her other chubby arm around my neck. Tanks, Sawah!  

A tear falls as I hug her back. Dylan smiles at us. Mia wiggles her way down, ready to take on the slide. I take the chance to talk to Dylan. 

Excited for your move? 

I am. Michelle is really looking forward to it. Hopefully the house will be ready by the time we get there. 

I make a face. He gives me a pointed look. Michelle has always been somewhat of a bitter person in my opinion, although, with a husband like Dylan, it would be hard to keep up with his overabundance of chipperness. 

You guys leaving tomorrow morning? 

Yeah, bright and early. Dylan runs his hand through his hair, as if suddenly shy. Sarah, I just want to tell you how much you mean to me… to my family. His face flushes as he watches Mia playing in the sand. I know our relationship in unorthodox, but it’s a relationship nonetheless. He digs into his back pocket to pull out a white envelope.  

I take it from his hand, and my stomach drops when I see a sloppy version of some letters written in crayon. 

We’ve been working on her letters. Dylan gives me a grin. 

I open it and see the flowers of the card peek out at me. I close it back up, clutching it to my chest. I can’t. I’m sorry. I choke on my words as my dam breaks. They are leaving me.

Dylan pulls me into his arms, his soothing words getting lost in my hair. 

Giving Mia to Dylan three years ago broke my heart. Watching him take her across the country will surely shatter it. But I was so blessed to have met a couple who didn’t mind me still being in Mia’s life. Most adoptions don’t go that route.  

Dylan insisted that I keep in touch; he knew I didn’t want this. I wanted her. Selfish as that was, I wanted to watch her grow up. I wanted to take her to her first day of school, watch her play with dolls, and do her hair. Hell, I didn’t even care about changing her diapers. 

She’s mine.  

She was mine.

The shock of realization punches me in the chest. She was mine for nine months. Now she’s Dylan and Michelle’s. They can provide her with everything she’ll ever want or ever need.  

I need to let her go. 

I step away from Dylan and wipe my eyes. Giving him the best smile I can muster, I take his hand. Thank you. Mia’s beautiful. She’s going to be so happy in North Carolina. 

Dylan gives my fingers a squeeze as Mia stumbles her way back to us. Lifting her arms for Dylan to hold her, she clutches the little doll and rests her head on his shoulder. 

Ready for a nap, baby girl? 

Mia answers with a yawn. 

You guys get out of here. I know you have a ton of stuff to do. I give him another awkward, one armed hug and he kisses the top of my head. 

Leaning into Mia, I whisper to her. Be a good girl for daddy, okay? I love you. 

Love you, she mumbles, her little eyes growing heavy. 

Our contact info is in that card. Please use it. I’ll call you when we get there. He kisses my cheek and turns, carrying my little world with him.

Chapter 2 

Brett 

Jesus, is the heat on or something?! I pull at my collar, trying to find some sort of breeze. 

It’s nerves. You’re throwing your life away, Bro. Derrick laughs as he slaps my back. Making a face, he makes a dramatic case to wipe his hand on his pants. 

Shut. Up. I grit, loosening my tie completely and undoing the top button of my shirt. It does little to relieve the panic attack coming on. 

Dude, I’m just kidding. Derrick leans against the jewelry display. Holly’s going to finally make an honest man out of ya. He nods a hello to the pretty saleswoman walking by. It’s about time too. I was starting to worry about your soul. 

It’s not my soul you should be worried about, I mutter, ignoring his chuckle. 

A salesman walks from the back, carrying a small blue bag. Handing it to me, he smiles. Here you are, Mr. Myers. Congratulations. She’s a lucky lady. 

I swallow another set of nerves and give him a shaky grin.  

Walking out of the mall, Derrick grabs a hold of my arm. Let’s go get a drink. Last one before popping the question and never being allowed in a Hooters again.  

Alright. See you there. 

Climbing into the driver’s seat, I pull the ring box out of the bag. Opening it, the diamond catches the sunlight and glitters through my car.  

This is right. This is the next step. I take a deep breath in through my nose and hold it.  

One…two…three… 

Slowly releasing it through my mouth, I focus on my life with Holly. 

We’ve been together for three years. Surely it’s time to propose. We already live together, and I’m twenty-five. I’m an adult and this is what adults in serious relationships do…right? I’m supposed to marry her…right? 

I study the ring. It’s big and flashy, just like Holly. She’s going to love it. Snapping the box shut, I put it in my pants pocket. 

Giving my hands a good shake, I start the car and pull out of the parking lot. As I pull onto the main road, I hear my phone buzz. Hooters is only a few blocks down the road; Derrick is probably there, texting me and wondering if I backed out. 

Once I arrive, I climb out of the car and glance at the message. It’s an