Brief Encounters_The Encounters Series

by Scarlett Hopper

  Jesus, student loans should be fun.

  Although I’m terrified of failing financially, a smile appears on my face. Tomorrow, I start a new chapter.

  Roger’s doors swing open, pulling me out of my thoughts and wiping the smile off my face. He’s wearing his usual gray Armani suit that looks as though it’s been newly laundered, despite the fact that it’s past one a.m.

  He opens the door for me to come in, but I just shake my head.

  “You’re leaving.” His to-the-point statement catches me off guard, and my gaze snaps from the ground to his.

  “I’m sorry. It isn’t you. It’s all of this. I’m leaving it all for good.” I don’t know why, but I feel the need to be honest with him. Out of everyone I’ve ever been with, Roger was the kindest to me, even though he didn’t have to be.

  “It’s okay, Eliza. I understand, but I wouldn’t be me if I didn’t try to convince you to stay. Is there any way?”

  I shake my head as I hold his stare. His haunting hazel eyes look me over one last time, and a small smile appears on his face.

  “Thank you,” I say, and I mean it. He gives me one final nod as I turn and head back to the elevator. The weight of the world has finally been lifted off my shoulders as I press the button for the ground floor.

  Finally, I’m free.

  “So, how did it go?” Viv asks suggestively from the living room. I haven’t told her about my major life decision of quitting the business yet, but I guess now is as good a time as any.

  Since ending things with Roger last night, I don’t think I’ve ever slept so well. Now I have to deal with telling Dean the news, and from the countless missed calls I’ve received, I can tell he’s less than thrilled. Also, I didn’t even think about what this is going to mean for Viv. Does she even want to stay? Does she want to go? Have I fucked up any chance of her getting another job?

  Jesus Christ, why does life have to be so complicated?

  “I didn’t bring Jess home last night.” I’m now hesitant to tell her about this major life decision I made without even consulting her.

  Viv pops her head in through my open bedroom door, her golden curls falling to the side as she tilts her head at me.

  “Why the hell not?” She laughs as she runs and jumps onto the end of my already disheveled bed.

  “I sort of told him I had a work emergency, and went to see Roger,” I spit out.

  Viv’s face pales as caution fills her gaze. “Oh no, Ellie, you and Roger?”

  Realization dawns almost instantly, and I realize what I said sounds like. “Oh God no!” I quickly add, “I mean I went to see him so I could end things with him, so I could really, fully, be with Jess. Without the guilt, you know?” And I know she does get it; she went through the same thing when she first met Will.

  Viv’s eyes are wide in astonishment as she looks at me, mouth agape.

  “Holy shit, Ellie.” Her mouth spreads into a full-on grin as she tackles me onto the bed. “This is the best news I’ve heard all week!” she exclaims as she takes me in a bear hug.

  Relief floods me, and I can’t help but join in on her celebrating.

  “Things are going to be so different now, Ellie. No more obnoxious older men!”

  “No more booked-up weekends or weeknights!”

  “No more old men ‘accidentally’ copping a feel.” She giggles.

  “And finally…” I say, waiting for her to join in.

  “No more Dean!” we shout at the same time, then simultaneously erupt into a fit of laughter.

  “What the fuck is wrong with you, Eleanor? Roger Huntington was one of our biggest clients! I refuse to accept that you’re done.” Dean doesn’t even try to cover up his rage over the phone. I figured I wouldn’t waste any more of anyone’s time and would deal with everything over the phone.

  “Yes, Dean. Vivian and I are out. You promised when we came in that we could leave whenever. This is our whenever.” As much as I would love to rip Dean a new one about how much of a creep he’s been over the years, I can’t bring myself to do it, because in the end, he helped us out and he deserves our loyalty to an extent.

  “What the hell is wrong with the two of you? Do you know how good you have it? None of my others girls get off like you two, they all have to go the extra mile with these men. I’ve been grooming you two for years and I won’t let it all go to waste.”

  I freeze at his words. I’ve always known that most dates for hire have to sleep with clients but Dean said it didn’t have to be that way with us. Was it a set up for something bigger all along? Maybe. But at this point I can’t find it in myself to care.

  “Jesus, Eleanor, you always had perfect timing for knowing when to officially fuck everything up. Not having Vivian has been crap enough for me, and now you’re saying I’m gonna have to lose you too.”

  He lets out a string of curses under his breath that would make a convict blush, but I don’t say anything. There isn’t a point. This is the end and we both know it. Hell, I think he’s known it was coming for months now; we both have. Maybe that is why he gave me such a big job, because he knew he was losing me.

  “I really am sorry, Dean. But it’s over. We don’t want to be contacted by you or anyone else from the agency.”

  He hangs up without another word, clearly seeing that we are indeed done.

  As the day drags on, I can’t help but become more and more aware of my and Vivian’s impending financial problems. Thankfully, we don’t need to worry about paying tuition for the rest of the year, but we’ll both need to get jobs in order to start saving for next year.

  The only places hiring are the Snack ’n’ Shack as a gas station attendant or a sales person at a little boutique near campus called Collette’s. I’m trying for the latter.

  As I exit my apartment, I pull my coat close to me, wanting to avoid frostbite at all costs. As I’m rounding the corner, my phone vibrates.

  “Hey,” I say breathlessly, and it isn’t just the cold weather.

  “Hey yourself, Ms. Ivy,” Jess replies. Jesus, even on the phone the guy sounds sexy.

  “How did it all go last night? Any troubles with the boss?”

  “None at all. I’m currently on my way to apply for a job at a boutique.”

  “That’s amazing, Els. I’m glad it all turned out okay.” The warmth in his voice brings a smile to my face, and all of a sudden I really miss him. I’m not one to miss people, but right now I just want to see him.

  “Can I come over tonight?” I ask without hesitation.

  I can almost hear the smile in Jess’s voice as he responds. “I thought you’d never ask.”

  Even though I’m alone, my face heats at his admission. “Okay, I’ll come over around six.”

  “Can’t wait,” he replies. “Oh, and Els?”

  “Yeah?”

  “Good luck with the interview.”

  As I turn the corner, I see Collette’s up ahead. It’s a small shop in a tall white building that has the shop’s name in big pale-pink cursive at the front. The window is filled with items ranging from gorgeous gold pumps to the ultimate emerald-green cocktail dress. Now that would be an outfit, I tell myself as I pull the door open.

  A wave of heat hits me as I enter the shop, comforting compared to the frosty temperatures outside.

  A silver-haired girl who looks to be around my age greets me as I walk around the shop, admiring the merchandise. Merchandise that I now must remind myself is no longer in my budget, but was it really ever? It isn’t as if I bought the stuff myself.

  “Can I help you find anything?” the silver-haired girl asks as I round the counter. As I get a better look at her, I see that she has a badass nose ring and a few piercings on each ear. Her slender arms have some small tattoos scattered here and there, including one of the Deathly Hallows that particularly sticks out to me. But it’s her eyes that grab my attention. They’re the most beautiful stormy shade of grayish blue that I’ve ever seen.

  The girl clears
her throat as she waits for my response, and I feel ridiculous for essentially checking her out.

  “Um, I’m here to hand in a job application,” I finally reply.

  The girl’s eyes flash with recognition as to why I’m here, and she leads me to the register. “This looks good,” she tells me as she looks it over. I may have embellished my resume a fraction. “We desperately need the help right now, so you’re hired,” she says almost instantly, catching me off guard.

  “Really?” I can’t help but ask at the sudden position. This girl looks no older than me, and she can hire people on the spot?

  “Yep,” she says casually as she files my application under the desk. “Can you start Monday afternoon?”

  “Yeah, that’s perfect,” I respond, probably too enthusiastically.

  “Cool. If you want to stick around now for a little bit, I can show you the ropes.”

  Not having anywhere to be for a few hours, I eagerly accept.

  “Oh, and I’m Ash by the way,” she adds.

  “I’m Eleanor, but you probably already knew that from my application.” She gives me a small smile and dives right in.

  We spend the next few hours chatting about the job and what it entails, even spending some time telling one another about ourselves. I learn that Ash is twenty-one and originally from Seattle, having moved to Cambridge when she finished up school earlier in the year. She lives with her older brother, Asa, nearby and is absolutely obsessed with Harry Potter, not something I would have guessed if I hadn’t seen her tattoo, but then again, aren’t we all Potterheads in one way or another? I learn her brother’s girlfriend owns the store, hence her position as manager.

  Our chitchat is short, but from what I get, Ash is a bit rebellious and outspoken but also seriously hilarious once she warms up to you. After we say our goodbyes and I begin walking home, I realize something. I’m excited to be going to work on Monday.

  I guess there’s a first time for everything.

  “So they gave you the job. That’s amazing,” Jess says as he stacks the dirty dishes into the dishwasher.

  Our night had been pretty low-key, dinner and a movie at his place, but my nerves have been seriously all over the place. Tonight is the night where we officially take things to the next level, and even though sex is no stray topic for either of us, having it together is a big deal.

  After wiping down the bench, Jess saunters over to the couch I’m sitting on and pulls me into the nook of his shoulder. I thread our fingers together as he places a small kiss on my head.

  “Jess?” I ask quietly, almost muffled by the loud TV that’s blasting Die Hard.

  “Yeah, Els?” he says against my head.

  “I’m really glad we’re doing this. You know, giving us a chance.”

  I feel his body relax against mine as he pulls me up so I’m straddling his hips.

  “Me too, Eleanor. I mean, from the first time I met you, I just felt drawn to you. Like I knew I had to have you in my life in some way or another.” He lowers his head at this confession, and I can’t help but want him even more because of it.

  “I’m so glad you’re not the asshole I thought you were.” I giggle as I wrap my hands around his neck and lift his head up to meet mine.

  “I’m not all that good, Els. Just to you,” he says against my mouth as I deepen our kiss.

  I don’t know if the room temperature just increased by a hundred degrees, but suddenly I feel the need to remove all clothing and barriers between Jess and me. I hastily pull off my blouse and throw it onto the floor, momentarily breaking the kiss. Jess’s eyes flare with desire, and he takes the opportunity to toss his T-shirt next to mine in the pile on the ground. At the sight of him, my breath catches.

  I run my hands up his stone-hard chest as I rock my hips against his, eliciting a small groan on his end. From the pressure building between my own legs and what I feel between his, one thing is clear. If we don’t get to a bedroom quickly, our first time will be on his sofa.

  “Upstairs,” I say breathlessly as he presses his mouth to my own. Almost instantly he’s standing, my legs still wrapped around his waist. He carries me up to his room.

  Our bodies are flush against one another, our jeans and my black bra our only barriers.

  In record time we’re in his bedroom, tangled in the feeling of one another. As he covers my neck with warm kisses, I manage to kick off my jeans before starting on his. My uncharacteristically nervous hands struggle with his button. He tangles his hands in my hair as I let out a small giggle, his chest moving up and down in a laugh of his own.

  Finally, after removing all traces of our remaining clothing, we’re in each other’s arms once again. We fall onto the bed, and the contact of our skin sends my body into overdrive. I lace my fingers through his hair as he places soft kisses from my head to my collarbone.

  “Are you sure, Els? Do you want this?” he asks as he trails his kisses farther down.

  “More than I’ve ever wanted anything else.” I moan desperately as I pull his face back up to meet my own.

  Jess spends what feels like eternity worshipping my body from head to toe, each kiss and touch filled with delicacy, as if he fears I might shatter. Eventually, his mouth is back on mine, our lips crush together in frenzied kisses.

  Jess breaks our kiss to grab something from the side table, and recognition sets in with the sight of that small silver square. This is happening. This is finally it.

  Jess looms above me, eyes locked on mine. I nod hastily, not wanting to waste any more time. Jess undoes the wrapper and a few seconds later slowly rocks into me. I suck in a breath at the pleasure gathering at my core and begin to meet his movements with my own.

  His kisses are scalding and laced with a burning desire. As they deepen, I can’t decipher all the emotions I’m starting to feel.

  “God, Eleanor, you feel incredible.” He groans against my mouth as he quickens his pace.

  I dig my nails into his shoulders and arch my back as euphoria overtakes my whole body. I cry out his name and slowly descend from the high that has overtaken my body.

  Jess growls my name while burying his head between my neck and shoulder. “Jesus Christ, Els. That was—” He lets out a breath. “There are no words.” I let out a small giggle, nodding in agreement because he’s right. There are no words to describe how incredibly amazing that was.

  He lifts his head and kisses me softly, without any rush or fanaticism. Pulling me close, he wraps his arms around me, and I feel something I haven’t experienced in years: love.

  Am I in love with Jess Parker?

  The weight of the question scares the shit out of me, and I honestly don’t know the answer. But there is one thing that I’m sure of. I may not be in love with Jess, but I sure as hell am falling.

  November 2014

  Never Tear Us Apart

  The next three weeks go by in a haze of schoolwork and tangled sheets. Halloween comes and goes, leaving candy wrappers as the only indication that the night happened, and instead of carving pumpkins, the cooking of pumpkin pies begins. Dean’s rage-filled calls have begun to subside, and any thoughts of Roger have long passed. I’ve actually started to feel like a regular college student.

  My job at Collette’s has been going well, aside from my bitchy coworker Anna, who I think has made it her mission to make my life a living hell. I have no idea what’s wrong with the girl, but she doesn’t seem to have a nice bone in her body. Luckily, I’ve got Ash, who I share shifts with most of the time, so my interaction with Anna is limited.

  Things between Jess and me are better than ever, and the fact that I no longer have a job that I have to keep from him is an added bonus. Although both of our schedules have been crazy with him having hockey away games and me having my new job, we always manage to find time. I guess this is what it feels like to be a normal twenty-year-old. Well, nearly twenty-one-year-old. One more week till Saturday, November twenty-second, my second most dreaded day of the year. My m
other’s death will always be looming over me as the worst, but I try to think of that as little as possible.

  Hating my birthday has no real significance. I just happen to hate a day when all the attention is on me. In fact, I can’t think of anything worse. Unluckily for me, my best friend is Vivian Marie Clark, the birthday nut extraordinaire. If I have any luck, a party at our apartment will be her idea of low-key.

  As I pull open the door to Collette’s, I can’t help the frown that forms on my face as soon as I see that I’ll be working with Anna today. The feeling seems to be mutual because the smile she was wearing only seconds ago has completely vanished, and she glares at me as if I just killed her kitten.

  “You’re late,” she snaps as I pull my coat off. Glancing at my watch, I see that the time is 1:02 p.m. I’m two minutes late and she’s acting as if I committed murder.

  I mumble a sorry as I put my stuff round back before coming out to await any customers.

  Anna blatantly ignores me, flipping through her magazine as if it’s the most interesting thing in the world. The only time she acknowledges me is when my phone vibrates, and that’s just to give me a death glare.

  Claudia & I are coming by.

  Can’t wait to meet Satan’s Spawn!!!!

  Be there in 10.

  xoxo Viv

  Over my three weeks working here, the girls have come around a few times along with Jess, but have thankfully only met Ash. After weeks of hearing about the infamous Anna, Viv decided she had to meet her in person.

  Exactly ten minutes later, the shop door opens and in walks a bouncing Viv with her signature curls, a burgundy dress, and tights along with a cream-colored beanie. Claudia, on the other hand, is in a pair of blue jeans with a large gray sweater that seems bigger than the poor girl is.

  Anna automatically closes her magazine to go and greet them, clearly not knowing they have any affiliation with me.

  “No need, Anna,” I say quickly. “They’re here to see me.”