Total pages in book: 31
Estimated words: 28599 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 143(@200wpm)___ 114(@250wpm)___ 95(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 28599 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 143(@200wpm)___ 114(@250wpm)___ 95(@300wpm)
“How could you just leave like that?” Alex demands in a hurt tone. “Without saying anything?”
“I’m sorry,” Elle says a slightly indignant voice. “I didn’t know you’d come looking for me.”
“What did you imagine we’d do?” I growl in a low voice, blue eyes flashing. “We’ve been frantic with worry. You could have at least left us a note or something, saying you were coming here. We would have understood.”
“But how did you find me?” Elle asks in a shaking voice.
“The Find My Phone app,” grunts Alex, his piercingly blue eyes flashing. “We saw your cell was here at the monastery. All we could do was hope that you were here, with it.”
“Of course, because where else would I be?” she breathes. “If my phone is here -”
“It’s fine,” I interrupt in a calm tone. “I think the bigger question is, why are you here, Elle? What drove you to seek solace at the City of Enlightenment?” The curvy girl crosses her arms across her chest. Even beneath the linen tunic, I can tell how huge and soft her tits are, and swallow, forcing my mind back to the matter at hand.
“As a matter of fact,” she says defiantly, “I’m here because I’m meditating on our relationship.” This shuts both Alex and me up, and we exchange confused glances.
“Our relationship?” I rasp.
“What do you mean?” Alex adds.
“Well,” Elle sighs, looking back and forth between us. “There’s been so much conflict. So much has happened. So I’ve come here to meditate and look for divine guidance.” Both my adopted son and I are dumbfounded, but it’s clear neither of us want to appear disrespectful or insensitive.
“And?” I ask gently. “Have you gotten any answers yet?” Elle seems to retreat into herself for a moment, as if she’s weighing her response carefully. I hate that I’m at the edge of my seat like this, desperate for her to tell me she’s coming home to us soon. But I can’t help it because the curvy girl is holding my fate in her hands.
“I’m still waiting for guidance,” Elle states in a melodic tone. “There are no clear answers yet.” Alex growls with frustration and I’m tempted to turn to him and tell him to knock it off, but the truth is that I share his impatience.
“What do we need to do, Elle?” I ask through clenched teeth. I’m prepared to do anything to get her back, and I know Alex feels the same. But to my intense dismay, Elle is shaking her head sadly.
“I don’t think there’s anything you can do,” she says, her eyes brimming with tears.
“There has to be,” Alex insists, trying to control his temper. “Just tell us, Elle.”
“There isn’t,” Elle shakes her head. “Only divine guidance can help me now.”
I force myself not to storm over to the beautiful brunette, lift her off her feet and fling her over my shoulder before hauling her back to my truck. Why is she saying this? Doesn’t she know what kind of torment she’s putting us both in by shutting herself up in a monastery, shrouding her curves, and depriving us of her sweet, angelic smile? I can tell from a twitch in Alex’s jaw that he’s struggling with the same thoughts. Men like us don’t know how to deal with a situation like this. We tend to get what we want, and maybe that’s why we need Elle. Maybe we need to change.
“When did you become Buddhist?” I ask instead, trying to take things slow.
“I started the practice only recently,” she answers, her voice even. “It resonates with me.”
“What about the practice resonates, precisely?” Alex growls.
Elle glares at him a bit.
“The philosophy in general,” she replies sassily, daring us to question her. But we won’t. It’s clear she’s serious about her stay here, and I’m starting to accept it. I can tell Alex is, too. “The emphasis on meditation, transcendence, and a peaceful coexistence with other living organisms in the world. That’s what I’m looking for. A tranquil existence. And that’s not what I’m getting at home right now.”
I nod, understanding. I can’t deny it’s been a stressful period for me, so I can’t even begin to imagine how unsettling this all must be for Elle.
“I understand,” I murmur gently, unclenching my jaw. Elle visibly relaxes as well, though she looks a little surprised at my words.
“You do?” she breathes.
“Of course,” Alex answers, clearly having done a turnabout. “We’re sorry we disturbed your peace. We were just worried about you.”
“Alex is right,” I nod. “Now that we know you’re safe, sweetheart, we’ll leave you in peace.”
Elle looks stunned at first, but then she lets out a small sigh as her shoulders slump.
“Thank you,” she sighs with the flicker of a smile. “I appreciate it.” Now that I see how much our understanding means to her, I feel terrible for storming in like this. But I hope it can be a lesson for her, and for us as well.