Total pages in book: 87
Estimated words: 81401 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 407(@200wpm)___ 326(@250wpm)___ 271(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 81401 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 407(@200wpm)___ 326(@250wpm)___ 271(@300wpm)
“Very. This is my favorite place.”
“It’s my first time here. Tell me why you like it.” I change the way I’m sitting so that I’m somewhat closer to her. I don’t know if I’m flirting or not. Or whether I should even let that word into my thoughts. I know she’s not ready to be hit on, but I can’t help myself.
“They don’t allow paparazzi in here or allow them to take pictures through the windows.”
“Are you bothered a lot by the media?” I ask.
Zara shrugs. “Sometimes. Right now I’m top news because of what Van did, but normally they take my picture if they see me shopping or something. Right now they’re camped out in front of my house, making me miserable.”
“I’m sorry.”
She smiles softly. “It’s not like that for you in Nashville?”
I sit back and fiddle with the handle on my mug. “Life in Tennessee is laid back. If I’m walking down the street, people say hey like we’ve been friends for years. The paparazzi really don’t bother us unless there’s something big going on. Plus it probably helps that I live on over twenty acres of land away from everyone else.”
“Wow, that must be so nice. The solitude.”
“Or it’s boring. Honestly, unless I’m on tour my life is fairly monotonous. I eat, sleep, write, and record. I rarely leave my land.”
“Do you have horses? I’ve always wanted to ride one.”
“I do. Want to take a trip to Nashville and learn to ride?” I look away quickly and wish I could take my question back. To avoid looking at her, I pick up my mug and take a drink, wishing I were anywhere but here right now. The last thing I want to do is put her in a position to turn me down or find some excuse as to why she can’t randomly take a trip to Nashville.
“I’d actually like that, Levi. I like the idea of getting away where no one would bother me, where I could walk outside and not worry about the paparazzi hiding behind my bushes to take my photos.” She too picks up her mug and drinks, almost as if she’s avoiding my response.
“As I told you last night, I’m here, Zara.”
“When can we leave?” she asks, throwing me off a bit.
“Um. . .”
Zara looks around before she leans closer and motions for me to do the same. “Here’s the thing. Van told me last night that he’s about to enter some rehab for sex addicts and I’d really like to disappear when he does that. I don’t want to be here when that happens. I don’t want the press hounding me for a reaction nor do I want to have to deal with my label. I want to disappear,” she says barely above a whisper.
As much as I want to tell her that we can leave in an hour, I can’t do that to the girls. I promised them we’d wait until school was out before I made them go back to Nashville.
“I’m sorry,” she says. “I’m overstepping.”
“You’re not,” I say as I reach for her hand. Once again, I rest mine on top of hers for a brief second, hoping to convey that I’m okay with her asking to go to my place in Nashville.
“Maybe I’m the one overstepping,” I tell her. “I assumed you’d want me to go with you and right now I can’t leave because I promised the girls that I’d let them finish out the school year. Believe me I would love to get the hell out of Hollywood and be back on my ranch.”
“I expected you to go with me,” she tells me with a smile, and now I feel like she’s flirting with me, but I know better.
“I want to, but Stormy and Willow. . .”
“I understand, Levi. But if I disappear, know that I’ll be back after he’s out of rehab.”
I don’t want her to disappear. I know I’ve only known her for two days but can’t imagine not seeing her a few times a week, even if it’s only for coffee.
“Let me talk to my ma and see if she doesn’t mind staying with the girls for a bit. We can fly to Nashville, and once I have you set up on the ranch, I can come back. I’ll let you know later today. Is that okay?”
Zara smiles brightly and just like that, the gloom that was lingering over us for a moment is gone. She finishes her coffee and motions toward the door. I do the same and quickly follow her out.
“I apologize now if they take your photo.”
“I’m used to it,” I tell her as I pull my cap lower. She does the same with her hat and takes off toward the park with me by her side. We get about ten feet away before her name is being called and a slew of questions are being tossed her way, asking about Van, their divorce, and whether they’ll reconcile. She just walks faster and keeps her head down. I realize how bad it must be for her, especially with everything that is going on with her husband.