Total pages in book: 82
Estimated words: 78850 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 394(@200wpm)___ 315(@250wpm)___ 263(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 78850 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 394(@200wpm)___ 315(@250wpm)___ 263(@300wpm)
Brody frowns as if that did not occur to him.
“Fine, same applies to me.” His eyes dart to mine. I don’t have the heart to tell him I don’t care who he hooks up with.
“Raven will be fine, and I highly encourage it.” She nods, setting her drink down and looking around at the picturesque view.
Heaven. At least my version. I look over at the brick street, the sun kissing it with a slight glare, the smell of flowers hanging from the balconies filling the air.
This is where the wealthy come to play and dock their yachts. Celebrities can walk the streets without being harassed. All I can do is drag myself out of bed and stumble down to the beach, where I fall asleep again until Brody wakes me up to turn onto my back.
I do need to work on my Spanish. Even though most everyone speaks English, I’m determined to master it since this is going to be my home. Brody staying might actually be a good thing. He can help pay rent after the six months are up.
“I’m gonna set up my office on the balcony.” Brody smiles. “I need to write my thesis paper, and the view is perfect.” He stands and stretches.
“Oh, perfect,” Cher says dryly as she looks at me, like I can do anything.
A Ferrari speeds up the narrow street, and my face flushes and heart races. I lean forward, grabbing the table.
Please be him, please.
He gets out, and of course, it’s not him. Not ever gonna be him. Because Jett is in Los Angeles with my mother, getting ready to marry her.
“God.” I sigh and let go of the table, blinking away the tears, which are a regular occurrence. Lately they’ve been part of my daily routine.
Wow, that guy doesn’t even resemble him. Aside from the dark hair, he looks nothing like Jett.
This is getting ridiculous. It’s like he’s haunting me. Either that, or I so desperately want him to appear, I think I’m seeing him everywhere.
Clearly, deep down inside, I hoped he was going to come after me. Which is pathetic, and I will never voice it, but even after everything he did, I still burn for him.
I’ve woken up every night sweating. It’s horrible and torturous, and I’ve only now given up. I frantically use my fingers to fuck me, as I see him, feel him… let him guide me to my release.
And I hate him for that.
That still doesn’t change the way I feel, and the truth that I’m terrified I’ll never be free of him.
“Raven?” Cher’s voice brings me back to the now.
“Yes?”
“Jesus. You’ve got to pull yourself together.” She shakes her head and stands.
“Brody, you’re gonna cook, and not just vegan crap.” She loops her arms with both of ours, and we start down the street.
I stop listening as they both laugh together, because even laughter hurts. More than anything else, I’m just so sad, and watching them makes it harder. No matter what Brody says, he never felt this way about me.
Wasted love.
“I’m gonna go for a swim.” I try to pull away.
“No, you’re going to take a shower, and then we are all going out tonight, and we’re gonna have fun.”
I turn to look up at her. Having given up on heels, flip flops are my shoes of choice these days.
“If I go out tonight, you promise I don’t have to go out again?”
“Um, no. But, if you go out tonight and have a smile and a laugh, then you don’t have to go out again for another week.” I roll my eyes at her.
“Again, it’s like I’m dealing with ninety-year-olds. Actually, the elderly would be more fun than you and old man Brody.” She shakes her head as both of us try avoiding the hat.
“For the love of God, we will go as long as you never wear this fucking thing again.” He pulls her hat off and tosses it up in the air while she screams and laughs, both of them running to try getting to it first as it floats down the street.
I want to be them. I want to never feel like this again.
I want…
I take a deep breath and follow them, because at the end of the day, even feeling like my heart has been damaged, I have them, and they won’t let me give up.
So, screw it. Cher wants to go clubbing? I will. Brody wants to stay and take over the balcony? It’s his. Without them, I’m not sure I’ll make it.
“Raven,” Cher screams for me. Shading my eyes, I stare down the street at them. It looks like she’s retrieved her hat, but Brody has tossed her over his shoulder.
I shake my head, and smile, yet I hear his voice in my head. “Do you dare?”
“Fuck you, Jett Powers, get out of my head,” I say, putting one foot in front of the other. One day it won’t feel like a chore. One day I’ll wake up and he’ll be gone.