Total pages in book: 131
Estimated words: 122609 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 613(@200wpm)___ 490(@250wpm)___ 409(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 122609 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 613(@200wpm)___ 490(@250wpm)___ 409(@300wpm)
About an hour later, they were back at his home. As soon as he opened her door to let her out of the car, she got to her feet and he wrapped his arms around her, startling her. He hugged her so tight… She returned his embrace, fighting her emotions as he kissed the top of her head. He then took her hand and led her inside his home.
“Change into something comfortable,” was all he said before he parted ways from her. “I’ll be back to get you in ten minutes. We’re going on a little trip.”
Confused, she went to the room she’d been sequestered into, removed her clothing, and slipped into some jeans and a wrinkled T-Shirt that read, ‘In My Defense, I was Left Unsupervised.’ She slipped on a pair of white socks and her sneakers, and waited by the door. Then, she recalled it was open. Turning the knob, she stepped out. No one was there, but the hall was flooded with beautiful purple light. She began to walk down the hallway, taking her time now to look at some of the gorgeous abstract artwork hanging on the walls. She got to a small room that was full of books, decorated in rich tones of brown, bronze, and cream.
Greek statues sat in various places in the room, which was so different from the rest of the house. It was old fashioned, yet fresh and comforting. On the right she noticed a computer. It was open. She closed her eyes tight. Reaching for the necklace he’d given her, she rolled the pendant between her forefinger and thumb.
This is probably another damn test!
She turned on her heels and exited the room, then stood in the hallway, pacing back and forth. It wasn’t long before Archer showed up with a helmet.
“Here. Put this on.”
She hesitated just a little before taking it and sliding it over her head. The next five minutes she was laughing and screaming her head off. Giddy and delighted. The wind whipping past her body made her feel alive. On the back of his motorcycle she sat as he traveled narrow roads in the darkness, music blasting from the vehicle: ‘Time Moves Slow,’ by BADBADNOTGOOD.
She held onto his waist as he zigged and zagged. She let go of the days. Of time. Of hardships and bad memories. His cologne bathed her as the breeze tossed it back in her direction. She drank it slowly, relishing it. Digging her nails into the fabric of his shirt, she leaned her forehead against his back. Before she knew it, they were in a spectacular place, both physically and mentally.
Mount Evans Scenic Byway—a spot settled between the Echo Lake Park and Evergreen. In the distance were glacier valleys, mountains, and alpine lakes.
“It’s so pretty…” she stated breathlessly as he helped her off the back of the motorcycle. He nodded, then walked about twenty feet away, just looking out at the open land before him. She had no idea why he’d brought her here, but she appreciated it all the same. It was exactly what she needed. Old memories were racing to the forefront and attempting to destroy her as she endured this situation with a man who was capricious and hard to understand. And yet, right this moment he was easy to understand. Everything made sense. The puzzle pieces had come together.
At the same time, all of this opened up old wounds. All of the emotions she’d bottled up, the ones she’d told herself she could no longer afford to feel because she had to be strong. For her. For her friends. For her family. For all the strangers looking up to her. She couldn’t afford to fall apart. She couldn’t stand to cry or break down in front of others. She’d been raised to not show emotion. To hold it in. Be a fighter. But then… a traitorous tear slid down and wet her cheek. And another.
Things became blurry. When she looked through the curtain of her crying, she saw him standing there, right in front of her.
“I can’t stand my mother sometimes, Archer, but I’d do anything to talk to her. To hear her go off on me. To be teased and tormented.” Her cheeks warmed. “She loves me. She doesn’t show it the way I want her to, but I know she does. She wanted me to be great, but all she saw was my father when she looked at me, and that scared her.” He nodded in understanding. Then, he reached into a small satchel he had around his waist and pulled out a cellphone—hers. He handed it to her.
“You don’t have to call her right now. You can do it in private.”
“Thank you.”
They stood there a while longer. Just the two of them, along with their past. The past was bigger than both of them, but it was getting smaller the closer they stood together. Forming as one.