"Bye Dan!" Carissa waved after he had given her and Bentley their luggage and he was about to re-enter the limo. "Have a safe drive!"
He smiled and waved back.
"Oh, I almost forgot!" She ran back to him, hugged him, and pulled a hundred dollar bill out of her wallet. "This is for you."
"Are you sure?" He looked from the bill to her.
"You ask me every time," she laughed, patting his shoulder. "You work hard, you deserve it."
"You're very generous," he blushed, shaking her hand.
"Thank you," she flipped her hair. "Have a good night!"
"Bye, Miss Carissa!" He waved as he closed the door.
Bentley was staring up the steps at the gray stone mansion and its many unlit windows. "Are you sure this isn't a hotel?"
"Positive." She unlocked the tall wooden doors with the crystal insets. "Welcome to your new home."
Bentley's mouth was agape again, but Carissa wasn't going to correct him. She had had the same reaction to the mansion the first time she had walked through the front doors. The entrance hall featured a crystal chandelier, smooth caramel-coloured tile flooring, and the dual spiral staircases that arched to the second floor landing (the stairs to the third floor were more concealed). The place had been built in the 1960s, and the previous owner had smoked in the house for almost 60 years, which left a stink that no amount of air fresheners could relieve, although it was significantly lighter than it had been when she had first moved in.
"It's probably past 2 a.m. on your internal clock, so I'll help you get settled in," Carissa said, pulling off a piece of bread from one of the baguettes she had left on a mahogany vanity table near the door.
"AHHHH I KNEW IT CARISSA HAS A BOYFRIEND!!!" A short Asian girl slid into the hall.
"I'm not her-we're not-" Bentley stuttered.
"You say that every time I come home, even when I walk through here with nobody," Carissa replied.
"I was referring to the bread..." The girl replied. "Although you're hot," she eyed Bentley over. "Not quite Carissa's dream guy, but nice hair." She smiled.
"Umm...thanks." He looked from Carissa to the girl.
"I'm Carissa's attic ghost," the girl shrugged.
"This is Winnie," Carissa explained to him. "And she chose to live in the attic. I offered her a room, but apparently the attic is 'more comforting?' or whatever. She lives here whenever she feels like it. And she's determined to set me up with some guy, since she claims her love life is dead and all the guys she likes either end up gay or taken."
"Nice to meet you--," Winnie held out her hand to him, ignoring her final statement.
"Bentley," he shook it.
"So where are you from?" She asked.
"Let's not harass our guest," Carissa pulled Bentley away, towards the stairs.
"Aww, how romantic!" Winnie called as they went up. Carissa rolled her eyes.
"She's always like that," She told Bentley. "So, pick a room," she gestured around the hallway. "There's three to the right, the two in front of us, mine is to the left, and five upstairs. They're decorated by color, thanks to Caylie, Winnie's little sister. She has a thing for interior design, or something like that."
"I'll go for turquoise, I guess," Bentley said.
"Alright, second to the right. The bathroom is attached to the room, and you don't have to share, since nobody else is here. If you need any additional blankets or pillows, they're in a cabinet upstairs."
"Thanks, Carissa," he yawned, pulling his suitcase with him to the room she had instructed.
"Night, Bentley. It's basically morning in London, so I think I'll have some bread." She walked back down the stairs, where Winnie was waiting.
"What was that about?" She asked, basically bouncing on the balls of her feet.
"We met in an airplane. He needed refuge because he's not ready to face his parents. That's about it."
"No dramatic romance? What's Ethan going to say?" She followed Carissa as she grabbed the bread off the table and walked it into the kitchen.
"It's not romantic, and why do I care about Ethan again?" Carissa didn't even bother grabbing a knife to slice the bread, just pulled off pieces and stuck them in her mouth.
"Well, he's a dancer, isn't he?" Winnie took a seat at one of the bar stools.
"Yeah, so what?"
"I don't know. Just...that makes him more glamorous, doesn't it?"
Carissa sighed. "Okay, maybe just a little. And maybe there is a light spark, but I'm not going to act on it yet. Please don't do anything, okay?"
"Even if I wanted to, it's not like I could. I fly back to Scotland on Sunday."
"That still gives you over 24 hours to mess with him, and I don't know how comfortable I am with that."
"Geez, I won't do anything, I promise." She sighed. "But I expect to see you guys together by the time I come back to LA for the Olympics."
"Go back to dreaming about your world class gymnast guy, will you?"
"It was never going to work. Besides, love is in your future..." she opened the box of brownies. "Can I have one?"
"You never even tried. And sure. Wait, do you think Bentley likes me?"
"You only let me interact with him for two minutes. But I'm pretty sure it's true love already."
YOU ARE READING
Green Lights (ASORM, Book 1)
RomansaHe had no clue she existed. She had no clue he existed. But there came a moment. In which they were destined to meet. About the series: A Series of Random Moments (ASORM) is the cringiness you need in your library, blending awkwardly humorous and so...
