A Life Less Beautiful by Elle Brooks

Author:Elle Brooks [Brooks, Elle]
Language: eng
Format: azw3, epub
Tags: A Life Less Beautiful
Publisher: Elle Brooks Author Ltd.
Published: 2017-06-08T04:00:00+00:00

I headed to The River Boat Landing. It looked like a small, rustic Italian restaurant, with its pale blue walls, red awnings and mini private balconies that looked out over the water. It served all of Harlow’s favorite foods. Lunchtimes were always quieter than evenings, so I was hoping we’d get lucky and be able to grab a balcony seat.

“You’re scoring points already, Mr. Hughes. I love this place,” she said with a grin. The waiter had gone to see if there was a balcony free, and he waved us over a few seconds later.

“I don’t think I could ever get tired of this view,” I mused, once our drink order had been taken.

“I know, right? I love the water. There’s something so soothing about listening to the waves crash against the deck, don’t you think?”

Her head was turned toward the river, and the breeze was blowing her crazy hair away from her face. She was watching people walk by, some were families out with their children, some, tourists admiring the boats moored up and posing for photos.

I hadn’t been talking about the view from the balcony; I’d been talking about the one sitting in front of me.

“Yeah, I do.” My eyes dropped to her hand mindlessly rubbing at the spot where I knew her scar was. Apart from a few chaste glimpses here and there, I hadn’t really gotten a close look at it. I could tell she didn’t want me to see it, which bothered me a little. I didn’t know if it was because she wasn’t comfortable with it herself yet or something else, so I’d let it slide and didn’t press her. She would in time, I hoped.

Harlow turned back to me and noticed where my gaze was focused. She immediately stopped rubbing the spot and adjusted the collar of her blue striped shirt, making sure that everything was covered, just so.

“I think I’m going to order dessert first,” I announced, trying to keep the atmosphere from turning somber.

“You can’t, that’s the wrong way around. You’ll spoil your lunch.”

“Nope, I disagree. I’m looking forward to dessert way more than I am a club sandwich. Why delay the gratification? You only live once, and I want apple pie and pecan ice cream.” I sat back in my chair and pushed my menu away—watching a bemused look take over her beautiful face.

“Okay, in that case, I guess I’ll have the same.”

“You can’t, it’s the wrong way around,” I mocked in a high-pitched girly voice.

She stuck her tongue out and blew an enormous raspberry, right as the waiter appeared with our drinks. Her face immediately turned the same color as the bright red napkin she’d placed over her knees.

“Nice!”

“Shut up, Ellis,” she whisper-shouted, although her embarrassed grin gave away that she’d found it almost as funny as I had.

By the time our sandwiches arrived, we’d gorged ourselves on our super-sized apple pie, and I couldn’t finish my first bite. Harlow hadn’t even attempted to pick her sandwich up.

“I think I ate too much ice cream,” she exhaled and slumped back into her chair.

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