“Apparently, she hasn’t moved on.” Troy always warned me about getting involved with Julia a few months ago.
He was a careful brother, the one who told me how things would end; so he didn’t do anything spontaneously. However, Troy had been fighting his own battles with Mother ever since she entertained the idea of having a big family. Mother was pushing Emilie down his throat, and Troy was doing all he could to ensure he didn't end up with the spoiled girl. I had little to no advice for Troy because I had accepted my fate of never finding love. I would end up with whoever Mother picked for me.
Amelia entered the house a few minutes later. She had a plus one with her, a friend Mother was also fond of. I remember seeing her at Amelia’s welcome party. Camille was her name. Amelia sat across from me in the dining room, so we both caught each other’s eyes when we raised our heads. Amelia was a natural at getting along with Mother. She smiled a lot, a fake smile that made me stare longer at her lips. She’d kissed me with those lips last night. Now that I had a closer look at Amelia, her perfectly shaped lips were one of her best features.
The deep kiss we shared last night only left me hungry for more. Amelia seemed to notice my constant stare. So, for the rest of the dinner, she pretended to be interested in everything Mother spoke about. I walked Amelia and her friend to her car after dinner; she asked to speak with me while her friend hopped into the car.
“About last night,” she started, but I stopped her.
“You don't have to say anything,” I replied dismissively, “as far as I know nothing happened last night.”
Amelia's bright eyes fell. She seemed upset about something I had just said, but getting her out of there was best because I could lean in for another hungry kiss.
“It was nothing serious from my end,” Amelia continued. “I was just avoiding being seen by an annoying friend.”
I nodded. I could quickly dismiss Amelia, but telling me she used me to avoid being seen by someone hurt me more.
“We are a business marriage match. I am not interested in you.” Amelia's words were like a dagger into my heart.
She'd accept that our marriage would never be about love but our parent's business affluence alone.
Amelia cat walked out of my presence. I watched her car move out of the driveway, and Troy’s presence startled me.
“What was that?” Troy squinted his eyes.
“What was what?”
“The tension I sense between you and Amelia.”
I dismissed whatever Troy thought he could sense, “There was no tension between us.”
Troy shrugged. “If you say so.” Troy didn't let go of his suspicion.
“You look upset,” Troy said. “What are you upset about?”
“Amelia kissed me last night.”
“And you are upset about that?”
I shook my head. “No, she just told me she kissed me because she was avoiding being seen by someone.”
“You kissed her back, right? You’ve only had one date with her!”
“I know. Like I said, Amelia kissed me because she was avoiding someone at the restaurant. I felt like she had used me.”
“Do you like her? If I don’t know you better, I’d say you have feelings for this girl.”
I was glad when Troy’s driver brought the car from the garage. I couldn't answer the question Troy had just asked. I was not one to like a woman after a few meetings. However, I’d liked Amelia since I had met her again at the welcome party. I liked her even more after she kissed me in that restaurant. However, I wouldn’t admit to my older brother that I might fall for the woman Mother had matched me with.
“This conversation is not over yet,” Troy promised as he hopped into his car. “I will see you at the masked party.”
I was sure I'd see Troy before the masked party. After my house, Troy’s house was my next home.
I drove out of Mother’s driveway. A few blocks away, a car was parked by the road. A woman stood by it, frustrated about being stranded. Her flowing flower gown looked familiar; as I drove closer, I saw clearly who it was. Amelia. Her car had broken down, and she looked like she would cry.
I parked my car behind her, and she sighed with relief when she saw me. “Thank God, you are here!”
Amelia smiled even in her frustrated situation. Her happy attitude over sad things always amused me. Even worse, it drew me to her. I wanted to ask her how she could remain happy at whatever life threw at her. I would ask her someday; I would keep her close to me until then.