Read Stanton Bliss: Stanton for Free Online Page A

returned from his morning run and I need to talk to him. Standing by the gate that leads from his villa into the pool area, I see him stretching.
    “Hey.” I smile as I approach him.
    He nods. “Beautiful morning.”
    I nod and hesitate. Maybe now is not the time to broach this subject.
    “Did you give it to her?” he asks.
    I nod.
    “Did she write anything down?”
    I shake my head. “No.” I bought that diary yesterday on Nicholas’ suggestion. He’s worried about Natasha. I’m worried about Natasha. She’s acting normal, as if she has been through nothing, but last night her mask slipped a little and I know she’s struggling.
    “She was agitated that the diary was there. She threw it into a drawer annoyed.”
    Nicholas nods. “I see.”
    I wipe the perspiration that keeps appearing on my forehead.
    “Its very early days, Joshua.”
    I nod. “I know.”
    “Have you discussed what happened to her at all?”
    I shake my head. “I don’t want to upset her.”
    “Has she asked you about your time in prison or anything?”
    I shake my head and frown. “No, she hasn’t and it’s weird. She normally asks me ten thousand questions a day.”
    “Do you want me to spend some time with her?”
    I put my hands on my hips to think. The last thing I want to do is upset her. “Maybe we are worried for nothing and she really is fine?” I shrug.
    He smiles. “Perhaps.”
    “She’s a strong woman.”
    “She is.”
    We are interrupted as Natasha saunters through the gate in her gym clothes. My eyes drop down to what she is wearing and the thick sweatband around her right wrist.
    “Good… morning.” I frown. “Why are you up so early?”
    “I need to work out,” she replies casually.
    My eyes flick to Nicholas. What the hell? She hates working out with a passion.
    She walks past us and saunters down the path toward the gym, seemingly without a care in the world.
    My eyes meet Nicholas’ and I shake my head.
    “Oh, and Joshua,” she calls out.
    We both turn to face her. “Can we go motorbike riding today?” she asks. “Yes of course.”
    “But I want my own bike this time.”
    I hesitate before I answer.
    “Nicholas you are coming, too. It’s so much fun.” She smiles as excitement fills her face.
    “Sure, I would love to,” he replies.
    Natasha smiles warmly and disappears out of our sight.
    I turn my attention back to Nicholas. “We’ve got a fucking problem.”
    Natasha
    We sit around a large, circular dinner table at a quaint, authentic Thai restaurant, just down from Joshua’s house. We’ve had a fun and action packed day motorbike riding around the Island. Wilson, Scott and Alyssa flew back home to Australia this afternoon, and Margaret and Robert are leaving tomorrow. The parents have met us for one last hurrah.
    Joshua has his arm slung over the back of my chair protectively as he talks to Cameron, and I smile as I watch them. I know I gave them a heart attack with my motorbike riding skills today, but I made a resolution to myself when I was escaping and running though the forest, that if I got out of there alive, I was never going to be governed by fear again. I’m going to live life to the fullest and, I’m sorry, but Joshua is going to have to learn to live with it. He stopped the bike a few times and had a tantrum, ordering me off. Even Brock, Max and Bridget were on his side.
    I raise my glass at Abbie across the table and she gives me a knowing wink. She seems to be the only one who gets me at the moment. It was me and her owning the road today. Is this how she feels all the time? Like any day could be her last and she needs to have fun at all costs. Is that why she’s so brave and doesn’t give a fuck about tomorrow?
    Today is the most normal I have felt since I returned home and I think its because Joshua was being openly hostile with me. I like my hostile man. I’ve missed my hostile man. I feel like I want to push all the boundaries and make him control me, and I’m not