Page 35 of Bittersweet Legacy

He waved his hand in the air dismissively.

“Did he tell you everything?”

“I don’t know if it’s everything. But he told me a few things, things that I have a hard time believing. You’re an heiress!”

“Yeah…” I trailed off uncomfortably. “Well my family is, I’m not even sure I can call them my family. It’s more these rich people that I live alongside I – I don’t know.” I looked heavenward. “Believe me Ben, I’d rather I wasn’t. It came with a price I was reluctant to pay.”

“Oh God, I missed you Esme. I should have said things, done things.”

I shook my head. “I can’t believe you rode all the way here.”

He shook his head. “No, not all the way. My uncle lives in Port Harbour. I had to come for a few days, and you know Alice, my cousin?”

I nodded, remembering the photos he showed me of her. “She is working in a clothing store on the shore.”

“Okay?”

He nodded and reached into his backpack, pulling out a little bag with ‘Oceanview’ written on the side. “She said you’d like it.”

I smiled. “I’m sure I will.”

Ben grinned again. “I borrowed a bike from my uncle and came here. Your phone doesn’t work anymore, and I don’t have your new number.”

“Actually, I don’t have a phone. My father, ah…Let’s say he’s a bit anti-technology as far as I’m concerned.”

“Anti-technology?”

“Yeah.”

He cocked his head to the side. “I don’t understand.”

“No, just – just don’t try to understand, Ben. I’m just happy you’re here. I’m just happy to see you, to know you’re okay.”

“I would be better if you were back home, with me. We’d have so much fun in school this year… you know with me being captain of the football team, you being my favourite groupie.”

“Umm not sure we can call it ‘groupie’ with football, can we?”

“Ah well, you’d beMYgroupie.”

“You’re silly,” I chucked.

“Will this get me another hug? I rode over an hour for this, make it good.”

“Of course!”

I was about to step into his arms again when somebody grabbed the back of my blazer and pulled me back so harshly, I stumbled back, almost falling.

I turned my head to look at an extremely angry Caleb Astor.

“No!” Caleb's commanding voice came from beside me.

I looked up with incredulity, Caleb had never even addressed me in public other than to mock me since I moved here, even less touched me.

Ben’s eyebrows shot up in surprise, before his facial features turned to anger. He was not the kind of guy to allow women to be manhandled. Well he was in for a treat with Caleb, that was for sure.

“Excuse me?” Ben glowered, standing straight in a clearly attacking pose.

Caleb detailed Ben slowly from head to toe, an eyebrow arched and his face full of disdain – as if Ben was less than the mud on the sole of his shoe and knowing Caleb the way I did, he probably felt that way too.

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