Spencer’s POV

I sat in the dark staring at the wall. It had become my nightly ritual. After getting home from work, I always ordered Chinese food and then sat staring at the wall—waiting. Sounds and images never quite came to me in the same form as the night before. They were still there though. I had not quite figured out the exact science of my nightly sessions with my inner thoughts. Sometimes I was back in Ohio in my backyard with friends. My parents still together and well. My brothers still my heroes. The rest of the time I was with her.

On this particular afternoon, we were at the graduation party on the beach. She was wearing her white bikini with the yellow trim and running around laughing like a crazy person. Wrestling with Aiden, and throwing Kyla in the ocean. From my location on my beach towel, I smiled at the beautiful brunette and shook my head at her silliness. Our eyes met and we exchanged a polite smile. Aiden took this opportunity to catch her off guard and sent her sailing into the water.

“Buuuuzzzzz!” I was shaken from my thoughts by the doorbell. Su Xiang tian met me at the door with my dinner. He was a pleasant man, who looked old enough to have met Moses in person. I had known him for three years, and in that time I had learned that he has eight grandchildren, two daughters, and a wife of forty years. Everyone just calls him Lucky.

“Hi, Ms. Carlin. You look tired. Maybe you’re working too hard at that fancy law firm of yours,” he said with both concern and humor radiating from his face. He loved to tease me about my job—about everything really.

“Not too hard, just hard. I’ll be just fine.”

“Well, maybe if you order something different once in a while. You know we do have a menu. You always get sweet & sour chicken. Maybe try my spicy chicken some time. It will make you feel better and less tired.”