A Romance With Scars - Kaitlyn Rose Hathaway (best business books of all time txt) 📗

All the pity in their eyes were just too much. At first she told me with a little smile that it wasn’t that bad and that her fated partner is going to love her any way, but day after day her smiled faded away till she couldn’t even fake a smile in front of the ones she treasures. The pity in the eyes of our schoolmates and teachers were just too much, but the worst were the ones who looked at her with that disgusted expression. She lost her innocent way of thinking and saw the cruelty of life. She lost hope and at the end Sam, Claire and me were the only friends she had left.”
She paused and let him time to understand the real meaning of the story before she continued: “I can see that you think that she is an interesting girl, but interesting is not enough. Your expression says ‘I want to protect her’ and that is one of the reason I told you that. To me Riley is like a little sister and I won’t let her experience any more pain if I can prevent her to. But she seems to like you. Just being friends would be okay as long as you really mean it. However, if it’s just pity or some protective instinct of yours, then stay away from her. There are many other girls in this world you can protect. Just go and protect them in it’s just about a protective instinct.”
Then she stood up and opened the door.
“I think she should be ready by now.”
Chapter 5

He immediately stood up and nearly ran into the room. His eyes were automatically searching for her and found her sitting in the corner hugging a pillow as if it could make her invisible to him. He noticed that she changed clothes: again a long jeans, but instead of a long shirt she wore a t-shirt. Her eyes found Kaitlyn and she came running at her. Riley hugged Kait tightly, then she turned to Kyle and gave him a shy smile. “Hey.”
“Hey. Are you alright?”
“Yes, thanks for carrying me here.”
“Don’t mention it. It was my pleasure.”
Then there was this embarrassing silent. Claire smiled and said: “Oh come on guys! Well, I think you both definitely need to talk, but Kait and I want to sleep, so you two go talk outside.”
With these words they pushed Riley and Kyle out.
“Sorry, normally they aren’t like this.”
Kyle was quite happy to be alone with Riley and was thankful that her friends made it possible.

They went down the road to the beach without saying a word. Riley shivered and he realized that she was only wearing a t-shirt, thus he gave her his jacket.
“Here, you should wear it. You’re cold.”
“No, if I wear it you’re going to be cold.”
“I am okay. It’s not cold at all. Just wear it already.”
She hesitated but took it at the end.
“Thanks.”
“You’re welcome.”
“Ehm... I know it sounds strange but I don’t even know your name.”
“Oh yeah. Kyle King. My pleasure.”
“Riley Hathaway. Nice to meet you.”
He laughed. “You don’t have to be so formal. By the way was it that hard to write down your mobile number or maybe the hotel you stay at? Well, at least you wrote down your name.”
She was confused. Riley had no idea what he talked about and was about to say it when she remembered the note she left at the beach café. She blushed.
“Why would a guy who was surrounded by so many girls want to have my number and by the way I didn’t know you. Not even your name, so why would I give my number to a complete stranger?”
He thought about it for a while then smiled.
“You’re right, but that doesn’t change the fact that I had to search for you many hours with just knowing your name. Damn it, I didn’t just said it out loud, did I?”
She chuckled, but then slowly the meaning of his words leaked into her mind.
“You were searching for me? Why?”
“Mmh… after you were gone I couldn’t concentrate. You always popped into my mind until you were the only thing I could think about. Your face, your voice and that beautiful smile of yours which you just showed that little girl. My mind was full of it. I knew that I needed to find you and that I wouldn’t let you go again once I’ve found you.”
He grabbed her hand and turned her around. Riley looked directly into his eyes which immediately captured her.
“Riley, you may not be ready for such a relationship, but I know I would regret it if I don’t tell you this.”
He paused, closed his eyes, took a deep breath, then opened his eyes and said: “I love you, Riley! I know we don’t really know each other, but it was love at first sight. I can’t it and I don’t want to change it. I never met a girl like you. When you’re not with me I can’t concentrate on anything. You’re all I think about and when you are right in front of me like now. I don’t know how to explain it. It’s like heaven and hell at the same time. Heaven because you’re here, but hell because you make me burn from inside out. It sounds crazy and made up, but it’s true you make me feel I’m completely when I’m beside you. I love you, Riley. I really do.”
“I can’t, Kyle. I just can’t.”
His gave her a small sad smile and said: “Yeah, I thought you would say this. But look Riley. I heard form Kaitlyn had a boyfriend, ‘cause you were always waiting for the right one, but you won’t know if maybe I am the one unless you try it.”
She shook her head. “That’s not why I can’t.”
“Then what?”
Her eyes got teary. “You’re definitely going to get fed up with me. And… and I know that I couldn’t possible stand to lose you once I let this feeling enter.”
Her eyes filled with tears she tried to suppressed to the whole time and he couldn’t help but hold her tight while whispering: “I am not going to leave you! How could I possible abandon you? I love you! Je t’aime! Ich liebe dich! Aishiteru! Wo ai ni! Ngo ai ngei! Please, give me… give us a chance. How can I make you believe me? Just say a word and I will do it. No matter what I will do it! I am willing to do anything!”
“I know you mean it right now, but how about tomorrow, in a week, a month or maybe a year?”
“Time doesn’t matter! I mean it now and tomorrow, the day after tomorrow, the day after that and even the day after eternity.”
She looked to to him and wanted to believe his words.
“Are you sure you’re okay with me? I’m not beautiful, not very intelligent and can’t associate with people and…”
Kyle didn’t let her continue. “Whatever it may be I am okay with as long as you are by my side. There is something special about you. I have never felt like this before and that’s why nothing except you matters. Even if your dad is going to beat me up for stealing his precious daughter, I am fine with it.”
Laughter. She really laughed. “I don’t think that’s going to happen, but my brother Adrian might want to hit you. He is too overprotective.”
Now it was his turn to laugh. “I am glad he is.” Then he got serious again and said in a tempting voice: “But I am going to take it from here. I will protect you no matter what, my angel.”
She blushed and smiled shyly as Kyle let her out of his arms and grabbed her hand instead. Hand in hand they walked back to the hotel. Then Kyle asked: “How about a date? Maybe tomorrow?”
She just nodded happily and went inside.

Chapter 6

Back in her room her friends who were waiting, rushed to her as she closed the room door. “So tell us what happened. We want to know every detail.”
“Nothing much.” But Riley blushed and made the lie even more unbelievable than it already was.
“Oh come on Riley. Not even Sam would believe this lie.”
She took a deep breath and said: “He invited me to a date.”
Kaitlyn and Claire were screaming happily. “Oh my god! When tomorrow?”
“He said he wanted to come around 12pm.”
“Okay, wake up at nine. We need to style you up. After we finished you’re going to be irresistible.”

At the next morning her friends pushed her under the shower then they did her hair and she got a total dress up. While Claire complained: “You shouldn’t have brought only jeans, long shirts and some t-shirts which by the way are definitely not attractive at all.”
Riley smiled and Claire said: “Don’t you dare to laugh! Thank god you got the same size. You couldn’t possibly have gone in those jeans and hooded shirt.”
In the end it turned out to be hotpants and a blue summer blouse, but Riley said: “I can’t go like this! Except for the scars on my tummy you can see every single one. And the pants are too short! Why even wearing them?”
She wanted to go to change, but it was too late. It knocked and they let Kyle in. He saw her and his eyes widened, his mouth was half opened, but he was speechless. Then he turned to the girls and nearly yelled: “What were you guys thinking? I can’t go out with her dressed like this if I don’t want…”
But he couldn’t finish that sentence because Riley response: “Yeah, of course. I am going to change immediately.”
She ran into the bathroom while forcing herself to smile. But in the bathroom she broke down and cried silently, because even if she didn’t want to admit it, she really hoped that the scars wouldn’t matter. Well, he did say they didn’t matter, but in the end they’re all the same…
Claire was furious! “You asshole! I think Kait told you not to