Love-Obsessed

9. JOGGING INJURY

Chapter seven

JOGGING INJURY

Gabriella inserted her earphones and listened to the jazz-fusion sounds as she jogged around the deserted streets of Spotswood and followed the path to the park nearby. She passed through the spacious playground, flowing and towering trees, a sports area filled with soccer players, and other joggers in her path. The music gave her a spring in her step and she increased her pace, savouring the warm sunlight heating up her cheeks.

She hadn’t been sleeping lately due to thinking about Nora and Erica, and wondered if it was a mere coincidence the two died in similar ways or if something else was going on. Would the police get any leads and interview her again for either death?

Footsteps behind her prompted her to look over her shoulder as she jogged along the grass in the park. As she turned the jogger changed course and ran towards the street. He wore dark glasses, a beanie covering part of his face, and a raincoat. She stopped for a minute to catch her breath and placed her hands across her waist, panting. Once she was re-energised, she broke into a slow jog and picked up her pace again as she ran back to the streets leading her home. Again, she’d heard footsteps behind her, and sure enough, the same jogger was running behind her. She couldn’t see his face properly because of his beanie and glasses.

She ran faster, but the man was catching up to her. It felt as if he was chasing her, but surely he had the right to jog freely in the area. Should she stop or keep going? Testing him out, she took an unexpected path down a dirt track leading to bushes, and the man changed course too. He was following her. No, she was safer to run as fast as her body could muster, but when she turned, her body flew into a huge boulder, and she fell on the ground, twisting her right ankle. “Oh, no!” She moaned in pain as her body lay at an awkward angle until she shifted her right leg out and massaged it. The pain was unbearable as she attempted to stand but her leg wouldn’t budge. Her back ached and her mind went fuzzy. She looked behind her, but the man had gone.

Retrieving her phone from her sports jacket pocket, she called her friend, Joy. “Hey, Joy. Can you come pick me up? I’ve sprained my ankle and I can’t walk on it.”

“Oh, Gabi. Are you sure it’s just a sprain?”

“I think so. It’s not that serious, but I won’t be able to walk and there’s no-one around here now.”

“I’m with Jesse and still in my pyjamas, but he’s free and ready to pick you up. You know, he’s a physiotherapist, so he’ll know what to do to make it heal quicker. Tell me where you are.”

Oh, great. Now her friend’s brother had to see her humiliation and stupidity, but what choice did she have? She gave her the address. “Fine. Thanks, Joy.” She ended the call and breathed through the pain while waiting. She massaged her ankle, but the pain was intolerable.

Gabriella thought about Jesse who she barely knew. He was attractive enough but each time she’d seen him at Joy’s house, he’d been with Erica and had only had eyes for her mostly. They only ever exchanged polite greetings and nothing more. She remembered as a young teenager when she’d had a big crush on Jesse, but he had always had girlfriends and was busy living life. He had barely noticed her then and was too busy courting his own ladies. He had always been her best friend’s brother, with nothing more on his part. She was over him now and that was a long time ago.

Gabriella scrolled through her phone, checked her social media pages and emails and took deep breaths to avoid the pain. A passerby stopped to ask her if she needed help, but she explained she was waiting for someone to pick her up. If only she’d seen her earlier, she wouldn’t have had to ring Joy. She became more anxious each time someone stared or offered help. Hurry up, Jesse!

Twenty minutes later, a familiar figure approached. “Gabriella. Are you okay? You don’t look too good.”

She stared at Jesse who wore tight-fitted jeans and a baggy t-shirt. “I think I sprained my ankle. I tripped over the boulder over there and twisted it.”

He nodded and moved closer to her ankle, feeling around it. “Is that sore here?”

“It is painful, and I can’t walk on it.” As he touched her upper leg, she ignored a tingly sensation in her stomach. She remembered Joy telling her he worked out, and it showed in his ripped muscles.”

“It does look like a sprain, which is lucky for you because a fracture would mean I’d need to take you to the hospital.” He placed his arm around her back and lifted her up slowly. “Lean on me and we’ll walk to my car. It’s not too far from here.”

Gabriella nodded. “I’m sure I can manage.” How could she not notice his square jaw and how his blonde highlights shone in the sun? It was cut short and revealed his handsome, chiselled face and full lips. She leaned most of her weight on Jesse and fought back the pain with each step.

“How did this happen exactly? I mean, how did you miss the boulder? It’s pretty obvious.” Jesse’s eyes lingered as she turned to face him while they walked.

Gabriella shrugged, not wanting to explain her paranoia about the man jogging behind her. “I was distracted, thinking about something and didn’t see it. But I appreciate you taking the time to get me. I didn’t want to call an ambulance and Joy’s one of my best friends. And I forgot you were a physiotherapist.” Why was she rambling?

His eyes glistened as he held her snugly with his strong arms. “It is no problem, Gabriella. Any friend of Joy’s is a friend of mine. I’m happy to help a damsel in distress.” Oh, please! She was anything but. “I’ll take you home and get you settled.”

Gabriella ignored her fragility and focused on being pampered by a handsome man who she was sure had always seen her as a little sister.