When We Were Us - J. S. Cooper Page 0,1
the green eyes that peered up at me. She was even more stunning close up than she’d seemed from afar. A light of pureness emanated from her and I knew that I should step away, but I couldn’t.
“I was,” she said, blinking up at me, her eyes narrowing as light blinded her. I shifted to the right so that I could block the sun from shining directly into her face. “Thank you.” She smiled, her pink lips widening in a sincere way that told me she had no idea that I was bad news. “It’s sure sunny today.”
“I didn’t think you noticed anything other than what you were reading.” I looked at the book in her hand. “That book must be very interesting, you haven’t looked up from it once.”
“It’s the last Harry Potter book.” She wrinkled her nose as she took my offered hand and stood up. “I’m late to the party and only started the series last week.”
“I see.”
“I suppose you read the books years ago.”
“No.” I shook my head. “I have no interest in fiction.” I reached down and grabbed her bags, picking up some of the fruit that had rolled into the street. “Wash these when you get home.”
“I will. Thank you.” She nodded as she took the bags from me. “I should get home. My mom will be waiting.”
“You sure you’re going to get home okay? Maybe I should walk you.”
“Oh, you don’t need to do that.” She shook her head and looked down at her book. I had a feeling she’d rather be reading than talking to me. But that wasn’t going to happen.
“It would be my pleasure,” I said. “Let me take your bags.”
“Oh, okay.” Her expression betrayed the calmness in her voice. She was nervous of me, the knight in shining armor that had come to help her and guide her home. “If you’re sure.” She smiled and bit down on her lower lip. That was her first mistake.
“So, what’s your name?” I looked over at her as we walked. “And don’t tell me Hermione Granger.”
“Wait, how did you know if you haven’t read the book?”
“I don’t live in a cave.” I grinned. “I make it my business to know everything. So what’s your name?”
“Anabel.”
“Nice to meet you, Anabel,” I said her name slowly and deliberately, loving the way it sounded on my lips. “I’m Luca.”
“Nice to meet you, Luca.” She smiled and her green eyes surveyed me as we walked. “I’m just a couple of blocks away, so it’s not too far of a walk.”
“I don’t mind.” I shrugged. “I have all day.” That wasn’t technically true, but for this, I had all the time in the world.
“So do you live around here?” she asked. “Do you go to school?”
“School?” I threw my head back and laughed. “I haven’t been in school in years. Are you in college then?”
“No.” She shook her head and blushed. “I’m in high school.”
“High school?” I raised an eyebrow. I hadn’t been expecting that, but I should have. She looked too innocent and pure to have had much life experience.
“Well, I’m graduating in a couple of months. I’m going to Columbia in the fall.” She beamed. “It will be fun. I’ll move to Manhattan then.”
“So you’ll be leaving Brooklyn?” I frowned. I didn’t like the sound of that. I lived in Brooklyn. Granted, Manhattan wasn’t that far away, but I needed her close, where I could keep an eye on her. “How old are you?” I asked, but I didn’t care. Her age wouldn’t affect my plans for her or us.
“Seventeen.” She was far too open and honest. “I’ll be eighteen next week.”
How convenient. What shall we do to celebrate the day I will make you mine? “That’s awesome, any fun plans?”
“I’ll most probably go to dinner with my parents.” She shrugged. “It’s sort of our thing.”
“Will your boyfriend be joining?”
“No, I don’t have one.” She shook her head shyly. Lucky for the nonexistent boyfriend that he didn’t exist because if he had, he would have been in trouble.
“Okay.” I nodded. “I’m sure you’ll have one soon.”
“Oh, I’m not looking.” She chewed down on her lower lip. “My parents don’t want me dating until I graduate from college.”
“Until you graduate from college?” So she was untouched? Even better.
“They don’t want me to be distracted from going for my goals. I’m going to be a doctor or a lawyer.”
“A lawyer?” I raised an eyebrow. I couldn’t stand lawyers.
“Yeah. So Luca, are you a professional?”
“No.” I shook my