Total pages in book: 141
Estimated words: 141251 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 706(@200wpm)___ 565(@250wpm)___ 471(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 141251 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 706(@200wpm)___ 565(@250wpm)___ 471(@300wpm)
“Hello. I’m Brielle.” I hold out my hand and she shakes it in hers.
“I’m Rebecca.” She smiles.
“Hi, Rebecca.” I smile awkwardly.
She frowns, clearly concentrating as she studies my face. “Have we met before?”
“No.” I pause as my eyes seek out Mr. Masters on the other field, completely oblivious. “I’m Mr. Masters new au pair. I’m from Australia.”
Her eyebrows rise in surprise. “Oh, really?” She turns to look at Mr. Masters. “How… lovely.” She hesitates. “I currently have an au pair living with me, but she’s from Italy. Her name is Maria.”
“Really?” I smile.
"Yes, you two will have to meet. She's around your age, I'd say, and she's been with me for six months now."
“That would be fantastic, thank you.” Maybe I could get some survival tips off this girl. This could work out well.
“She’s not here today. Maria doesn’t work weekends.” She catches Mr. Masters eye and waves sexily, and he waves back as he kicks the ball.
“I’ll go get my chair and sit with you guys.”
“Okay.” I smile. “Do you need any help?”
“No, I’m fine, dear,” she replies as she walks off.
She seems surprisingly nice. I sit and look around for a moment, spotting Willow near the sheds. A group of three girls from the other team are around her, and I can tell by Willow’s body language that they are not her friends. She seems uncomfortable.
One of them hits the ball out of Willow’s hand.
What? Are they messing around?
I watch them and unease fills me. I look around, but nobody else seems to be noticing this exchange. Maybe they are her friends and I’m just imagining things.
Mr. Masters comes and takes a seat next to me just as I sit down, while Sam keeps kicking with another boy.
“Who are those girls talking to Willow?” I ask him.
He narrows his eyes, trying to focus.
“Do you wear glasses?” I ask as I watch him.
“I don’t need glasses,” he huffs.
“Then why are you squinting?”
“Because my eyes aren’t bionic.”
Jeez. Touchy.
“I think they go to her school, yes. One of them used to be a good friend of Willow’s, but she hasn’t been around for years now.”
“Oh,” I reply, distracted as I turn my attention back to the girls. Willow’s teammates come out of the sheds, and one of the girls says something to the three girls that were talking to Willow, and then one of them snaps back. Nope, definitely not friends. That is a hostile exchange.
The coaches come out and the teams line up to run onto the field.
Rebecca arrives back, struggling with her chair before she sets it up next to Mr. Masters. He rolls his lips, as if he’s unimpressed. “Hello, Rebecca,” he offers.
“Hi, Julian, how are you?” She leans over and kisses him on the cheek. I have to bite my bottom lip to hide my smile. I keep my eyes on the field in front of me.
I think Rebecca is a bit sweet on Mr. Masters.
The whistle blows and the game begins.
“Willow is playing centre forward?” I whisper to him.
“Yes.” He frowns, turning to me. “You know football?”
“I know most things,” I whisper back as I keep my eyes on the game.
“I seriously doubt that.”
“Julian, I called you this week about the fundraiser. Did you get my message?” Rebecca asks in a high-pitched voice, trying too hard to sound casual.
He hesitates. “No, I didn’t sorry.”
“I wanted to see if you would to go the fundraiser together. We could carpool. I can drive so you can have a few drinks.”
“Erm…” He hesitates again, and I bite the inside of my cheek to stop myself from smiling as I stare at the game.
“I’m sorry, I already have a date for that night. Some other time, perhaps?”
Awkward.
“Oh,” she sighs, dejected. “I didn’t realize you were seeing anyone.”
“It’s new,” he says quietly.
I smile on the inside. I’m happy he isn’t interested in going on a date with Rebecca. She’s just too ‘blah’ for someone like him.
They fall into an uncomfortable silence until I can’t take the awkwardness of it anymore.
“I’m going to go and get a coffee.” I stand.
“I’ll show you where to go,” Mr. Masters immediately gets up, too.
I smile at him knowingly, and he widens his eyes, silently asking for me to rescue him.
“Okay, lead the way.” I hold my hand out.
He looks down, and his good manners prevail. “Would you like a cup of coffee, Rebecca?”
“Yes, please, darling. Just white.”
“No sugar?”
“I’m sweet enough.” She winks and gives a sexy little shrug of her shoulder.
Oh, she’s creepy weird. Unable to help it, I release a little giggle.
Mr. Masters frowns and walks towards the coffee van, leaving me to fall beside him.
“Do you really have a date on that night?” I ask.
He fakes a shiver. “No, but I have a new incentive to find one now.”
I laugh out loud. “I think she seems nice.”