Total pages in book: 46
Estimated words: 43197 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 216(@200wpm)___ 173(@250wpm)___ 144(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 43197 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 216(@200wpm)___ 173(@250wpm)___ 144(@300wpm)
I kept repeating the chant over and over in my mind. My head remained bowed downward, unwilling to look up for fear that my hopes of appearing normal again would be dashed and smashed. Nope. I couldn’t do it. I wasn’t going to look. The last thing I needed was a reminder of how monstrous I looked compared to Alyx…on whom I already had a huge crush.
I hurried through my shower, put on the tiny swimsuit they’d left for me before bedtime, and then quickly covered my sickly body with a huge robe. I yanked my hair into a messy bun and went in search of the kitchen. I supposed that’s where the help ate. At least they did on television. Halfway down the stairs, I remembered that I’d forgotten to put on the flip-flops they had provided but knew I wouldn’t have enough time to go back for them and still make the 9:30 deadline. Hopefully they wouldn’t notice.
As I made my way down the magnificent staircase, I tried my best not to notice the glass wall on one side. It was a huge aquarium, which terrified me. Or should terrify me. Instead, my eyes were continuously drawn toward the small colorful fish inside—some swimming darting playfully around the tank. Others moving more slowly and majestically. Some even appeared to be playing with one another, which I wasn’t sure was an actual fish thing. For some unexplainable reason, my hands itched to touch the glass. Would it be cold? Warm?
By the time I’d reached the bottom of the stairs, I couldn’t stand it any longer. With the very tips of my finger, I touched the aquarium’s glass. My finger sizzled in the most delightful way, and I felt a tickle on each side of my lower stomach. It made me giggle. I tapped the glass with my fingers and watched in amazement as the fish closest to me all started swimming in my direction. Within seconds, more joined them and the beautiful creatures covered the part of the glass in front of me. Just like years ago when I’d watched the dolphins frolic and play, I felt like this performance was all for me.
“Kailar?”
I nearly jumped out of my skin when I heard Alyx’s voice coming from right behind me. Shit! I was late. I honestly must just sit around and perfect the art of making bad first impressions. “Sorry! I know I’m late. I got…distracted.” Damn, that sounded lame—distracted from doing my job on the first day.
Alyx laughed and damn, it was the sexiest sound in the entire world. “No worries, Kailar. We don’t adhere to a strict schedule in this household.” He looked at the fish and back to me. “It appears the fish are quite smitten with you.”
“Something like that,” I answered. “Is this a trick you’ve taught them?”
He laughed again. “Sea creatures do what they enjoy. I wouldn’t try to teach them tricks. I feel sure they’d make my efforts backfire on me.” He leaned in closer. “Were you communicating with them?”
It was my turn to laugh. “I don’t think any of us have the power to communicate with marine life. That’s silly.” Jeezus, had I just called him silly? Open mouth, insert foot. Why, oh why, couldn’t I be handsome and articulate better?
“We’ll see,” he answered as he placed his hand on my upper back. Once again, the tickling feeling in my sides returned. “Come along. Let’s grab something to eat and then we’ll start my therapy.”
To my surprise, he led me to the main dining room. Keion was already seated with a few other men I hadn’t met but who nobody offered to introduce. All of them were so handsome and they looked vaguely alike. Were they related? There was a huge buffet set up along one side of the room, in front of yet another life-sized aquarium. “You must really like fish.”
Alyx smiled. Keion said, “Oh, yes. You have absolutely no idea how much we love the beauty of most sea life.”
“Would you like me to fix your plate, Kailar?” Alyx offered politely. “You look tired. Did you not sleep well?”
It was a “drop the mic” moment for me, sending me crashing back to reality. I jerked the plate from his hand and started filling it up with whatever—at that moment I could have cared less. “Dying people always look tired, Alyx. There’s really no need for you to remind me.” My eyes darted around the room. “Where do your hired employees eat? I’ll go there and not ruin your appetites.”
“You aren’t dying, Kailar,” Alyx answered softly. “And you’re not ruining anything. I simply meant that your eyes look tired this morning—not as blue-green as they used to be.” He guided me to the table and urged me to take a seat with the nod of his head. “And you’ll take all your meals with me or with Keion if I’m out on business.”