Page 112 of Scarred King
“I came to you,” I say directly and put my backpack over my shoulder. He doesn’t say anything, just looks at me quietly. I chew on my lower lip nervously. “I’m sorry to drop in on you like this, I should have called. You must be busy—”
“Elena, don’t talk nonsense.” He cuts me off and places a hand on my shoulder. “This is the best thing that’s happened to me today.” He picks up his briefcase and opens the door for me. He notices my high heels and looks at them in surprise, but doesn’t say a word. We walk quietly along the campus's paths and suddenly he stops and turns towards me. “Can I take you out for dinner?”
“I’d like that,” I answer and place a hand on my stomach. “I haven’t eaten in…” I squint my eyes and try to think.
“We can go to a restaurant,” he says and resumes walking. “Or if you like, I could make us dinner in my new apartment. It’s right on the beach, we could eat on the balcony.”
“That sounds perfect,” I sigh, and he opens the car door for me. We cross the campus and drive out to the main road.
“I still can’t believe you’re here,” he says and glances in my direction. “You didn’t answer any of my emails.”
“I was too busy ruining my life,” I say and turn my head to look out the window.
“Do you want to tell me about it?” he asks with concern.
“Not right now,” I quickly wipe away a stray tear. “Right now, I have to learn how to regain control.”
He doesn’t ask any more questions, he turns on the radio. The music allows me to wallow in my thoughts, and a sharp pain slices my heart in two.
He stops at the entrance to a two-story house on the beach shore. I climb out of the car and walk over to the railing surrounding the house, looking at the blue sea and the sunset’s deep shades of orange.
“It’s so beautiful here,” I say when I notice him standing beside me.
“Especially with you here,” he says and smiles in embarrassment. “You cut your hair,” he changes the subject and I run my hand over my head.
“It will grow back.” I grimace as I remember the aggressive treatment I received from that perverted Italian. I see that he wants to ask more, but instead he tilts his head towards the door.
“Come, let’s go inside,” he says lightly. “Let’s make something good to eat.”
I follow him inside and inspect the spacious area. The living room is on the right and on the left is the kitchen, which has a connecting glass door to a balcony overlooking the ocean. In the middle there's a staircase leading to the upper floor. He goes to the kitchen and I join him. I sit on a bar chair by the island and watch him as he undoes the top buttons of his shirt and takes some ingredients out from the cupboards. “You can wait for me on the balcony,” he smiles and opens the glass door. “I think that if you watch me while I cook, I’ll get confused and we’ll end up with something inedible.”
“Okay,” I laugh, surprised at the easy way the laugh burst from my throat while my whole body is depressed and tormented.
I sit on the bench and look out at the ocean. This is exactly the time when Liam and I would arrive home, and have an hour of sweet sensations. I close my eyes and imagine him in the bedroom, lying on the bed, motioning me towards him, exploring my body with his soft, warm, demanding lips. I moan out loud and banish the thought. You saved yourself, my brain reminds me. You left the darkness and walked into the light. You’ll never go back there. One thought follows another, and I continue to push them away, one after the other.
Professor Sawyer comes out to the balcony with two trays and I rise to help him. I set the table with him and sit down as he opens a bottle of wine.
“I heard some strange rumors,” he says as he pours the wine. “About Johanna. And you.”
“It’s all true,” I reply resignedly. “I’m really not as perfect as you think.”
“Perfect is boring,” he responds with a small smile and places a juicy, well-spiced steak on my plate.
“For some reason, boredom is underrated,” I taste the steak and savor it pleasurably.
“How long are you here for?” he asks and looks at me intently.
“I don’t know.” I sip my wine. “I felt I had to escape. And if you’ll let me sit in on some of your classes, I might find my true passion again.” I take another sip. “My passion for knowledge has always been stronger than anything else, and all of a sudden I got lost.”
“Of course you can come to my classes.” He pours me some more wine. “Where are you staying?”
“At a motel in town,” I pick up the salad bowl and serve myself some vegetables.
“I have four empty rooms, you’re welcome to stay with me.”
“I don’t know…” I stutter and blush.
“Elena, that was a gentleman’s offer,” he says seriously. “I think you know that your presence excites me, but I'll never do anything that would make you uncomfortable.”