AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Let me stop thinking about Jess. The way she made me feel, the sick things she said, did, they’re not me.
They don’t have to define me. They don’t have to twist my self-image.
For the rest of the bus ride, I try not to think of the stranger, a man I’ve seen once and will never see again. But his image is tattooed into my mind.
It was his calm, most of all, as though his size and his physical strength are only byproducts of his mental toughness.
I almost laugh at myself.
I saw him for maybe ten seconds if that. And suddenly, I want to make all these assumptions?
But as the bus brings me closer to the restaurant, I return to the fantasy.
I imagine walking down the street, calling his name – whatever it is – and seeing him turn. His serious features will shape into a smile, just for me, a glimpse of brightness he doesn’t offer the rest of the world.
“Della,” he’d say in his passionate voice. “You’ve got no idea how happy I am to see you.”
Hours later, scalding dishwater seeping through a hole in my gloves, I know I’ll still be there, living in make-believe land on that street.
CHAPTER2
Elias
What the hell?
I walk onto the college campus, my chest getting tight as I replay what just happened.
Except, whatdidhappen?
“What the hell?” I mutter under my breath, needing to give voice to it, as though that will help push it away.
The woman on the bus….
I almost bump into a gaggle of students. I’m so distracted. They move out of my way. A couple of the women laugh, exchanging glances, but I don’t wonder why. I don’t care.
She looked young, maybe in her early twenties. Her hair was light brown and gorgeous, truly beautiful, as it cascaded to her shoulders. It was messy in a way that seemed styled and natural at the same time.
Her face was full, vivacious and her body seemed the same.
It was difficult to tell since she was sitting down, but I’m sure she was temptingly curvy.
More than that, though, is this feeling.
The sudden lightning strike of certainty.
As I stared at her, a loop started in my mind.
She’s mine. She’s mine. She’s mine.
It shows no sign of stopping.
My feet naturally take me toward my office.
I’ve spent the morning trading and maintaining my stock portfolio, and I’m actually looking forward to getting in some one-on-one tutoring sessions.
Some people may think I come across as grumpy, but I take genuine pleasure in helping students improve their math skills.
But then I remember. We’ve got an all-hands meeting in one of the seminar rooms on the other side of the college.
