Page 9 of An Unexpected Encounter

Zeke: Off to the gym.

God, I can’t wait until we are all back in the same place again. For brothers, we’re really close. We all went into the same profession, firefighting. We tried to live separately but hated it, hence living and working together. If we hadn’t all been stationed at the same firehouse, I would’ve found something else to do until I could. But it would be in Jefferson without a doubt.

Maybe I can get a nap in after a shower. I can feel the exhaustion creeping in. There’s also a mysterious beauty I want to meet, but I need to find her first. It's going to be like finding a needle in a haystack, especially since I have nothing to go on but what she looks like.

But it’s a treasure hunt I’m ready to take on.

Opening my bag, I pull out my toiletries and a change of clothes, then head to the bathroom. Two things race through my mind. Find the mystery girl and learn more about this woman my dad thinks he’s in love with.

Chapter 5

Selena

My wake-up call comes from the front desk promptly at eight-thirty a.m. Yeah, I know I’m cutting it close, but I don’t fucking care. Going through my suitcase, I grab the lavender linen sundress I wadded up like yesterday's newspaper last night, just to make a point. Mommy dearest didn’t want wrinkles, so guess what she’s getting. Serves her right for trying to fat shame me.

Dressing quickly, I snake my hands through my hair, pulling out all the tangles and gathering it up into a messy bun before applying a little mascara to my lashes and calling it a morning. We’re just going for a dress fitting and a mani/pedi, so there’s no need to be dressed to the nines.

Picking up my room key and purse from the nightstand, I head out the door. I have exactly four minutes until I’m late, and I can guarantee you she’s already tapping her foot on the floor with a look of disdain on her face. How dare I keep Julia waiting! Stepping up to the elevator, I press the down button, and when the doors open, two blondes with fake boobs and tiny waists are giggling inside.

“Are you sure this was the floor?” bleach blonde one says to the second as they step off, blocking me from entering.

“Excuse you,” bleach blonde two belts out as she turns her nose up. They move past me, the door shutting before I can get in.

Reaching out, I push the button again, catching the elevator before it leaves the floor, and the doors spring open for the second time. I step inside, but not before I hear them snickering and talking loudly about me.

“Did you see how fat she is? Glad she wasn’t on the elevator with us. We could have plummeted to our death.”

“Can you believe people let themselves go like that? Please kill me if I do.” Bleach blonde two acts like she’s gagging.

Unfortunately, they accomplished just what they wanted. They hit me with the one insecurity I try so hard to overcome; my weight. It’s fluctuated all of my life and I’m actually at a low for once. But those comments and snide remarks from people still seep into my brain and cause anxiety. Now I get to listen to my mother criticize me about it. They’ve sucked all the joy from wearing the wrinkled dress out of me, and I just hope the poor unfortunate soul who they are looking for has better sense than to fall for those heinous vultures.

The elevator goes straight down to the first floor, not making any more stops. I step out into the lobby and true to form, Mom is standing there with a scowl, arms crossed over her chest, tapping her toes on the floor. Kill me now.

“Really, Selena, you were raised better than this. Did you not listen to anything I said last night? If it wouldn’t make us late, I’d send you back to your room to change. Are you trying to embarrass me?” She turns quickly and rushes toward the hotel doors, still mumbling under her breath. I just drop in behind her and follow her out to the waiting cab, sliding into the back seat behind her.

“I didn’t have time to iron it, Mom. But it’s not that bad. It’s the material and after the first time I sat down, it would wrinkle anyway.” I try to placate her, but she doesn’t acknowledge what I said.

“Now, I’m getting the last fitting on my dress. I just pray the sizes the sister shop sent over are correct. The last thing we need is to have to change the dress altogether.” She stares at me harshly, her eyes perusing my body. “I swear you’ve gained at least twenty more pounds since I saw you last.”

No, Mommy dearest, I haven’t. In fact, I’ve lost thirty since the last time I saw you. But I don’t correct her, it wouldn’t do any good.

I close my eyes, take a deep breath, then open them to look out the window. It’s not even worth my time to argue with her. She’ll always be right and well, it is her day. Dad wouldn’t want me to upset her. He was the buffer between the two of us, never allowing her to nitpick at me, and his death left me wide open for her criticism.

I zone out the rest of the way, mumbling, “Oh really,” “Yes ma’am,” and “You’re the most beautiful bride,” at random parts of the conversation when I was paying attention. I’ve learned that’s the best way to deal with her bullshit.

Finally, we’re pulling up in front of a fancy dress shop, one of those high couture ones you see movie stars at. The front of the building is an enormous window. As we step through the door, we are immediately greeted by a hostess handing us a flute of champagne. Guess nine-thirty in the morning isn’t too early to start drinking.

“Mrs. Middleton, so lovely to see you again,” a tall, slender, middle-aged woman with dark hair pulled back into a tight bun says as she makes her way over to Mom, giving her a kiss on each cheek.

“Yes, it is, Darla. Lovely to see you again. I was hoping you would be here for my last fitting, and please call me Julia.”

“I wouldn’t miss it for anything. Tomorrow is the big day and I can’t wait to see you walk down the aisle. And who is… this?” She lets her eyes trail up and down the length of my body, disdain clear on her face.

“Oh yes, this is my daughter Selena. Please allow me to apologize in advance. I was not aware she had gained weight, and I just hope her dress fits.” Go ahead Mom, you are really taking every chance you can to ridicule me. Wonder what she would think if I told her about the guy from the club and the plane. Apparently, I wasn’t too big to get thoroughly fucked in the airplane bathroom.

“I’m sure we can handle it.” The snobby bitch rolls her eyes. “Now let’s get you fitted and Delores can handle Samantha.” She gestures toward a woman just stepping out of the back, who's wearing glasses and a measuring tape draped over her shoulders.

“It’s Selena, and that sounds perfect. I don't want to delay the rest of the day, and I would love the surprise of not seeing you in your dress until tomorrow.” I know I may sound bitchy, especially with the glare my mother shoots my way, but she pissed me off.

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