Alicia and her family are back to the family's country house. She's crafted fond memories in that place, amongst her relatives, unlike her sister Kesia, the 'outcast'. Now, that she's started her brand new career, and that she's engaged to be marrie...
The following morning when all sat down for breakfast, as usual, Ewan made his way toward his usual spot, the one next to me. Before he sat down, however, I excused myself and pretended to serve Aunt Celeste a pastry my parents had brought from their stay in Europe at the other end of the table and eventually snuck away.
I should've been mad at myself instead of him, for being so damn self-centered all those years, for not paying enough attention; and perhaps that was the real reason I was avoiding him so actively. Because I could see my own selfishness on his face.
I grabbed my purse and decided to go for a drive. The old 'me' would've been pestering him to join me, but who I liked to believe was the new, more perceptive 'me' headed to town by herself. I stopped at a little strip mall and walked until my feet were sore and the street lights started coming on.
It felt lonely without Ewan, but I was too determined to make it through that day alone, so after spotting what seemed like a new little Cafe at the end of the of the block, I headed there.
I filled my aching stomach and called my fiance and I would apologize to Ewan later and things would be alright again.
It was only a few more weeks.
Soon I was going to be too busy to even think about Ewan's secrets and the simmering agony brought forth by his reluctance to open up to me would simply fade away. I was going to be someone's wife in three months' time; living the perfect life I had always envisioned for myself.
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After finishing a delicious danish and downing two cups of the best Colombian coffee, I talked to Bryce, my fiancé for a while in hopes I would feel better, but after hanging up I realized my internal turmoil was just as intense as before, ...if not worse.
I drove back to the country house, feeling pathetic and defeated. To my surprise, I found Ewan lounging on one of the sitting rooms' vintage couches, sketch pad on his lap, pencil in hand. His bare feet were propped up, and I caught a glimpse of his half-opened light blue T-shirt and his habitually wild hair.
Across from him, on a hideous, furry stool my sister posed for him.
What a sight: The two outcasts. The whole thing made me laugh, yet no one seemed to notice, except Ewan. He had veered his eyes from my sister and given me an unperceivable, sorrowful look. He was worried, I could tell.
The rest of the family was scattered around the huge space. Aunt Celeste had fallen asleep on her favorite armchair, under the dim light of the ridiculously ornate side table like every night.
I served myself a glass of water and wiped my damp forehead with the back of my hand as I watched from the shadows my sister breaking out of her silly pose to take a peek at Ewan's drawing.
He was a very skilled cartoonist, he had tried to teach me - however fruitlessly - once.
My sister gave him a friendly smack on the shoulder upon gazing at whatever was on his sketch pad. One of my little cousins ran toward them and started giggling too as Ewan turned the sketch pad to show them his creation.
I realized that was the first time I had heard my sister's genuine laughter since we had arrived.
I headed to the terrace, glass in hand. The moon was fully on display, but the night wasn't offering any respite from the humid heat of the summer. I put my hair up in a bun to feel the little bit of breeze on my sticky neck and set my glass down on the wooden floor after finishing every last drop.
My thighs felt damp, so I lifted the hem of my dress all the way up to my hips and sat on one of the porch's metal swings. The rich smell of the country dazed and relaxed me so I closed my eyes.
The faint chatter of my family inside eventually subsided and when I woke up from my spontaneous slumber I noticed I was not alone. He was leaning on the fence, his back to me. The squeaking of the swing gave me away when I shifted, making him turn to face me.
His eyes slid over my exposed thighs. I sat straight up and pulled my dress down. He seemed amused at my reaction and that's when it dawned on me that Ewan had never looked at me that way.
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His lips curved into the most wicked smile when he said, "You wanted to know how I really am, don't ya, Alicia?"
I stood up, joined him by the fence. His eyes were fixed on my lips, smile still perfectly in place.
"Yes. I really do." My response was shaky, and my legs wobbly, however, my resolution was made of steel.
His finger hooked around the spaghetti strap of my dress and pushing it slowly down, he said, "I'm doing just fine." His lips lowered on my exposed shoulder.
He laid, hot, delightful kisses along the front of my shoulder. His curls tickled as he traveled down my arm.
My body burned with fierce impatience as he arrived at the bent of my arm and I watched, half-stunned as he lifted it to continue the scorching trail of his mouth.
Eyes smoldering, he gazed back up at me as his lips reached the inside of my wrist.
He paused, drinking all my emotions in. Soaking in them. Giving me a heart-dissolving smile, he carefully placed my arm back to my side, where it hung tense and prickly still.
