Page 21 of An Unexpected Encounter

I wave goodbye to him from my front door of my apartment building and watch as he drives away.

When he’s completely out of sight, I make my way over to the elevator and head upstairs to my apartment.

It doesn’t take long for my once content mood to dissipate.

My phone vibrates in my pocket as I step through my front door. Pulling it out of my pocket, I turn to engage my lock before seeing who it is. I was expecting a message from Sam or an email from one of my clients.

My heart plummets when it’s neither of those, but a text from my mother.

Mom: Family dinner tomorrow night at 6. I expect you there and not a minute late.

Me: I don’t think I can make it. I’ve taken on new clients and I’ll be working,

Mom: That’s no excuse, especially since you work from home and you’re your own boss.

Mom: 6 sharp Selena and don’t be late.

Fuck, fuck, fuck. What do I do?

It’s okay, I’m only a couple of months along. It’s not like I’m showing. I just need to stay far away from my new brothers.

I can do this.

I take off running for the bathroom as a wave of nausea hits. Dropping to my knees, I lift the lid, expelling the contents of my stomach.

What if this happens tomorrow? I could just say I’m sick. That could get me out of dinner early, at least. But lord knows my mother would be a raging bitch about how I ruined our first family dinner. Why can’t I just have the balls to not show up? I’m an adult, it’s not like she can punish me. But for some reason, I feel I have to. Even as an adult, I have this need for her approval. She has me so fucked up.

I need to talk to Sam. He’d said he would pretend to be Daddy. Maybe he’ll go with me in case the news slips. With him by my side, I won’t have to worry about being cornered by one of them.

Chapter 11

Selena

“Sam, let’s turn around and go back to your place. We can pick up some food on the way and eat with Jose,” I ramble nervously from the passenger seat. The closer we get to my mother’s house, the more anxious I feel.

“No, we’re not doing that. We practiced everything, so there’s nothing to worry about. If you don’t know how to answer, I will. I have you, Selly. Just take a breath and calm down.”

He reaches over the console, taking my hand in his, and squeezes.

“What if she remembers you from Dad’s funeral?” “Then I’ll handle it. I got this. I’m nothing but smooth under pressure and parents love me. Just remember that. Besides, we’re not mentioning anything about Chicken Nugget tonight. That’s a secret until we see the doctor. What's that old wives’ tale? You don’t announce it until after your first trimester?”

I know he’s right. It’s not even announcing my pregnancy that I'm worried about. It’s seeing them. They’ve consumed my thoughts every day, even though I should hate them. After all, I was a slut who slept with three men.

“Selly, stop. I’m going to be your buffer. Your dutiful boyfriend.”

“I can’t help it. They’re all I can think about, even if they do think I’m a whore.”

“You’re not a whore. You’re a woman who loves with her whole heart. A heart that has enough room for all three of them if they would get their heads out of their asses. But their loss is my gain.”

My gaze shoots over to him, and I raise an eyebrow. “Your gain? You break out in hives around a vagina.”

“Not the vagina, you can keep that. What I meant is I get Chicken Nugget. I’m the winner in this.”

“I love you, Sam. Too bad you’re not straight, or I’d be all over you. I’m so lucky you’re my best friend.”

He squeezes my hand again as we pull up to the curb in front of my childhood home. It holds so many amazing memories of my father and I can feel his warmth anytime I walk in the door. Since going away to college, those times have been few and far between, especially after his passing.

I bet I can count on one hand the number of times I’ve actually seen my mother in person since then. It’s like once he passed away she became someone totally different, or the woman she is now was somehow contained.

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