Chapter 272: Settling In

When you run at night, it's still humid and you have all day to think about your stupid decisions. To talk yourself out of the run and remind your brain how awful exercise is. That means by the time I've taken the first step off the front porch I'm already miserable. Night runs are the worst.

Especially when I had such an amazing day. After being in Pelican Bay for two months, I feel as if I'm settling in. And it's all thanks to Crispin. If not for him I never would have met the ladies who work at the bakery. I wouldn't spend my entire day set up in the shop gossiping about Tabitha's upcoming wedding or learning words of wisdom from Pearl as she sips away at her herbal tea and munches on a chocolate cupcake. Her husband picked her up around noon before the lunch rush and then I got behind the counter and helped clean up, carrying cups and plates. I wiped down tables and swept the floor. It was fun to get out of the house and see other people, even for my self-declared hermit lifestyl