Total pages in book: 15
Estimated words: 13680 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 68(@200wpm)___ 55(@250wpm)___ 46(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 13680 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 68(@200wpm)___ 55(@250wpm)___ 46(@300wpm)
Ben embraces all that his family money gives him. He lives the 'life' of the rich and famous. I don't want that and avoid it. Every time I hear about him on the news it makes my stomach clench into a tight knot. The entertainment rags love to follow his latest exploits both in flirting with danger and women he's seen with. I like my quiet life. When I first started college reporters would follow me but I was so incredibly boring they quit within the first few months.
The smell of breakfast and fresh coffee drifts into my room. I smile remembering those scents. Esmeralda lives here and used to work for my stepmother. She's a maid, nanny and chef all rolled into one. Her fresh bread is to die for and the scent of it, along with dark brewed locally roasted coffee, is just the perfect way to wake.
I climb out of the bed leaving behind its warm comfort. I reach for the ceiling stretching out my lithe body bringing the muscles to life. I'm actually looking forward to the hike on today's itinerary. The hills around the villa are rolling, nothing overly strenuous so it will make a very nice day. The exercise will be good too, hours on the plane have left me stiff. I don't want to lose my tone, when I get back to school swim team competition will start again. Our team won the State Championship last year and I hope to help lead us to that victory again.
Walking into the kitchen Ben's sitting at the breakfast nook with a plate of food piled in front of him. He's reading a paper but I see him look over at me as I enter. Esmeralda moves around the kitchen humming. She looks up at me and smiles before grabbing the coffee pot and pouring a cup.
"Good Morning Miss Victoria!" she says brightly.
"Good morning Ezz," I call back using my childhood nickname for her.
She beams. "Did you sleep well? I've missed having you here!"
"Yes I did, very well. I've missed you too!"
She comes over and embraces me. She's a larger woman with strong features. Her hair is starting to show more gray than black and new lines have formed on her face since I last saw her.
She returns to fixing a plate for me so I slide into the breakfast nook opposite of Ben. He intently ignores me.
"Morning Ben," I say.
"Morning," he says without looking over his paper.
"When did you get in?"
"Late."
I nod and look around uncomfortable again. Conversation isn't supposed to be this hard. Surely we can find something in common to talk about.
"Congratulations on setting that speed record," I say.
He pauses part way through turning the page of his paper but doesn't look up from it. "It's not a big thing," he says.
"You set a world record, seems a pretty big deal."
He sets the paper aside. Our eyes meet and my core tightens. Those beautiful gray eyes of his, so intense, so knowing. He purses his lips, I see his finger starting to draw that same pattern on the table. He's going to say something ...
"You seem to be doing well in school," he says at last.
Something deflates inside me. I don't know what I was hoping for but that wasn't it. As my heart sinks I try to figure out what it is I want from him. I realize, I don't really know what I want. I want it to be like it was but that's not possible. We can't go back in time and now there's this gulf between us. I can't look at him and not feel niggling doubt. He left. They all leave.
"Yeah," I say. "It's been good. I like it a lot."
He nods still staring at me. Heat floods me as I grow more uncomfortable under his gaze. I'm probably blushing. Stupid.
"Hiking should be fun," he says.
"I think so, lot of memories out there."
He nods. His finger is still tracing that pattern like I'm the problem he has to solve but doesn't know the solution to. Well neither do I Ben, neither do I.
We finish our breakfast then Ben grabs a backpack of supplies that Esmeralda has prepared for us. He slings it over one shoulder and without a word heads out the back door. I follow along behind him feeling like a third wheel in a two wheel situation. The backpack is apparently better company and more welcome than I am.
I can't deny the view as we hike into the hills. It's beautiful here but that's not the only thing that has my attention. Ben takes long strides, each one pulling his jeans tight showing the flex of his muscles. I can't look at him like that, it isn't right. He's my brother. And he left.
"Remember that tree?" he says stopping and pointing to a large oak that stands on top of a hill by itself.