Running was an outlet that Jess constantly forgot about during the day and when she found herself craving the release that physical movement gave her, it was always late at night after a long day of studying in her room.
Normally she would talk herself out of it, yet here she was, holding a decent speed and using her paranoia to try beating her best pace while mentally forcing herself to go further through the cheery streets of houses than she usually did.
She hated running alone. Hated running at night alone even more. The neighborhood was still fairly new to her. Her friends told her she was too paranoid, and maybe she was, but it didn't change that panic that rose in her gut any time she got more than two blocks from her house. Give her a backwoods trail in the pitch black with no flashlight and she would be miles more comfortable there than in a populated suburb.
Being alone out there didn't scare her. Being alone where there were people did and it was a downfall of being a small town girl from Maine.
The final weeks of school before the holidays were kicking her ass. She'd worked hard all semester, but her brain was fried and she was exhausted. Two days of final assignments and last minute papers and a stupid group project had her literally spinning in circles in her room. With cabin fever at it's worst, Jess decided to start training for the Triathlon that Zoe had roped her into rather than stare at the same four walls any longer.
Her watch beeped, indicating she'd made her second lap. It was time to circle back round and head back.
So far she managed to stay calm. It was quiet. The houses were quiet. She hadn't seen anyone else (other than someone walking their puppy) and no cars had slowed down to catcall her like they had two months ago.
Yet.
The soft roar of vehicles coming turning up the road she was on made her tuck to the shadows of the side walk a little more.
They passed her, but then tail lights showed and they slowed down.
Jess checked her pace when two vehicles stopped on the curb about four hundred meters up and her heart rate spiked.
A group of guys tumbled out, heading up the drive to the house, loud and rowdy as they went.
Relaxing a little, Jess put distance between herself and the driveway, crossing down into the road to avoid the group.
She concentrated on the music pouring through her earbuds and tried to steady her rhythm. If she didn't make eye contact and pretended she was super confident, then maybe everything would be fine.
"Hey! Is that our good friend Jess running past?" The accent was loud, southern and mildly slurred with alcohol. "Hey! Jess! Is that you?"
Startled, Jess lifted her head, pulled out an earbud and tossed a frightened look over her shoulder despite her previous resolve. Her feet stumbled to a stop.
"Sure seems like it." Another grouchier voice rumbled. "But you're scarin her, dumb ass."
The seven guys were paused halfway to the garage door, bathed in the automatic light that flicked on. Jess could make out their faces now and a bewildered, stunned kind of relief flooded her bones.
"Hi." Jess waved awkwardly and moved almost guilty back to the sidewalk, not entirely sure what to do with her arms or hands as she swung them.
"Hello there, lovely Jess!" Sonny called, stumbling a little as he bowed. "My most sincere apologies for startling you!"
"Oh, it's ok." Jess said generously. "Just didn't think I would see anyone I knew out here."
"Little late for a run." Jason commented and Jess got that warm, not quite annoyed feeling that he was questioning her without actual questions the same way he would his own kids. It was a side that her own dad had stopped showing years ago. Most of the time she was pretty sure he didn't give a shit what she did anymore.
"Well, it was either running or drinking a bottle of whiskey with Pauline and I thought maybe this was more efficient at getting rid of cabin fever."
"You passed up a bottle of whiskey to go for a run?" Sonny clutched his heart as if she'd wounded him. "Sweetheart, you an I really need to sit down and have a chat about the best ways to bust up some stress."
A smile twitched around Jess's mouth and she found herself saying, "I thought Navy guys like you were all about fitness."
She was rewarded with a laugh from the others and a grin from Sonny.
"Sonny doesn't run unless he has to." Trent told her in a stage whisper.
"Yeah, and even then it's usually because I ordered him." Jason added, laughing when Sonny started sputtering.
"I am probably the most fit out of all of ya'll," Sonny announced, pointing at them as he swayed a little on the spot. "Because I can out drink any of you any day of the week and still be ready to go the next day."
"I drink you under the table every time and you're the only on having trouble standin up right now." Scott rumbled quietly.
"So, exam stress getting to you? Thought you had a few more weeks before that started." Ray asked amiably before the boys could get into an oh so mature name calling contest. Jess had secretly designated him as the den mother and Jason as the father figure with the way the two of them seemed to interchangeably keep the rest in line.
"No, not yet," Jess rubbed sweat from her brow with the sleeve of her running jacket. "Just a lot of assignments, practical exam prep and then a group project from hell which is due tomorrow and I'm not gonna lie, I've done about ninety percent of the work."
"That is just the worst," Sonny announced as he cracked into another beer from the box under his arm. "I tell ya, I just hate group projects. There's always someone who doesn't do their share."
Brock rolled his eyes the same moment the rest of them turned to stare at the Texan. "Sonny…your entire job is centered around group work."
"Exactly. And I would hate it if we didn't all do our part."
Ignoring Sonny, Jason chimed in casually, "You'll be done soon and headed out for the holidays, I'm betting."
Brightening and totally missing the way it made her friends smile, Jess answered enthusiastically, "Yeah! I'm headed to my dad's this year, back home. Mom wanted me to come to her place, but…well, that's just not happening. I picked dad's instead."
"Where is that?" Ray asked.
"Copper Creek, Maine!" Jess got a far off look. "Been a while since I was home. I'm hoping for snow. Kinda sick of rain."
"Well, sounds like it will be a much needed time with your family, snow or no snow."
"Yeah! It will be!" Jess smiled and stepped back down the drive a little. "Righto…well, nice to see you! Have a good night!"
"Night!"
"Don't work too hard"
"Stay off the roads."
"Look both ways before you cross the street."
"Call us when you get home!"
"Don't talk to strangers."
"And don't get in anyone's van, even if they have cookies."
"And Jess?" Jason's voice added to the light joking of his men, sharpening a little to demand her full attention. "Don't run with those earbuds too loud. Especially not at night. You really probably shouldn't have them in at all when you're out alone."
The bashful, awkward smile Jess had slipped a little. "They aren't loud. I don't like not being able to hear stuff around me…especially when I don't know the area."
"Good." Jason nodded a little with approval. "That's smart."
"You don't make a habit of running at night alone, do you?" Trent asked seriously.
"Not really…I mean, sometimes. I guess more often than not it's late." Jess admitted, shifting uncomfortably when the group stayed silent for a moment, locked in silent discussion.
"Metal has your number." Jason finally said, voice clipped and decided. "He's going to text you the addresses of himself, Trent and Brock. They live within a four block radius of your house, so it shouldn't matter what direction you head, there will be a house you can go to if something ever happens while you're out."
"This is my place," Ray added, "And the neighborhood is full of good people. Shouldn't be too much excitement here, even this late."
Jess was speechless. "A-are you sure? That's really generous-"
"We like ya, kid. Just wanna make sure you stay safe." Scott interrupted her.
"Yeah, it's a hazard of making friends with a bunch of Seals." Sonny laughed. "Other hazard is if they catch you out runnin and you're not paying attention like we suggested, they will absolutely scare the living daylights out of you to prove a point or just because, so be warned."
A nervous laugh left Jess's lips and she said, "I'll keep that in mind. Thanks guys. I really do appreciate it, and thanks again for looking out for me."
"Aww, don't thank us." Clay got a big cheeky smile that reminded her of her brother (back when they actually talked). "Being taken in by this team has its drawbacks. Means now you have a bunch of overprotective brothers that you have to put up with lecturing you about safety."
"Clay knows all about that." Sonny quipped, getting a friendly shove from the blonde.
"That's not so bad." Jess said, backing down the drive without an ounce of the tension she'd been carrying when the conversation started. Mentally she added, 'At least you guys actually seem to give a shit.'
"You say that now. Give it time." Scott said over his shoulder with a smile as the boys started up the drive toward the house again. "Take care of yourself, kid. We'll see ya around."