Total pages in book: 99
Estimated words: 97151 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 486(@200wpm)___ 389(@250wpm)___ 324(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 97151 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 486(@200wpm)___ 389(@250wpm)___ 324(@300wpm)
“Never.”
“Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan. You sure you haven’t seen it?” I ask, sliding under the duvet.
“You can be sure of it.”
“I should have thought of it by now.” I reach and take the tray from him. “What with the view of the Empire State Building from here. It’s a perfect choice. Obviously you’re going to hate it.” I get some satisfaction out of knowing that watching it will torture him a little.
“Maybe I won’t.”
“Oh, I hope you do! It’s so romantic. Be careful, it might make you fall in love with me.”
He shakes his head, grinning at me, as he fluffs up the pillows behind him like bed rotting is something he’s always done.
I haven’t seen this movie for the longest time. I’d forgotten how pretty Meg Ryan is, and now that I’m a little older, Tom Hanks hits different. I’m sure he’s more attractive than he was when I first watched this movie.
I watch the entire thing with a grin on my face. It’s just so comforting. A few times when I glance over at Ben, he looks engrossed and part of me likes that he doesn’t think he’s better than bed rotting with me. I like that he can take pleasure in simple things when he’s as wealthy as he is.
“Oh so it took the Empire State Building to be lit up with a heart for her to realize she had to leave?” he asks, rolling his eyes. “She can’t make her own mind up?”
“No!” I argue. “She made the decision and then the Empire State Building lights up.”
Ben frowns. “So the building lighting up was what?”
“A sign! The universe was telling her she’d made the right decision.”
“She’s going to be too late anyway,” he mutters.
I stifle a laugh. The man’s invested—I gotta give credit where it’s due. Ben is racking up credits at every turn.
THIRTEEN
Ben
Today has been surprisingly good. Avril and I haven’t done anything except read and watch TV and a movie. The odd snippets of conversation between the reading and TV have been the most shocking parts of my day. The way I’ve gotten to know Avril so much better in these last twelve hours is wild. Not because we’ve been actively talking and sharing things, but just because we’re in close physical proximity to each other and have spent the entire day together.
I know that it’s quite hard to make her laugh, but just because she’s not laughing doesn’t mean she’s not amused. I know that she doesn’t like me to know when she’s embarrassed. I also think that sometimes she can read my mind. She seems to know what I’m thinking almost before I’m thinking it. It’s a little unnerving, when I’m so used to keeping so much of myself to myself. It’s almost impossible to hide anything when I’m with Avril.
“I think we should go out,” I say at around six.
“What?” she says. She puts down her book and reveals a horrified look on her face at the thought of feeling the semi-fresh air of New York’s streets, which is adorable.
“Out. Of this apartment.”
“We’re bed rotting,” she says, as if that’s all the answer I’m going to get.
“I know. But we need to eat.”
“You’re a Cordon Bleu chef and you make a mean omelet. We don’t need to go out to eat.”
She’s right of course, but I want to take her somewhere. “Come on,” I say. “Throw me a bone. I have to get the opportunity to wine and dine you.”
She narrows her eyes at me like I’m asking her to dance naked in the snow. “I don’t have anything to wear.”
I thought that might be an excuse she used to avoid spending time with me. “Funny you should mention that.” I leap out of bed and head into one of the other guest bedrooms. I come back pulling the rack of clothes I had delivered the morning she moved in.
“What is that?”
“Things for you to wear.”
She scans the rack. “That’s not for me.”
“You left your dress here, so I know your size. Plus Bergdorf’s is good at its job. So now you have no excuses. You have plenty to wear.”
She turns back to the television. “I’m not wearing any of that.”
“Well, that’s not very polite.”
“Ben, I’m a fully grown woman. I don’t need you to dress me like I’m a child.”
I wince. Shit, this is her thing with her brother. She’s trying to prove to him that she can succeed on her own, stand on her own two feet and I’ve just treated her like she’s incapable of buying her own clothes. This is going to be a tricky line to walk.
“I’m sorry. That’s not how this was intended. It was thoughtless when I was trying to be anything but. I know you can buy your own clothes. And I know you’re not a child and have your own mind. I was trying to do something nice. Nothing more.”