Broken Pieces, L. S. [brene brown rising strong .txt] 📗

dinner last night kept on replaying on my head and when I finally was able to find my slumber I dreamed of him, yes him, Carter Greene. For the first time since my departure from his house in California, I suddenly dreamed of him, which is very strange because during the first few weeks since I left I was having a hard time dealing with the pain in my heart and all I have wanted was to see him in my dreams, I wanted him to tell me that he forgave me and that he understands. But it never happened.

Last night was the total opposite of what I have wanted for the past years, he was mad because he thinks I betrayed him, and he found out about Dylan and I just didn’t know why? He was so angry at me for being close to Dylan.

I took a deep breath and decided to just get off my bed and prepare for work. I shouldn’t be thinking of them, I shouldn’t think of Dylan because I just met him, and I have already made up my mind that I will only be friends with him, nothing more, nothing less. I also shouldn’t be thinking of Carter because he is a thousand miles away from me and I am Liz Williams now, Carter is part of Jillian’s past, not Liz’.

So instead of focusing on my love life, I should just spend my energy on my work, because that is way more important than the guys. My work at school is my bread and butter, this is what I have wanted, a normal life, this is what I have now so I will do everything to keep this life.

Since I woke up early, I was also done dressing myself up early which good, I am planning on walking to school. A little exercise will be good for me, it will also take my mind off of things that aren’t important.

The weather is nice, it was a bit chilly but relaxing, I put my coat and earphones on and made my way outside the building.

Once I was at the street, I noticed a black limousine parked in front of my building. Then I remembered Carter again and the limo he rented for the charity event we attended the night I met Adriana Krueger.

“Damn Liz! You should stop thinking about him,” I muttered.

I was about to walk my way to the school when the passenger seat door of the limo opened and saw Dylan climbing out of it.

“Liz,” he called me.

I removed my earphones and walked towards him. He was wearing a black suit and tie which is a bit strange since he usually wear a button down shirt paired with khaki pants or denim jeans.

“Hi, you look formal,” I smiled at him. “By the way, what are you doing here?”

“Well, I was actually in the neighborhood,” he replied.

I shook my head.

“No you’re not,” I said.

He laughed.

“Okay, you got me there,” he surrendered, his hands in the air. “I was actually on my way to my father’s firm and I thought I could drive you to work,”

“That explains your choice of wardrobe today,” I said. “So you will be working with your dad? What will happen to your gallery?”

He took a deep breath.

“I’ll tell you in the car, shall we?”

‘”Okay,”

He helped me climbed inside the car and we sat beside each other. I don’t know what I am doing but I told him we could be friends, so this shouldn’t look bad at all.

“Where are we?”

“Your gallery,” I reminded him as the car pulls away.

“Well, a friend of mine will be taking over it for me,” he said. “My mom kind of convinced me to try working for my dad and she kind of uses her post Hollywood actress skills on me so it made me forgot how to say no,” he explains.

I slightly nodded.

“Maybe, you’ll like it there, just give it a try,” I said. “Maybe, you’ll find your passion in that business,” I added.

“Is being a guidance counselor your passion, is it your dream?”

I stopped for a while as I remember what I wanted to become when I was a kid.

“Not really, when I was still a kid, I actually dreamed of being a doctor,”

His eyes widened, like he was amazed or something.

“Wow! What happened? Why didn’t you pursue it?” he asks.

I shrugged my shoulder.

“Honestly, I don’t know, maybe it wasn’t for me,” I said sounding hopeless.

He shook his head.

“I don’t believe that,” he said sincerely. “I think if you will just work for it, you will eventually get it,”

I laughed.

“Who knew that the arrogant good looking jerk who stole my cab can encourage me to go after my dream,” I was joking.

“Well, you never know Ms. Williams, but I am full of surprises,” he said. “Wait, did you just say that I was good looking?”

I bit my lip because I totally said he was good looking. Gosh!

“Yeah, you are, but you should’ve took note that I also said you are an arrogant jerk”

“Nope, didn’t notice at all, I only heard, good looking,”

Then we both laughed. It was actually a good genuine laugh which I totally cannot remember the last time I laugh like that. It’s strange how comfortable I got with Dylan, given the fact that I once have trust issues with people. Maybe being Liz Williams was good for me.

The car pulled over in front of the school, before I climbed off of the car, I said my goodbye to him and he once again kissed me on my cheek. 

 

 

I glanced at myself after I was done putting on my lipstick. I am meeting Dr. Sullivan at a coffee shop at Fifth Avenue today. I look completely different. I was wearing a cappuccino colored short sleeve-above the knee dress. It was kind of cold so I put on my black stockings and paired it with my nude pumps.

I am feeling anxious and nervous maybe because of what Dr. Sullivan will tell me about the Greene’s. I am also feeling excited of seeing her. I don’t know if I am going to tell her about Dylan Grayson, who is consistently texting me ever since the night we had dinner, not to mention the flowers that are still being delivered to my office every day. I am feeling flattered every time he sends me sweet messages, it’s been a while since I felt that way, actually six years to be exact.

It wasn’t hard to find her when I entered the café, she was at the corner part of the small establishment wearing a tangerine ruffled blouse and cream slacks.

The medical conference she is attending is just across the street from that café.

“Hey,” I greeted her.

She stood up and pulled me for a tight hug.

“I’ve missed you dear,” she said. “You look good,” she complimented me.

I took off my black trench coat and put it on the chair beside mine opposite Dr. Sullivan’s with my handbag.

“Thank you, I’ve missed you too,” I said, smiling.

I’ve missed her, she’s the only person that I feel protected and secured within the last six years of my life.

A teenage barista wearing a black shirt and black jeans with black apron walked towards our table and handed us both a menu.

“Hi! My name is Krista, I’ll be your barista for today,” the waitress greeted us warmly.

We both smiled at her.

“I’ll have a latte,” I said. “How about you doctor?” I asked.

She thoroughly checked the menu.

“I think I’ll go with a grilled cheese sandwich and an espresso, triple shot,” she orders.

“Alright, I’ll be right back with your orders.”

We watched her walked away.

“So how are you these days?” she asked, leaning towards the table.

I gave her a slight smile.

“I’ve been good, work is okay, and I----,“ I said leaving a cliffhanger.

I wasn’t sure if I should tell him about Dylan, although there isn’t a lot to tell since I am not dating him and like what I have been saying over and over again I don’t have any plans of dating him.

“What is it?” she asks.

I bit my lip.

“Liz, you know you can tell me anything,” she said with her eyes on me.

I took a deep breath.

“I actually met a guy but it’s nothing,” I said then taking it back right away.

She looks at me intently, I know that look, it’s the look that she has whenever she wants to throw her $0.2 at me. I have learned to memorize that look over the years.

“Say it,” I said. “Throw your $0.2 at me,”

“It’s okay for you to like someone Liz,” she muttered, “Like what I have been telling you before, leave the past in the past, what happened between you and Carter was awful but it doesn’t mean that you will forbid yourself to be happy, you’re young, beautiful and you have so much to offer the world, you are Liz Williams now, you should’ve buried the pain when you chose to Jillian Winters not to exist,”

I gave her a slight nod. I didn’t want to argue with her, I didn’t want to let her know that I don’t want to be happy because I know deep inside me, the pain I felt when I left Carter is still the exact pain I feel in my heart.

“I’ll try,” I said. “By the way, what was it that you wanna tell me but couldn’t do it over the phone? About the Greene’s” I asked, changing the subject, besides my curiosity is killing me.

She nodded.

“Okay, Caesar Greene is ill, and it’s not good, his medical team gave him three months to live,” she said with a blank expression on her face.

I was stunned I didn’t know what to say. The thought of man who was behind my misery dying never crossed my mind.

“His dying wish was for Carter to marry Adriana like what was planned when they were little kids, the engagement was set to be announced to the media this weekend.”

My chest tightened and I was having a hard time breathing.All of sudden everything around me slows down. Dr. Sullivan still talks to me about something else but it seems like I am not hearing her or the people at the café, I was only hearing one thing: the sound of my heart breaking, over and over again.

Chapter Sixteen

 

My days passed like a bullet without me even noticing it. Dr. Sullivan was back in California but the news that she brought to me still playing in my mind over and over again. For the past couple of days I have been living like a total robot or maybe a zombie. I am back with my routine except that I don’t eat. I have no appetite at all. I couldn’t sleep too. The pain that I feel in my heart is excruciating. The silence is deafening.

That Saturday morning I was sitting on the balcony of my apartment with my fourth coffee in hand. It’s the only thing that’s keeping me sane and awake.

I still couldn’t believe that he is marrying Adriana Krueger, he didn’t even love her, he told me that. He’s father is dying but he can still have things the way he wants them to be.

Last night was the announcement of their engagement to the press.