Perfection
Is Just An Illusion
By Rebecca Barber
Is it possible to have a perfect
life? A perfect love? Or is perfection just an illusion…
James Thompson is an Olympic swimmer with gold medals,
world records, and million-dollar sponsorship deals…
But his fiancée Anna White is just an ordinary girl—or
so she believes.
When James takes her home for a visit and encounters her
childhood friends and sleazy, jealous ex-boyfriend, Grant, he sees for the
first time just how far apart their worlds really are.
Anna’s so-called friends undermine and backstab, but
James is up for the challenge…
James is determined to make Anna see that while she
might have once been an ugly duckling, she is now a stunning swan, and the only
woman for him.
As the London World Championships approach, media
scrutiny of their relationship intensifies, and an intimate secret is
uncovered...making their promise to each other nearly impossible to keep.
Caught up in a whirlwind of press coverage, and
championship competition…
James and Anna find the stress almost overwhelming, and
they struggle to maintain focus on their goals. But when victory finally
appears certain, an old menace resurfaces and threatens to violate all James
and Anna hold dear.
Is it possible to have a perfect life?
A perfect love?
Or is perfection just an illusion…
About the Author
Rebecca, one of four kids to her parents who are both
primary school teachers, was born in Wollongong on the south coast of Australia
before moving to the country with her family. After a few years of embracing
all that country life had to offer, the family relocated to Port Macquarie with
its white sand beaches. After a brief period enjoying the sun and the surf they
finally settled in Canberra where Rebecca still lives today. But all through
her childhood a notepad and a book where never far away. These days Rebecca is
an avid reader, and when she isn’t buried in a book or cheering on her beloved
football team she’s spending time with her husband Robert and their overly
spoilt dog Levi.
Excerpt
“When he comes
over please don’t say anything stupid or act funny around him. Please. I’m
begging you. He’s just a normal guy like you and me,” Anna pleaded, wide eyed.
At the mention
of the ‘normal guy,’ Anna couldn’t help but notice the wide, suspicious eyes
staring back at her. It was obvious that her comments had had the exact
opposite effect than the one she’d been after. Instead of acting natural and
normal, now Anna was worried what would fall out of their mouths. And what
confused her more was why. After all, they’d all known each other for years,
but now and all of a sudden Anna didn’t trust them. Not as far as she could
throw them.
But in the same
moment the thought crossed her mind, James edged his way around the bar toward
them. Daniel was first to see and recognise him. Anna watched on, horrified, as
his mouth fell open, his eyes firmly fixed on James’s approaching figure. And
slowly but surely, one by one, everyone else’s gaze followed.
Anna hated her
home town in that moment. And she knew James would have as well. This was why
they never went anywhere or did anything. The whole bar was watching him. Every
move he made was scrutinized, and as he passed by tables, Anna was disgusted to
notice conversations fell short. People stopped pushing buttons on the poker
machines, and even the bar attendants froze mid-pour as the entire club fell
silent. But to James’s credit and Anna’s delight, he continued to walk
purposefully across the room, his head held high, and took his seat next to
Anna, offering her a glass of mineral water and a reassuring smile as she made
introductions.
Anna had never
felt so many pairs of eyes on them at once. She felt them boring into her soul.
So she did something she never would have done if she had been thinking
straight. It was Anna’s greatest weaknesses; she was rash and impulsive. And
when provoked, she tended to react first and think later. So she kissed James.
In the middle of the crowded room, with hundreds of eyes fixated on them, she
kissed him. It worked, luckily. Shocked people returned to what they were
doing, leaving Anna’s cheeks burning. She could hear their names being
whispered amongst patrons, but at least the staring and deafening silence was
over. She heard rumours beginning to take shape, about how she—a nobody—had
just kissed the superstar swimmer.
No comments
Post a Comment