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“This way.” He gets up and walks to the white door next to the living room. He opens it to a huge expanse of white sand. I take in the sight, completely mesmerized by just how big the ocean is.
“Wow.”
“Over here.”
I step out of the threshold and take off my shoes, following Robert until we get over to a giant rock that sits against the shore. He gets on it, extending his hand to help me up. For a lengthy moment, I watch as the waves crash toward the rock. A couple of sprays of water tickle my feet, but otherwise, the rock is dry.
“It’s so peaceful out here.”
“That’s why I like it. Because there are no people, no problems, nothing.” he explains.
“I can understand that,” I reply. It’s like the ocean sucks away all of my worries as well.
All except one. My eyes turn to look at Robert as I attempt to figure out what to say. My thoughts drift to dinner. Sure, it tasted great, but the conversation made me feel ten times more awkward afterward. I’ve never been spoken to or about like that and it hurts.
“Thank you for earlier.”
“No problem.”
“No, seriously,” I insist, turning to face him. My eyes take in his handsome face, his chiseled chin, and those gorgeous eyes, and move from the slight bit of five o’clock stubble on his chin to his hair being blown by the wind. “I mean it. Your aunt really doesn’t like me.”
“She hates everyone.”
“She hates me more than most people.”
He scoffs and shrugs. “Let her hate. She’s only wealthy cause of her ex-husband. She probably goaded him to give her all of his wealth. Disgusting woman.”
I nod. She was quite interesting. Definitely a shallow person. “Yeah. I didn’t feel welcome by her, that’s for sure.”
“I know. And I’m sorry about that. She just tends to fire me up, especially when I see her. There’s a reason why I don’t really engage with her.”
“That’s fair,” I agree.
I stare out at the sun as it sets. Robert’s arm brushes against me. His hand stays away, and while I want to reach out and touch it, I stop myself.
“There is something I want to ask you, Robert.”
He turns to me, looking into my eyes. The blue in his eyes compliments the water, looking just as serene.
“Go ahead.”
“Why do you do this?” I manage to ask. It’s something that’s been in the back of my mind for a bit. Now’s the best time to just ask and hope I at least get some semblance of an answer.
“What do you mean?”
“Just how you treat me,” I reply. “You’re often cold and you have sort of brushed me off when we’re in private, but then you defend me in front of your family. What gives?”
Maybe it’s selfish of me to ask this. I can’t deny how much it bothers me, however. It’s like an itch you can’t scratch.
“I’m not doing that. I act the same way around you as I do them,” he defends.
“No, you don’t,” I reply. I move a little bit closer, and my dress rides up slightly. I tug at the hem for a second as I look at him. “You’re sometimes unapproachable. Heck, I thought you didn’t want anything to do with me until you asked if I wanted to come out here.”
“That’s not true, Sara.”
“Then why don’t you let me in? Why are you so worried about telling me what’s going on in there, then?” I ask, pointing to his head.
I feel like that’s a valid question. Robert’s always distant, but then suddenly, he acts like we’re lovers or something. He sighs and shakes his head.
