Title: Where Promises Die
Author: R.C. Stephens
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Release Date: February 20, 2017
“You have no right to be in here.” She took another few steps into the room and crossed her arms over her chest. Her lips pursed in anger. “This is my personal space. Keyword being personal,” she emphasized.
“I honestly didn’t mean to intrude on your privacy,” he spoke quickly. “The door was open a nudge and my curiosity got the best of me. We’ve been apart so long, I was hoping to get some answers about the woman you are today,” he answered honestly. It was the truth. He’d made her that promise and kept it all along, even when the truth hurt.
“You’re right. You have no clue who I am today. If you wanted to know, you should have asked me instead of sneaking into my room like some creeper to stare at my work,” she snapped, her voice elevated and shaky.
Eisav’s lips turned up in a slow curve. “Is that what you think? I’m a creeper.” He laughed and it came deep from his chest. “You know … I think you’re the only woman alive that would have this reaction to me being in her room. ” He quipped and then immediately regretted his words when he took in the frown on her lips.
“I’m sorry, Mr. Rock Star, if my panties aren’t getting in a twist over you, but I’ve had more serious and pressing problems in my life than worrying about my next concert.” Her words came out harsh, bitter.
“Is that how you see me?” Eisav’s eyes grew hooded. “I’m not a rock star. I’m a boy that fell in love with a girl in a forest at the break of dawn.” His voice grew soft and tender as he took two steps forward and pointed to the first painting he saw when he walked in the room. The painting of a young Grace and Eisav in their forest for the first time. “And if I’m not mistaken, that girl fell in love with me …” He put his palm to his heart, feeling winded yet full of hope that she would finally come to her senses and realize that what he said was true.
***
Grace’s eyes turned wide and her insides began to quiver as she allowed the brunt of his words to penetrate her mind. Then something inside her switched off. She almost seemed shocked with herself that she had called him a creeper. Her eyes grew soft, shoulders slackened. She felt like each of her limbs were shouting to run into Eisav’s arms, but she fought them with every fiber of her being. Deep down she was always his. As much as she worked to deny that fact, it always rang true. Now it felt like there was a magnetic force pulling them together and it was too strong for her to resist.
Taking her silence as rejection, Eisav’s lips turned down. “I won’t let you back away from me.” He took a few steps until he was close enough to touch her. Then he grazed the pad of his thumb along her cheek. Her eyes began to swell with tears as her walls slowly chipped away. “I’m here, Gracie. I’m not walking away,” he began to say.