Total pages in book: 105
Estimated words: 101662 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 508(@200wpm)___ 407(@250wpm)___ 339(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 101662 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 508(@200wpm)___ 407(@250wpm)___ 339(@300wpm)
“And what about here?” I asked, darting away from him and shaking off the butterflies that had no right to be forming in my gut. I placed my feet against solid ground.
He slid his hands into his pockets and arched an eyebrow. “That’s the family room.”
“And here?” I asked, moving to the right.
“The meditation space.”
“Do you meditate?”
“Every morning before yoga.”
I arched an eyebrow. “You do yoga?”
“It’s good for my body and soul. Without it, I’d probably be as stiff as a board.”
I laughed. “I tried to get Henry into yoga. He said that was a woman’s fluff thing.”
“Henry mentioned the meditation room was for you and your yoga.”
“Yes, it was my only request. He took over the rest of the planning process, but I was determined to have a room just for me.”
“Good for you, Kierra. You deserve that.”
I didn’t know why, but hearing my name roll off his tongue made me want to cry. So I moved again.
“Oh, oh, and here?” I asked, taking large strides across the empty plot of land.
“That is…” His brows knit and he tilted his head as if trying to recall his master plans for the property.
“It’s okay if you don’t know. I know it’s almost impossible to remember it—”
I stopped speaking because he held up a hand. “No, I know this,” he stated. He scrunched up his nose. “The only problem is I think you’re standing in two places at once. Your left foot is in the family room, while your right is in the dining hall.”
“I always wanted to be in two places at once.”
“That’s very A Walk to Remember of you,” he joked.
I arched an eyebrow. “You know the movie?”
Of course, he did. I’d made him watch it a dozen times with me when we were young. He hated it, but he always watched with me. Did he remember it, though? Did he remember me? Is that why he’d brought it up? As a sign that he knew who I’d been and he was quietly trying to tell me? Is that why he came outside to find me? To tell me that he—
“My last ex was in love with it,” he said.
The slight hope I’d had deflated instantly.
Why did I feel like crying again?
I wanted to shoot a million and one questions toward him that I knew he couldn’t answer. Trillions of thoughts bombarded my mind as I stared into the eyes of a man who once knew me. How did he handle losing his brother? What was it like when his mother told him what happened to Elijah? I wanted to ask him everything, but I didn’t know what lines were mine to cross. The last time I saw his mother, Amma made it clear that she wanted me to have nothing to do with her son. She made me promise all those years back that I’d stay away. It was the hardest promise I’d ever had to keep, but it was the least I could do after the harm I’d caused. I felt as if I didn’t deserve Gabriel, not his love and not his friendship.
Yet there he was, standing right in front of me, reminding me of every memory we’ve ever made. An avalanche of emotions rushed through my system as the memories were unlocked, and he didn’t seem to remember a single one. A million questions fluttered through my mind about him and who he’d become while he stared at me as if I were nothing more than a stranger.
Are you currently in love with someone? Who last broke your heart? Do you still brush your teeth with your nondominant hand? Did your mother open her bakery? Do you still think you dream in color? What’s your favorite dinner spot nowadays? Do you have any pets? Do you still play baseball for fun? What’s your best memory from the past twenty years? How do you deal with failure? When was the last time you cried? Do you remember anything from your past? Did any memories come back? How much did it hurt to learn about Elijah’s passing? Is your heart okay? Has it healed? Do you remember me somewhere in your subconscious? Even small, minuscule details of us? Are there fragments of me lingering within your thoughts? When you look at me now, does your heart unwaveringly skip a few beats?
Gabriel took a step toward me, with his hands still in his pockets. His strides were direct and his eyes were packed with intent as he moved in closer. “I have an odd question for you.”
I swallowed hard. “Okay. Shoot.”
“Do we…” His voice faltered. He shook his head slightly. “Do we—”
“Gabriel,” was called from the direction of the house. I turned to see Ramona walking toward us with jackets in her hands. Gabriel took a step away from me. He shook off the thought as he turned toward Ramona and gave her a smile. She moved in closer, slightly out of breath. “I got our coats. We can head out.” Her blue eyes moved over to me and she glanced around. “Was Gabriel telling you about his plans?”