Beautifully Broken (11 page)

for the last twelve years of my life and now I don’t want to
gotojail.

“Well that was a vague answer but I guess that’s why I left
too. My brother and I are co-owners of my father’s
company and I hate it. My brother wants to buy me out but
I don’t know if I want him too. That’s why I am taking this
time off to figure out what I want to do with my life.”

“Well if you hate it then isn’t he doing you a favor by
buying you out?” Cali asked.

“Ya but he’s only doing it to get rid of me. My brother
hates me; if he buys me out then he can right me off and
never have to see me again. It kills me that he hates me so
much, so I stay with the company just to torture him. I
want to be close with my brother but that will never
happen. I don’t think anyone can understand what I have
been through or the things I have done”.

“I don’t know everything you have been through or the
things you have done but I feel the same way about my
life. How could anyone understand? People would just
judge me and think I’m horrible or pity me, no one could
understand. Wow I have never talked so much or opened
up to another person like this in my whole life, it’s scary
but nice,” Cali said, she felt comfortable with Edwin in a
way she didn’t know was possible.

“Ya I have never talked so much to another person either
and I have been seeing therapists since I was eleven,”
Edwin laughed. “It’s nice having someone I trust even
though I know we both still have our secrets. I trust you
Cali, which is so weird for me because I don’t even trust
my own brother. I don’t really even like people all that
much it always seems like someone wants something from
me and I just hate it. Do you know what I mean?” The room
fell silent. “Hey Cali are you sleeping?”

Edwin watched her from across the room. She looked so
peaceful. He longed for her. He was falling for her,
something that he promised himself that he would never
do again. After his girlfriend committed suicide, any
relationship he had was just about sex. It was fun, easy
and less complicated and he couldn’t get his heart broken
again. Edwin feared his feeling for Cali because apart of
him felt like he wouldn’t be able to save her from whatever
she was running from and he would lose her in the end.
But he couldn’t stop himself. He was falling for her.

Edwin was startled awake by a piercing scream.

“Aaaaaaaaaaaah. No please daddy stop, please
stop……………daddy please let me out I can’t breathe,” Cali
was gasping for air and her whole body was shaking.

“Cali wake up you’re having a nightmare. Cali wake up,”
Edwin said sitting on the bed beside her and he touched
her arm. She woke up gasping for air and screaming, he
wrapped his arms around her and he held her so tight.
“It’s ok it was just a bad dream no one can hurt you now.”
She held on to him so tight she had never been so happy
to wake up and it actually was over. He wiped her face and
hugged her again. “It was just a bad dream. It’s over now.”

“My whole life is a bad dream,” Cali took a deep breath as
tears fell down her face. “Will you just hold me for a little
while?” she asked looking up at him.

“Yes of course I will,” Edwin said getting into bed with her.
He held her in his arms until they both drifted back to
sleep.

Cali woke up to a warm feeling on her face. The sun was
shining through the blinds, but she could tell it was still
early. She was still exhausted. She rolled over to look at
the clock. The red lights flashed; six o’clock. She looked at
Edwin who was asleep beside her; he looked so
unbelievably peaceful and so incredibly beautiful. She
moved in close to him and touched his face ever so gently.
She didn’t want to wake him; she just wanted to watch him
sleep. She was falling for him and she didn’t care
anymore. She only had so much time before the police
would find her so she wanted to let herself experience
everything she could before her life was over. She wanted
to let her guard down. She admired his perfect face his
smooth skin, his strong jaw and his incredible lips. She
couldn’t control herself. She gently pressed her lips to his.
Blood rushed to her face and her heart was beating so
fast. She had butterflies in her stomach and goose bumps
all over her body. She pulled away and placed her head
on his chest.

He lay there with his eyes shut and a smile on his face but
he wasn’t going to ruin that moment for her. He let her
have it, he would kiss her soon enough. They both fell
back to sleep.

The roof was down and the sun was hot. The birds were
singing and the wind was blowing through her hair. Cali
was happy and she felt great. She kept glancing over at
Edwin. He seemed to be looking at her differently, but he
didn’t say a word.
“What’s with you today? You keep looking at me funny?”
She asked curiously.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about, I’m just happy
because it’s a beautiful sunny day,” Edwin responded.

 

“Really hmmmm,” Cali didn’t really believe him.

 

“Are you hungry? Do you want to stop for lunch?” he
asked.

 

“Well that would be nice considering you wouldn’t let us
eat breakfast,” Cali said annoyed.

“I just wanted to go, I think there is a little town coming up,
we will stop there and get lunch,” he said turning on the
radio.

They came to a small town called Snowville. The town was
nicely maintained, with beautiful gardens and all the street
lights were decorated with flowers. They found a small
little restaurant called “Aunt Flours” and they went inside.
A pretty young, blonde showed them to a table. She
ignored Cali and talked only to Edwin; giggling and
rubbing his arm. Cali was getting annoyed so she left the
table, but they didn’t seem to notice. She went over to the
25 cent candy machines that were at the front of the
restaurant. One of the machines contained rings. It gave
her an idea. She got two rings and some candy and went
back to the table. The waitress was gone.
“Where did you go?” Edwin asked smiling at her as he
opened the menu.

“Oh did you actually notice I was gone? I’m surprised little
miss giggles left you alone,” Cali said annoyed.

 

“Cali are you jealous?” Edwin asked letting out a little
laugh.

“No I am not jealous, but it is annoying to be ignored and
it’s rude that all these girls just hit on you right in front of
me. We could be together, they don’t know that,” Cali said
pursing her lips.

“Cali it’s not a big deal I am not interested in her, I am
interested in you,” He smiled. His dark green eyes met
hers and she smiled too. His comment made her feel
happy but she was still annoyed. “I ordered us both a
coffee.”

“Thanks.”

 

“Would it make you feel better if I introduced you to the
waitress as my girlfriend?”

“Actually I think I want to have a little fun. Put this on your
left hand ring finger,” she said smiling as she handed him
the gumball ring. She slipped the other one on her finger.

Chapter 12
The waitress came back with their drinks.

 

“So do you know what you would like?” she asked looking
at Edwin, giggling and batting her eyes.

“I know what I would like,” Cali said in a loud voice The
waitress turned and looked at her annoyed and almost
shocked, like she hadn’t realized she was even there.

“I would like it if you stopped hitting on my husband
please,” Cali said in a firm tone. Edwin was shocked with
Cali but he loved that she was so jealous. He was trying
not to laugh the whole time.

“I am so sorry, Oh my goodness I am so embarrassed,” the
girl said, taking a step back.

 

“We don’t know what we want yet, can you give us a
minute?” Edwin said holding back the laughter.

 

The waitress turned and walked away.

 

“Cali I can’t believe you did that. I think she might cry,”

Edwin said laughing.
“I know it was mean but I am sick of being ignored. From
now on when we go out to eat, you wear that ring.”

They drove all day and didn’t stop until it was dark. They
came to a place called Lime city. The hotel they got was
one of the nicest places Cali had stayed in over the last
few weeks. They walked into the large room and were
surprised to find an inviting aroma. The room was very
modern; the walls were taupe and there were two queen
sized beds. There was a small brown couch and a desk
with a TV and a radio on it.

“So what do you want to do tonight?” Edwin asked.

“Well I would like to have a shower then maybe would go
out and explore the city a bit,” Cali said “Is that ok with
you?”

“Ya I’m good with that,” Edwin said nodding in agreement.

Cali got her bag and went into the bathroom to freshen up.
She put on a house coat and came out to let him get in the
shower. She got dressed putting on a fitted pair of dark
blue jeans and a short sleeve black frilly necked top with a
blue tank top underneath for a pop of colour. She wanted
to look good; like she belonged next to him. She put on a
black head band with a flower on it and she put on her
sister Natasha’s black leather jacket. She had borrowed it
without asking. It looked good on her and it matched her
black boots perfectly. She sprayed herself with some
perfume and sat down on the couch waiting for Edwin to
come out. He came out looking as good as he always did.
He was wearing a black V-neck t-shirt and dark blue jeans
with black boots and a black leather jacket. He smelt
amazing.

“Wow Cali, you look hot, if I am allowed to say that” Edwin
said looking at her with a smile on his face.

 

“Thanks, you always look good,” Cali smiled back.

 

“Well thanks I try,” Edwin said shaking his head with
confidence. “Shall we go?”

The hotel was close to downtown and it was a warm night.
They decided to walk; take in more of the city. They walked
and talked for a while then they came to a bar and he
dragged her inside. They found a table and ordered some
food. The bar was large and it had black leather booths for
people to sit and eat. There was live entertainment on the
stage. Cali enjoyed her chicken wings as she tapped her
foot along to the band playing on stage.

“This is nice. I have never been to a bar before. I didn’t
know what to expect,” Cali said, her eyes still fixed on the
band.

“Ya well it’s still early it will pick, I’m going to get us some
drinks,” Edwin said as he went to the bar. Cali was sitting
all alone and a table of guys were staring at her. They
waved and she waved back. Edwin came back with a few
different drinks and a couple of shots.

“Are you trying to get me drunk again?” Cali said
laughing.

“Well you’re kind of funny when you’re drunk and I need
you to loosen up if I am ever going to get you on the
dance floor,” Edwin said moving his shoulders to the
music as he smiled.

“Oh ya, No I don’t want to dance,” she said shaking her
head and looking around the bar.

 

“You will want to after a couple of drinks,” Edwin said
handing her a shot.

She did the shots with him and continued to watch the
band play. They finished and then a DJ started playing
music and more people showed up. After a couple of
drinks Cali was laughing and babbling on and on. Edwin
left her alone to go to the bathroom. She was sitting by
herself when a good looking blond haired guy with blue
eyes and a baby face came over to talk to her.

“Hey I’m Shane,” he said shaking her hand and talking a
seat.

“Hi I’m Cali nice to meet you,” she said feeling
uncomfortable but she didn’t know what to say to get him
to go away.

“Are you having fun tonight Cali?”
“Yes I am, but you sitting in my friends’ seat and he’s
going to be back in minute,” She responded trying not to
really look at him.

“Oh do you mean that guy that’s talking to the pretty red
head in the black leather dress,” Shane said pointing
across the bar to Edwin chatting up some girl.

“Well I guess you can stay then,” Cali said disappointed.
She felt hurt; Edwin said he wasn’t going to pick up girls
and there he was hitting on some girl right in front of her.
She was right not to trust him.

“That guys not your boyfriend is he?” Shane asked.

 

“No, he’s just a friend,” Cali muttered.

 

“Well good, do you want to dance?” Shane asked smiling
at her, she looked in his eyes and he was very cute.

“Well why the hell not,” Cali said standing up. She grabbed
Edwin’s jacket and held Shane’s hand as she approached
Edwin and the red head.

“What happened to taking cold showers?” she whispered
in his ear. “I’m going to dance, I hope you enjoy yourself. I
know I will”.

Cali danced with Shane to a fast song and Edwin came on
the dance floor with the girl in the leather dress. They were
both dancing with other people but watching each other
the whole time. When the song ended, and a slow song
came on Edwin grabbed Cali by the hand and pulled her
close to him and he looked into her eyes.

“Cali It’s not what it looked like I wasn’t hitting on her,”
Edwin said looking into her eyes.

 

“Really, because it looked like you were to me?” Cali said
turning her head away from him.

“Ya she hit on me, and I showed her my ring and told her I
was with you, but then you came over with some guy.
What the hell was that all about?” Edwin snapped.

“Oh what you get hit on all the time and one guy hits on
me and that’s not ok? Its fine with me you can pick up any
girl you want to it doesn’t bother me,” Cali said almost
yelling so he could hear over the music.

“Really are you going back to this you don’t care crap,”
Edwin snapped looking in her eyes and pulling her close
to his body. “Well I don’t care” she snapped.

“Yes you do, why can’t you just admit it?” He screamed
back at her.

“Ok fine your right I hate it when other girls hit on you. I
am jealous, because I am falling in love with you and I am
terrified of being just another girl that didn’t mean
anything,” Cali was screaming at him.