Total pages in book: 44
Estimated words: 42707 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 214(@200wpm)___ 171(@250wpm)___ 142(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 42707 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 214(@200wpm)___ 171(@250wpm)___ 142(@300wpm)
“A big one.” He smiled.
How could the hunky bully from high school have a thing for her? His actions certainly didn’t give it away.
“That’s hard to believe.”
“Because I was a bully. And I told you, I’ll be making that up to you for the rest of my life.”
She sighed, interlocking her fingers with Drake’s. After another glance at the house, she remembered her father and his treasured pawnshop. He was such a marvel of useless knowledge. The way he got excited about each acquisition was contagious. She missed him. Missed so many things.
“I used to help my dad at the pawnshop. We’d catalog his treasures and he’d hum. I can still hear him when I close my eyes and think about it.”
“Baby, we don’t have to give up that pawnshop. I’ve bailed it out, and it’s yours if you want it. I just thought you’d rather wipe your hands clean after everything that happened.”
She thought about it. Her father would smile down on her if he knew she’d continue his legacy, but how could she make that happen now?
“Drake, I don’t have the money for that. It was neglected for too long.”
“You’re married to a man with a big bank account. You can do anything you want.” He kissed her knuckles. “But seriously, Mira, any help you need is at your disposal. I only want you happy.”
“So much for my bully.” She giggled when he tried to tickle her side.
“No more bully. All I want to do is protect you from the world.”
She wanted to make love to him right there in the car but settled for another kiss.
“One more stop,” he said.
He drove a short distance to their old high school. Nothing much had changed, some new fencing, a couple of portables that weren’t there before. Normally, she’d be triggered just seeing the school, but her healing had already begun. Drake had made peace with her and the past, so there was no need to keep reliving that pain. She was an adult now, and just like her husband, she had to move on and embrace her new life.
“There it is,” she said, looking out the window.
“Come on.”
“What?”
He got out of the car before he could answer. When he opened her door for her, she continued, “Why on earth would we want to spend another minute here?”
“I have something to show you.”
He took her hand, walking with her proudly. It was so weird to be in the same place at a different time when so many things had changed in their lives.
They entered the building, and a wave of memories flooded her senses. It even smelled the same. He led her through the hallways until they reached the library.
“Check it out,” he said.
There was a brass plaque outside the doors. It said the library was donated by Mr. Drake and Mrs. Mira Eastwood.
“Renovations will start this fall,” he explained. “There’ll be a learning resource area to help kids with learning disabilities, too.”
She felt tears prick her eyes.
“You hate this school as much as me,” she said.
“We were kids. Time to make positive changes, no?”
Mira nodded. She wished she’d been given opportunities to help with her dyslexia as a kid, but maybe this new library would help another girl like her in the future.
“You’re something else, Mr. Eastwood. I thought I’d always hate you, but here I am falling in love.”
He pulled her close and kissed her atop the head. “I want to be a better man.”
“You are, Drake.”
****
The trip down memory lane was over.
He had his own demons to face, but the guilt of bullying Mira all those years still weighed heavily on him. Maybe one of these gestures would help make up for the past.
Now it was time for some fun. She wanted him to court her like he should have all those years ago, so now he’d start doing things right.
He parked in the fairgrounds and cut the engine.
“What are we doing here?” she asked.
“It’s your surprise.”
“I’m confused.”
“I never took you here. This is usually one of the first places a guy takes his girlfriend. You shouldn’t have to miss out on that experience.”
“I’ve never even been here,” she said.
“Well, come on, let’s have some fun.”
He left the car and took Mira’s hand as she stepped out of the passenger side. She was already dressed comfortably since he’d planned this day long in advance. Mira was his future. He couldn’t wait to start a family together, and it would happen sooner than she expected.
Drake knew she wanted to hold off having kids. She was as afraid as he was when it came to rejection and expecting the worst from people, but she didn’t have to worry when it came to him. He was a married man now, and he took the until death do us part verse seriously. The last thing he wanted for his kids was a nasty, broken home like the one he came from.