He told her about all the escapades he and his brother went to, how many trips they went to and how Cade would volunteer to some charity events that he would go ahead with because he was really trying his best to be like his brother and wanted to make him and his parents proud of him.
How he was a big brother to not just him but Aiden and Caleb, when he left and how he would call him many times to ask him when he would be back home and all those.
Then how they received the news of his death and how his remains that were unrecognizable were brought back home for burial. He was cremated and she could hear the sadness in his voice as he spoke about what happened during those times.
His parents tried to be strong for him and themselves and how badly he took it by drinking and going back to all those things his brother was against him doing.
She felt his pain and would wipe out the tears that fell from his eyes when he told her.
“I understand for a fact that your brother played a major role in your life and he set great examples that almost everyone would want to follow but there is something everyone needs to know. You cant be anyone,” she told him and he frowned a bit.
“You can try to be like someone but can’t be anyone, that is why you need to be you and be exclusive to yourself. Be unique. Your mentors are mainly there to set great and meaningful paths that would guide you through your stay or walk in this life” she explained then detached herself from him so she was sitting down.
“Their path isn’t to change who you are but just to put you on track so that you stay focused and achieve your aim and purpose in life. You need to walk your own path but their guidance would just prepare you for what to expect along the way”
“Have you had something similar happen to you?” he asked.
“I am an only child but there is something everyone needs to know and keep in mind,” she said and he nod his head as if to tell her to go ahead.
“Life has its way of breaking us… making feel like we aren’t worthy of anything good or making us feel like we don’t deserve to be happy or… I don’t know but it does have its way of throwing us off our feet and making us think we can never get up” she told him and his brows furrowed at that.
“That’s life for you and we can’t control what it throws at us, regardless of your status, personality, the kindness of heart, or whatever, it will mess you up but…” she paused and let out a sigh then shook her head with a smile playing on her face.
“We definitely can control how we would turn out afterlife shows us what it can truly be. However or whatever way our life turns out to be after such encounter depends on how we take it and what step we take to help us heal from such”
“How?” he asked with a frown.
“I don’t know… its- it depends on you and how you can take it and what steps you took in healing from such.”
“You could either let it eat you up and make you make mistakes you will surely regret for the rest of your life or you could give yourself time to heal and not blame yourself for whatever happens then pray for strength and grace to get over it so that you can be an overcomer with no limits” she explained.
“Having the right people who would help in such process is a bonus but if you don’t, you need to give yourself space to heal from such and learn from it to be stronger for what is ahead of you… you still have a long way to go in this life so a little challenge cant is the one to destroy you” she told him.
‘Where have you been all this while?’ he asked in his mind.
All that she explained made him reasoned and he knew she was right… everybody passes through difficult times regardless of their status personality or whatever… the control is in their hands like she said praying for strength and giving themselves time would help a great deal.
He felt his heart swell with pride, joy, fulfillment, and just like there was something that went off his body, he felt good. Not like he had always thought but there was this kind of peace that settled in his heart and he has her to thank for it.
He couldn’t help the smile which turned to a full toothy grin that spread across his lips.
“You are very pretty when you talk smart”
“Do your skin itch for a pinch?”
“No,” he cradled his arm away from her.
“Then behave and listen” he nodded like a little boy taking instructions from his mother.
They looked into each other’s eyes for a moment before she broke off the eye contact and let out a sigh.
“Are you still talking?” he took one of her hands in his then placed a kiss on it and rested his right cheek on her palm.
“I think no” she shrugged but didn’t pull her hand away from his so they just stay like that.
He occasionally planted kisses on her palm and every now and then and when he does, it leaves her breathless and flushing but she didn’t have the mind to take her hand away from his hold because it felt great in the hand it was in.
After so much thinking of what would be her reactions when he says what he wanted to say next, he decided on just letting it out whether or not she believes him.
Placing one last kiss on her palm, he placed it on his thigh with his resting on her pand then leaned back on the couch with his eyes looking up at the ceiling so she mirrored his actions and they stayed quiet for a while before he spoke up.
“I didn’t actually sleep with all women I went out with in the past” he began.
Her brows furrowed and she straightened her neck then turned her head to look at him with disbelief dancing on her facial features.
“Really?” she couldn’t help but ask.
“Yeah,” he answered then straightened his neck also as he sat up straight before turning his head to look at her and wasn’t surprised that she was looking at him.
It was unbelievable for anyone to hear that coming from him, especially the reputation he seems to have among the female gender and what those women did tell the press. So he expected the reaction from her and just wanted to come clean before her.
He had didn’t know why but he just wanted her to know.
“I didn’t actually see some of them worthy of my body rub against, so after any event that we go to, we will just go into the hotel room provided for us and would sometimes kiss them or just do some touching here and there and I will ask them to leave because my mind isn’t settled”
It didn’t settle in her head.
When she looked him up on the internet, there was much news about him changing women as he does with his underwear, and even those supposed women would flaunt and broadcast how gentle, romantic, and caring he was…, especially in bed but what he is telling her is actually contradicting with what is being said about him.
“I know what you want to ask. What those women said and me not denying any of those rumors or what they said about me blah, blah, blah” he said with his signature eye roll then locked eyes with her as he continued.
“You know how you women can be… you exaggerate a lot and just sometimes make a big fuss over little things” now it was her turn to roll her eyes and it made him grin.
“I saw the headlines and all those but I Dimitri Miguel Lorenzo being me who cared less about what stupid rumors the media decided to carry all around, I ignored it and focused on work because worrying about things that wouldn’t add or subtract any value to you is useless” he stated.
She felt her cheeks go warm when he made his Spanish accent deep and audible as he said his name. Even when he didn’t try, he made her flush.
Damn the man!
“So it was them that made up all the things being said about you?” she asked still not believing him.
“Yeah,” he answered with a bored expression on his face.
“Am I supposed to believe that?” she asked and he shot her a glare before adjusting in his seat all the while looking into her eyes.
“I am not asking you to believe whatever I am saying to you, I am just telling you the truth and it is all up to you to believe it or not,” he said.
“Then why are you telling me this?” she didn’t stop herself from asking what was on her mind.
She really wanted to know why he needed to clarify that aspect of his life to her without her asking and even though that had somehow bothered her in the past she remembered telling herself to let his past stay in the past if they were going to create something new together.
That is why it is called the past.
Maybe because he is sharing things about himself with her that was why he told her.
“Because…” he paused and looked at her as he search for reasons that made him want to tell her all that he is telling her.