Total pages in book: 88
Estimated words: 82878 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 414(@200wpm)___ 332(@250wpm)___ 276(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 82878 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 414(@200wpm)___ 332(@250wpm)___ 276(@300wpm)
“It sounds like you’re better off out of there for sure, and I definitely think you did the right thing to leave.” I smile. “This is your fresh start.”
“I think so too,” Amelia smiles, and reaches out to grasp my wrist.
Her hand looks small and pale against my skin. I take it in my hand and open it. There are calluses on her palm. I trace them. There are a million thoughts running through my head. I want to protect her. I want to take care of her. I even want to save that stupid woman who she calls mother if it will make her happy.
The waiter comes back to the table with our meal, and she takes her hand away from mine. I miss the contact instantly. She smiles at me as she starts to eat, and I start to imagine my hands all over her later on tonight. I eat without tasting anything.
It doesn’t help me to concentrate on something other than Amelia when she runs her toes up my leg, teasing me. She grins at me with a gleam in her eye and I shake my head, amused by her expression.
She giggles and takes her foot away. I take a moment to compose myself properly before I speak again.
“Have you spoken to your mom since you left?” I ask.
“Not since I left, no,” she says. “While I was walking out of the trailer, I was so angry with her I kinda hated her. But as time passed, I began to miss her terribly.” She pauses. “But I can never go back. Not while Dan is there anyway. For the moment it’s probably for the best if we just don’t see each other. Since Dan came into our lives, we haven’t really had an easy relationship, and to be honest with you I’m sick and tired of always being second best to the latest guy in her life.”
Amelia talks about her shitty mom in an even, almost detached way, but I don’t think she truly has made her peace with the way their relationship is. I can see the flash of pain in her eyes when she says ‘second best’. She looks so vulnerable I find myself desperate to protect her from the world around us.
“I can’t imagine anyone thinking of you as second best, Amelia,” I say.
“Yeah? That’s because you haven’t met my mom.” Amelia laughs.
“Do you have any brothers or sisters?” I ask.
She shakes her head. “No, just me. I don’t have any other family. It’s been just me and Mom, and whatever loser she’s shacked up with, since I was three. My mom’s dad died when I was a couple of months old, and her mom died when I was five. I don’t know if my father is alive or dead or if he had any family. They didn’t stick around either so quite frankly I’m not interested in any of them.”
I want to reach across the table and wrap Amelia in my arms and tell her she’ll never be alone again. Her childhood sounds heartbreaking.
Amelia looks up and sees my expression and smiles. “It wasn’t always bad though. When she was between boyfriends, Mom would act like a regular mom. We’d go to the park or the mall and hang out like mothers and daughters do. Maybe one day she’ll wake up to Dan and we can have some sort of relationship again.”
“You’d consider that?” I ask, a little surprised to hear it after the way Amelia talked about her mom.
“Yes, of course,” she says with a self-conscious shrug. “I mean, she is still my mom and I love her. And I guess I feel kind of sorry for her. She’s looking for her fairytale ending, but she’s just so bad at it. She always picks the frogs that don’t turn into princes.”
She flashes me a teasing smile that makes her eyes sparkle. “I hope I don’t take after her in that department,” she adds.
“Well, I have been known to sit around on lily pads in my spare time,” I smile. “Just so you know.”
Amelia throws her head back and laughs and I laugh with her. Her laugh is infectious. She winks at me. “Maybe I’ll turn you into a prince tonight if you’re on your best behavior.”
“Are you sure you want me on my best behavior?” I ask with a grin.
“Well, when you put it that way, maybe it’s best if you’re a little bit naughty,” Amelia smiles.
“Now you’re talking,” I say. “So, speaking of naughty, want dessert?”
We’ve both finished with our second course, but my craving is only for Amelia.
Amelia nods and smiles. “I feel like I couldn’t eat another thing, but at the same time, I feel like dessert is essential, don’t you?”
I grin at her as I raise my hand to flag down our waiter. “In that case.”