Total pages in book: 29
Estimated words: 27826 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 139(@200wpm)___ 111(@250wpm)___ 93(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 27826 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 139(@200wpm)___ 111(@250wpm)___ 93(@300wpm)
“Wait,” I say, reaching a hand out. But she slips like quicksilver through my grasp to go stand by her friends once more.
Maybe she just isn’t into you anymore. Or maybe she’s just not ready to talk quite yet, the voice in my head reasons.
“Cocktail?” a waiter asks while standing at my elbow. I watch discreetly as Catherine talks with that boy from the ceremony again. Who is he? He’s tall, with carroty red hair and a big grin. His frame is gangly, and I wouldn’t be surprised if I were double his weight. My blood boils.
“Yes,” I said grabbing a mimosa off the tray. “Thank you.”
Swallowing hard, I gulp the cocktail. I have to talk to her, but what should I say?
Catherine, it’s so good to see you again. How have you been? Congratulations on graduating. What have I been up to? Nothing much. I’ve been thinking about you every day, and was wondering if you think about me as well?
No. That’s stupid, not to mention pathetic.
My thoughts run in circles as I try to figure out a way to approach her. It’s so sad. I used to be smooth with the opposite sex, but somehow, I’ve forgotten how to walk up to a woman and make conversation.
Just do it, the voice in my head urges. It’s not that hard. You’re Hunter Brody, for crying out loud.
Before I can think twice, I grab a second mimosa and stride swiftly to her side. Then, I touch her elbow.
“Catherine.”
She glances over her shoulder as the people around her gasp with recognition. It’s a common reaction now that I play professionally. But even that doesn’t seem to shake her resolve not to talk to me.
“What are you doing, Hunter?” she asks in a quiet voice. She’s so close that I can smell her intoxicating perfume.
“Trying to get you to have a drink with me,” I say. “Here,” I add, pushing the second mimosa into her hand. She shakes her head.
“No thanks.”
“I’ll take it,” a blonde woman standing by Catherine sings. She grins and nods to Catherine. “You’re Hunter, right? I’m Corrie, Catherine’s best friend. I’m sorry we’ve never met before.”
Something tells me that Corrie’s heard plenty about me already. I smile politely.
“Nice to meet you, Corrie.”
“You too,” the woman trills. “Come on, Mark. Let’s give them their privacy.” She grabs the redheaded man by his tie and leads him off. He follows willingly, obviously in love by this woman. That’s good. He’s not dating Catherine, he’s dating Corrie. But now, I’m left with the woman of my dreams.
“So,” I say, trying to find my voice. “I’m sure you have a ton of questions for me.”
Catherine steps back from me, still looking like she might run at any second.
“Not really.”
“Look, I get it. You’re pissed I left.”
She throws me a long look.
“Actually Hunter, I’m not mad at all. You did what you thought was the right thing to do. And by the looks of things, you’ve come a long ways,” she says, indicating my expensive suit and thousand dollar watch.
“Catherine, you don’t have to be like this with me. You know that physical ‘things’ don’t matter. We both know it was unfair of me to leave like that,” I say, leaning in a bit. She leans back. This conversation is flopping, and I feel like a failure.
“So, what’s been going on with you this past year?” I try again. “I thought about you a lot.”
Catherine glances away, as if avoiding eye contact. She’s so beautiful without even trying. Her cheeks are flushed, and her breasts heave a bit. It takes all of my restraint not to pull her against me.
“Not a whole lot,” she says in a vague tone. “But I’m sure you’ve had a lot of things going on, and I’m sure you want to get back to them.”
That’s a hint if I’ve ever heard one, but I don’t take it.
“Actually, I wanted to spend time with you. I know the last time we saw each other was kind of crazy, but I want you to know that I’ve been thinking about it a lot.”
She meets my eye for a quick second.
“It’s okay. I get it. I was a rebound. You and Angela had just broken up, and you were looking for a quick fix to get over her. It wasn’t anything serious, and I haven’t taken it seriously either.”
Something tells me that that’s not the truth at all, and I barrel forward.
“No, it wasn’t like that for me. Yes, I’d just broken up with your sister and I came to pick up my things, but that doesn’t mean that what we shared together was nothing. It meant something to me.”
“I’m glad,” she says. “It meant something to me too,” she continues before taking a deep breath. “But you see, my life has changed. I’m not the same girl that you met, and I’m pretty sure you aren’t the same man either. All I’m saying is that you don’t have to apologize to me for any of it. There’s nothing to apologize for.”