Misunderstandings by Tiffany King Read Free Book Online

wow,” I proclaimed, staring into the large enclosure.
    “Pretty cool, huh?”
    “It’s crazy cool.”
    “I remember you saying how much you liked Puget Sound last week, so I thought you’d enjoy seeing what’s beneath the surface,” he said, sitting down on a bench. He unzipped an old worn-out backpack that had seen better days and pulled out a sketchpad and a thick pencil.
    “So, you’re doing fish for the hospital?” I asked, nodding toward the large window.
    He ignored my question and focused completely on the sketchpad in his hands. It was as if he had been put under some kind of trance the moment the sketchpad hit his hands. The pencil seemed to have a mind of its own as it moved effortlessly across the page. I turned my attention back to the fish behind the thick glass. It was entertaining to watch the dynamics of life in a world so different from my own. Some of the fish swam lethargically along, like they didn’t have a care in the world, while others seemed to be chasing each other as they darted in and around the plants. With my eyes still on the live show in front of me, I settled on the bench next to Justin, who still had not looked up. Minutes faded away and many families came and went. Some gasped over the fish behind the huge glass, while others didn’t look impressed at all. Through dozens of screaming and squealing kids, Justin and I remained on the bench. If not for the scratching of the pencil, I would have assumed he had fallen asleep.
    It was thirty minutes later when he finally looked up from the page. “Sorry, I wanted to get that down while it was still fresh in my mind,” he said, closing the sketchpad.
    “Not so fast,” I said, holding out my hand. “Let me see.”
    “It’s not done,” he answered, stowing it in his bag.
    I didn’t argue. The intensity he had the entire time he was drawing led me to believe he took his work very seriously.
    “So, what do you think?” he asked, indicating the large expanse of windows in front of us. “Pretty cool way to show visitors a glimpse into what it’s like beneath Puget Sound?”
    “It’s breathtaking. I could stay here all day.”
    “Been there, done that,” he said, throwing his head back to laugh. Several preteen girls turned to stare at him, looking completely entranced before dissolving into a heap of giggles. As we left the viewing area, I could still hear them giggling and chattering away.
    “I think you have a fan club,” I said, throwing a look over my shoulder at the girls.
    “You think?” he asked, raising his pierced eyebrow, which naturally drew my attention. Everything about him seemed designed to appeal to the opposite sex. I wasn’t the only one to notice as we continued walking through the aquarium. I caught women young and old openly admiring him. There was no denying he was attractive. Obviously, any warm-blooded female would attest to that. Knowing the way the female mind works, I realized I was also being judged by his many admirers as to whether I was worthy to be with someone with his looks. Not that I felt I was ugly, but feeling insecure around guys was never my thing. Being with Justin had a way of making me feel like I was lacking in one capacity or another. It was more my problem than his, and I realized that.The only problem was I was beginning to find I actually enjoyed his company. He was laid back, good-natured, and very easy to talk to. It was a shame I had to end things before they got started.
    We were eating lunch when I mentioned it. “Today has been really fun.”
    “Why do I sense a
but
coming?” he asked, dipping a French fry in ketchup.
    I smiled slightly at his intuitiveness. At least he wasn’t dense like the last guy I ended it with before the first date was even over. “But, I just think we’re too different.”
    “Different? How?”
    “I’m sure you’ve noticed I’m not the most open person,” I started, glaring at him when he grinned broadly at my words. “Fine,