Total pages in book: 25
Estimated words: 25039 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 125(@200wpm)___ 100(@250wpm)___ 83(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 25039 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 125(@200wpm)___ 100(@250wpm)___ 83(@300wpm)
I just don't understand what's happening, God.
What am I supposed to do now?
I strive to hear His voice while taking a taste of my tomato soup and reheating some homemade rolls I found in the fridge.
Oh, Father in Heaven, please take pity on my poor brain.
But by the time I'm done with my mushroom risotto and mini stuffed bell peppers, it's still radio silence from the other side, and that worries me.
I know God will speak when He has something to say.
But there are also times when He needs to test us.
And times when we don't hear Him because we're not really listening.
I wish I knew which of these is true right now, but since I don't...
Fear not, Heaven, fear not!
Even when you think you can't hear Him—-
God's with you.
The sound of footsteps pulls me out of my thoughts, and my heart races when Mr. Hale comes into view.
It's my first time to see him fresh out of the shower, and his usual suit is replaced by a dark gray sweater that perfectly accentuates the broad slope of his shoulders and the massive expanse of his chest. His jeans are an equally good fit and add a touch of rugged masculinity to his otherwise sophisticated appearance.
"Is there something I can do to help?"
My nervousness fades when I hear his still-brooding tone, and I feel so, so bad for him again.
Everything happens for a reason, but I'm not sure I can tell Mr. Hale that.
To take comfort from knowing God's in control, you need to believe in Him first.
And so, in the meantime...
"All good," I say brightly.
I guess I'll do what I can to cheer him up, and...oh.
Mr. Hale pulls one of the counter stools out for me, and my heart flutters anew as I take my seat. He's acting like this is a date, but it's not.
Because he hates you, Heaven!
He's only forgotten he does because of the circumstances.
But once things are normal again, he'll go back to hating you, so don't let yourself forget!
He! Hates! You!
Hale
IT DIDN'T TAKE A GENIUS to know when the penny dropped for Heaven...and why.
One moment, she was smiling at him like she used to.
And then it was gone.
Because she remembered.
All the times he had punished her for her stepfather's sins.
Rejected her every overture because he chose to believe she was no different.
But worst of all, she had also remembered she had stopped giving a fuck about him, and it was like seeing his whole world dim as her smile disappeared.
"May I say grace, Mr. Hale?"
Her voice was stiff, and he gave her an equally curt nod.
He listened to her speak, but he wasn't really hearing a thing.
All he could think of was how different everything was now.
And how he should be glad that it was.
But he wasn't.
Dammit.
They ate in silence.
Everything she prepared tasted great, but he found it impossible to thank her for it.
He wanted to hate her, but he couldn't.
He hated that he cared about how she had changed, but he did.
And as unreasonable as it was, he blamed her for making her feel all of these things.
Life had its ups and downs, but it had never hit rock bottom.
Until now.
Until her.
And as much as he wanted to try hating her again—-
He knew it was no longer possible to turn back time.
Or forget what he now felt.
And that was why when he saw Heaven jump off her counter stool as soon as she was done eating—-
Hale was just as swift in getting to his feet, and Heaven cried out as he grabbed her arm and spun her around.
"Mr. Hale!"
She stared up at him, but it just wasn't confusion he saw in her eyes.
There was pain as well.
Because of him.
"I'm sorry," he bit out.
She jerked in shock.
"I know I've been cruel to you all these years," Hale acknowledged tightly. "And that you haven't done anything to deserve it. So...I'm sorry."
All she did was stare at him.
"Say something, dammit."
"I d-don't know what to say."
Her voice was now softer and tremulous, her eyes no longer dark with pain, and that told him everything he needed to know.
She might not have the words, but he did.
"Will you let me say it," Hale rasped out, "but in the only way I know?"
He watched her lips slowly part, and when he saw that she was about to say 'yes'—-
That was all he needed to see, and Hale pulled her close to do the one thing he had always wanted to do.
Since the first time he saw her, he had wanted this.
Only...he hadn't been able to admit it.
Until now.
Because he was done pretending.
Hale cupped her face, and finally...
Ah, finally...
He finally had his first taste of her lips.
And it was like...
Heaven.
Heaven
MY WORLD SPINS OFF tangent the moment his lips touch mine, and my mind ceases to function.
I can't even say this is something I ever dreamed of.