Today I was surprised to see him. I hadn't thought about him in a very long time. Not since the day I sold my first novel. I had become too busy to even think about it over the last few years. What with work, writing, all of the book tours, and the kids there was no time for myself and I was glad to have it that way. I had finished school in record time and graduated Summa Cum Laude. I have a Masters in Technology and enjoy working in that field. When he left I had made the decision to return to school to better my life, I had felt underappreciated in my job for a long time and knew the only way out of my rutt was to expand my knowledge and earn a degree in a ever growing field. I was still dabbling at being an author and never expected to be published. Yet just before graduation my first murder mystery hit the shelves. I didn't want my face on my novels, but my editor and publicist had finally talked me into it. I was beginning my book tour out on the west coast and for the first time my face was going to be pictured on the inside cover. For two years now I had always had a mask covering most of my face only my eyes have been invisible many of my readers found that as an interesting quirk and now the public was exceedingly excited to learn who was actually behind the mask of their favorite murder mystery series. I never expected my books to get on the New York Times best sellers list, but here I was only one week away from my 6th books release. I had messaged a few friends to tell them I would be out on their side of the country and even briefly mentioned it to his brother. He had suggested a cafe where he thought I might like the atmosphere and ambiance. He was right.
My publicist had officially assigned 2 bodyguards to me I contested at first but gave in quickly when he had shown me the stacks of crazy threat mail I had received. After the release of my second book they had began opening all of my fan mail and going through it for me getting me all of the mail that I needed to respond to. I enjoyed responding to Young bright individuals who are aspiring to be authors encouraging them never to stop.
It was my first day here and I had already checked into the hotel, loved my sweet, the boys had stayed at home with family I was missing them terribly but happy for the change of scenery, I had been kicking around a new idea for a novel in my head however I couldn't quite get it out on paper.
After checking into the hotel I decided to check that Cafe out, I had my friend's number and so I decided to text him and let him know I'd made it to town and I was going to check out the cafe that he had suggested. I asked if he had any other sites that I should see while I was here if he would let me know and he responded that he would meet me for a cup of coffee and we could discuss it. I did not even in my wildest dreams think that he would say anything to his brother. And up until now I thought I had done well in getting over him but all I had really done was run away from dealing with everything. The pain I experienced was more than I could bear I really literally felt that he had plunged his hand into my chest ripped my heart out of my chest. I had days where I could not even breathe, my world had come to an end and the old me had died that day. When it came to love now, I was very cynical, love works for others but for me, it just wasn't supposed to be. That was all right because I had many other things that I excelled at, thrived at accomplishing, and strived to push even higher.
I sat behind my laptop sipping a Vente peppermint mocha late one of the bodyguards sat across the room while the other sat at the booth behind me. The atmosphere was phenomenal and very much a muse for my writing. I had actually just finished typing the last sentence to my first chapter I knew that I could complete my novel here. I look up and my heart dropped to the floor. The pain came back with a force unlike I have ever experienced before I almost lost my breath however I inhaled slowly closing my eyes briefly I exhaled and open my eyes with a smile on my face that did not quite reach my eyes. " Hello Richard, what brings you here?" I managed to say I tried to make it sound normal and not as frigid as I had felt towards him. I heard him say, "John asked me to come let his friend know he would be a little late." I see him look past me and all around the room trying to find the friend he thought his brother had meant for him to find. I took another slow breath and smiled, "well thank you for letting me know. Don't let me keep you I'm sure your busy."I hadn't realized that I had stood when he approached I decided to sit down before my knees gave out. I noticed that both of the bodyguards assigned to me seemed a little bit on edge and I gave them a small nod and saw them visibly relax. When I turn back to my laptop and began to type trying to ignore his presence he responded, "actually I'm free I'll keep you company until he comes." I had thought I had dismissed him but obviously he ignored me. He sat down and motioned for the waitress to come. I look at him over the monitor of my laptop and smiled, "how long do you think he will be?" I asked. He shrugged and gave the waitress his order. I thought he would Oogle her as history had proven he loved women, and was surprised to see that he had not. He looked her right in the face and gave her his order. A wave of anger so strong hit me and I couldn't fathom where it came from, if I was over him why was I angry at the thought that he might Oogle somebody. I shook my head slightly trying to shake off that feeling and I looked at him my fake smile still on my face and I'm pretty sure that he noticed that it was not a real smile, "so ..." I had so many things I wanted to say none of which were polite and none of which should have been said in a place of business such as this however at the same time there are so many things that I wanted to ask, how is he doing, what was he doing lately, and how was his daughter but yet none of that could make it past my lips the only thing I could say was so... Thankfully he caught on, "it's been a while since we last spoke." I felt his eyes look me up and down before he continued, "You look amazing. I heard from John that you had graduated two years ago, Summa Cum Laude, very nice. Your out here on business?" He asked. My mind raced a mile a minute why couldn't John be here now why did I have to spend any amount of time with the one person who hurt me the most?
I never truly believed in love until I met him Richard made me feel things I never believed existed. His kindness, his humor, and the warmth that he gave me even now when I think about that... no I didn't need to think about that when he took it all away from me it felt like I was left out in the Arctic cold with nothing but my birthday suit. "Yes I am. Although I did come early so that I can have a few days to myself and actually do some sightseeing." Once the words left my mouth I couldn't understand what would possess me to tell him that. I was mentally beating myself up when I heard him say, "oh, and what are you looking to see?" the words came out of my mouth so quickly to his response that even I was shocked, "That's what John is going to help me figure out." I ended with a smile that actually reached my eyes. I loved my friends. All of my friends were amazing and that included John even though he was Richard's brother I would often tease him that I would not hold that against him. Not one of my friends ever made me feel inferior and they all kept me updated on their lives, which even though they were still Richard's friends made me feel like they like me for me and not because I was with Richard at the time. In fact Amalia and Stephen we're getting married at the end of the month and I was taking some time off from my book tour to attend their wedding my publicist had given me two weeks off for their wedding I just had to work really hard between now and then. When I had pitched my editor and publicist the idea for my latest novel they were all excited and couldn't wait to read my rough draft. Even though they know that my rough draft is not really my rough draft I never turned in a rough draft to them it was always quickly edited before I turned it into them. I briefly saw a strange look cross his face, and if I'm not mistaken that might have been jealousy, but that was impossible, why would he be jealous of his own brother? A few brief moments pass and I see his facial features once again slip back into his nonchalant smiling face and he responds, "oh I would be..." Just as he was about to finish John walked up.
"Hello beautiful hope I haven't kept you waiting too long." Richard looked from me to his brother and back and I could see a dark look crosses face for just a moment and then he stood up, "hey brother have seat, we were just talking about plans for the next few days and I hear you're going to give her some sightseeing information." John smiles from ear-to-ear, he knows his brother and he knows his brother is jealous. " yes I'm going to give her some suggestions and then I'll let her decide where I take her". He made sure to emphasize "where I take her", I knew he was doing it just to get a rise out of his brother and I had to stifle a giggle. John sits down and orders a coffee I close my laptop I was not going to get any more writing done at the moment I really wanted to enjoy the company of my friend even if that included his brother. We've made plans for the next day and John had invited me to dinner with his parents I asked him if his girlfriend would be there and that is when he told me that they had to split up a few months ago. I felt terrible that I had not been keeping in contact and I apologized for that. John brushed it off and I accepted his invitation I should have known something was up because Richard smiled and said, "great." I have no idea what that was about but I let it go it wasn't important after all it came from the one man that I believed hated the most. John who had been facing the window kind of looked a little nervous. He asked me if I was expecting anyone else to join them? He could see the bewildered look on my face and I shook my head now tilting my head slightly I asked why. He stood up and for some strange reason both Richard and I stood as well,only a few seconds passed by and John pulls me closely too his chest and pulls me down to the floor I see Richard dropped to the floor as well and here all sorts of strange noises as people are starting to scream and glass shatters. My bodyguards are instantly at my side, one of them is trying to shield my body and pull me along I feel John's arms slipping through my fingers and the next thing I know I'm inside the car Richard is beside me and the car is racing down the road. After my brief moment of panic I start wondering where John is and I tell my bodyguards to turn around that we needed to get John I needed to know he was safe. Seth turns to me and says, " he's safe. I saw him going in the other direction." Just then we heard a loud boom I turned to look in the rear window and see a billowing cloud of smoke along with fire and I know without a doubt it came from the building we were just in. I must have been shaking because Richard reached over took my hand and pulled me into his chest. "It's okay you're safe now." I feel his breathing calm and steady and a sigh of relief as his hand begins to pull pieces of glass from my hair. I'm really exhausted and despite my best efforts to fight against it I relax into him and for the first time in a long time I close my eyes and feel comfort, before the darkness of sleep takes me.230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqEs40r8Skj
