whenever he's gone. He likes to keep a constant tab on me, especially from afar.
My hand moves to pick up the receiver, but then I stop myself. Nathan is in Seattle. He can't hurt me right now.
Deep down inside I know the consequences that will come from me not answering, but at the moment I just don't care. My arm falls back down to my side, and I let the phone continue to ring while I walk to the bedroom. The handset on the nightstand rings and rings and rings. Without hesitation, I grab the phone and take out the battery. With a nod of satisfaction, I change into pajamas, wash my face, brush my teeth and then nestle into my side of the bed.
I close my eyes, but sleep escapes me. I can't seem to stop thinking about Max. And as our dinner replays for the fifth time in my head, I throw back the comforter with a sigh. Climbing out of bed, I move to the windows and glance over at Max's house. He's cleaning up from our dinner on his porch, and I watch him from a shroud of darkness. I know I shouldn't spy on him, but I can't help it.
Dinner with Max felt like a first step for me in the right direction for once. I let him touch me, and he held me as I cried. I haven’t cried in front of anyone for years, and I can't even remember the last time I let someone hold me. Just the thought of it makes me nervous. I've been shown nothing but pain and cruelty for so many years that an act of kindness is abnormal to me now. But there's just something about Max that makes me feel safe, and I want to hold onto that feeling for as long as I can. Even though I instinctively want to keep my guard up when I'm around him, he's been easily knocking down all my walls without even trying. He sees me. He really sees me. I'm not just a possession or a trophy to him. I'm someone. And I think I might be someone he cares about, even if it's just as a friend.
Max told me he wants to spend time with me this week. He wants to get to know me better, and I feel exactly the same way. I want to know everything about him --- where he grew up, about his family, why he chose to be a doctor, his hopes and dreams. I don't know what the future holds, but it's suddenly looking brighter than it ever has before.
I watch Max until he douses the tiki torches and candles and retreats inside his house. I return to bed and close my eyes. With thoughts of Max running through my head, I slowly fall asleep with a smile on my face.
CHAPTER 7
AVERY
The next day I meet my dad at our usual place, a seafood restaurant in Rodanthe. The owner of the restaurant and my father grew up together; and so even though the place is packed, we're able to secure our favorite table right near a large window overlooking the Pamlico Sound.
For the primary portion of the meal, I listen to my father talk about his upcoming campaign for governor. "It's almost a lock. With the Masons behind me, I don't see how I couldn't win," he says smugly.
Nathan's family has money and power. If they want strings to be pulled, they will be pulled no matter the cost. I think back to the first time I met Nathan. I often wonder if that night had been planned by our parents to get Nathan and I together. I can't say I really blame my father. He probably thought he was helping out by introducing me to one of the wealthiest bachelors in North Carolina. He couldn't have known about Nathan's dark side. I don't know if Nathan's own parents even know. The only person who knows the absolute truth is me…and now Max. And I haven't even told Max that much. He somehow figured some of it out on his own. For years I felt like I was standing in a crowded room screaming, but no one could hear my cries. And then Max gives me one look and instantly knows me inside and out. It scares me more than anything, but it also gives me hope for something I haven't felt in my life since my mother died --- love.
I stare down at the fancy linen napkin I'm nervously twisting in my trembling hands. I've never been able to have a
My hand moves to pick up the receiver, but then I stop myself. Nathan is in Seattle. He can't hurt me right now.
Deep down inside I know the consequences that will come from me not answering, but at the moment I just don't care. My arm falls back down to my side, and I let the phone continue to ring while I walk to the bedroom. The handset on the nightstand rings and rings and rings. Without hesitation, I grab the phone and take out the battery. With a nod of satisfaction, I change into pajamas, wash my face, brush my teeth and then nestle into my side of the bed.
I close my eyes, but sleep escapes me. I can't seem to stop thinking about Max. And as our dinner replays for the fifth time in my head, I throw back the comforter with a sigh. Climbing out of bed, I move to the windows and glance over at Max's house. He's cleaning up from our dinner on his porch, and I watch him from a shroud of darkness. I know I shouldn't spy on him, but I can't help it.
Dinner with Max felt like a first step for me in the right direction for once. I let him touch me, and he held me as I cried. I haven’t cried in front of anyone for years, and I can't even remember the last time I let someone hold me. Just the thought of it makes me nervous. I've been shown nothing but pain and cruelty for so many years that an act of kindness is abnormal to me now. But there's just something about Max that makes me feel safe, and I want to hold onto that feeling for as long as I can. Even though I instinctively want to keep my guard up when I'm around him, he's been easily knocking down all my walls without even trying. He sees me. He really sees me. I'm not just a possession or a trophy to him. I'm someone. And I think I might be someone he cares about, even if it's just as a friend.
Max told me he wants to spend time with me this week. He wants to get to know me better, and I feel exactly the same way. I want to know everything about him --- where he grew up, about his family, why he chose to be a doctor, his hopes and dreams. I don't know what the future holds, but it's suddenly looking brighter than it ever has before.
I watch Max until he douses the tiki torches and candles and retreats inside his house. I return to bed and close my eyes. With thoughts of Max running through my head, I slowly fall asleep with a smile on my face.
CHAPTER 7
AVERY
The next day I meet my dad at our usual place, a seafood restaurant in Rodanthe. The owner of the restaurant and my father grew up together; and so even though the place is packed, we're able to secure our favorite table right near a large window overlooking the Pamlico Sound.
For the primary portion of the meal, I listen to my father talk about his upcoming campaign for governor. "It's almost a lock. With the Masons behind me, I don't see how I couldn't win," he says smugly.
Nathan's family has money and power. If they want strings to be pulled, they will be pulled no matter the cost. I think back to the first time I met Nathan. I often wonder if that night had been planned by our parents to get Nathan and I together. I can't say I really blame my father. He probably thought he was helping out by introducing me to one of the wealthiest bachelors in North Carolina. He couldn't have known about Nathan's dark side. I don't know if Nathan's own parents even know. The only person who knows the absolute truth is me…and now Max. And I haven't even told Max that much. He somehow figured some of it out on his own. For years I felt like I was standing in a crowded room screaming, but no one could hear my cries. And then Max gives me one look and instantly knows me inside and out. It scares me more than anything, but it also gives me hope for something I haven't felt in my life since my mother died --- love.
I stare down at the fancy linen napkin I'm nervously twisting in my trembling hands. I've never been able to have a
Similar Books
