Total pages in book: 126
Estimated words: 123065 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 615(@200wpm)___ 492(@250wpm)___ 410(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 123065 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 615(@200wpm)___ 492(@250wpm)___ 410(@300wpm)
The bar I’m supposed to be working for is only supposed to house me temporarily and then Jake and I were going to find our own place. Tears sting the back of my eyes. Jake hasn’t been answering his phone for the last three weeks and the last time I talked with him he was visiting one of the islands in the Mount Olympus range close by. He wasn’t specific, talking so fast I could barely understand his voicemail. I tell myself not to worry, this wouldn’t be the first time he got so obsessed with something that it took every brain cell he had left in order to function. But I am worried. With the upcoming eclipse and the city doing insane celebrations all I can think about is the fact that he’s going to be out in freezing cold water or worse yet on one of the mountains in pitch black—if even for seconds.
I sigh and look up. Even the sky looks ominous and defeated.
I turn to go back inside the warmth of the boat’s cabin and collide with someone. “Sorry!” I hold up my freezing hands. “I was deep in thought.”
The man takes a step back. His messy blonde hair and hypnotic green eyes are hard to look away from. He’s wearing an extremely out of place three piece suit. He does realize we’re headed to Deer Harbor right?
“The weather.” He shrugs and points. “It can exhaust the best of us, especially the wind when it tries to fight its way over the mountains.”
“I guess it does. Again, sorry. I’m a bit…distracted. Tired. Exhausted, you know the drill. Maybe it is the wind, like you said.”
I try to sidestep him when he moves in my path. “I know the feeling. Nature loves to bring about chaos. One day it’s snowing, the next day you have an angry thunderstorm.”
“I’m not much one for storms.” I say politely and again start to move.
He tilts his head, it’s methodical, almost calculated. A chill runs down my spine. “It’s chaotic isn’t it? Life?”
What’s with this guy? Is he lonely? A creeper? Stalker? I shove my freezing hands into my black trench coat. “Yup. Full of chaos.”
“Enjoy your journey.” He smiles. “It gets easier, you know.” Now he sidesteps me and keeps walking. “Small world, I’m sure I’ll see you around.”
He’s stunningly gorgeous but something tells me he’s not safe. And the fact that he thinks I could possibly bump into him in Seattle of all places is laughable.
I quickly go inside the cabin and rub the amulet on my bracelet again. My mom said it was important that my brother and I always keep the bracelets close so that when we missed each other we could simply touch the amulet and know the other was okay. It was one of the reasons I loved her stories so much, she’d say anything to make us feel safe, loved, secure, even by making up pretend protection bracelets.
The bracelet feels warm, like him. There’s no way something has happened. I repeat that to myself a few more times.
When we finally get to Port I look around for the weird man, mainly because I don’t want him following me, but I don’t see him, it’s like he’s disappeared into thin air. Strange.
The sun suddenly breaks through the fog. Instantly it shines down on my face, heating me, protecting me from the cold sea breeze, from the elements the Puget Sound provides on a daily basis during the fall and winter months. I grab my duffel bag and suitcase and start to walk out onto the pier.
I’m so lost in my thoughts and the feel of the sun on my face that I don’t see him at first, not until my name’s called.
Thud.
Thud.
Thud.
“Yo.” A voice sounds.
I jerk my head in the direction of a black Mercedes and a guy standing in front of it waving his phone through the air. “I think I’m your Lyft?”
I check my phone and suddenly feel like an idiot. I’d scheduled it ahead of time, the guy at least has super high marks, I’m sure it helps that he’s almost too pretty for words. Huh. His hair tied back into a bun. He has orange and white streaks through it and his eyes are a really deep blue, or wait, green? I can’t tell this far away but his skin is immaculate right along with his jaw line so no complaints for the distraction.
I roll my suitcase towards him. “Yeah sorry, you know for being so close to Deer Harbor it sure feels like it takes forever.”
He takes my bag and effortlessly puts it in the trunk. “Yeah well, time has a weird way of affecting us all. Plus that damn ferry moves at the speed of dry paint, wasn’t it like four hours?"