Does he finally understand?
“Dad,” I say sadly without even thinking about it. He looks up at me with crestfallen eyes. “I didn’t come here to fight with you. I just hoped that I could get you to understand. And I guess a part of me wanted to understand, because I’ve been living my life in fear for the past five years and I’m sick of it. I can’t do it anymore.” My eyes have welled with tears, and as they begin to fall, my father grabs my hand in comfort. A simple gesture, yet the solace that comes from it is undeniable.
“I need to know, Dad,” I say, pulling all my strength together. “I need to know why you didn’t comfort me. Why weren’t you there?”
Torment crosses my father’s face, and he tightens his grip on my hands. “You look so much like her, Amanda. Looking at you every day just reminded me of her and everything I had done to get us in this position. Rage consumed me. The need for revenge was all I could see, so I knew I had to let you go. After two months of you being gone, I realized what I had done, but it was too late. You had disappeared and no one, not even Winona, knew where you were.”
That’s my girl. Winnie always had a good poker face.
“After months of nothing coming up, a part of me gave up. Then two years ago I found you.”
Wait, what?
“You found me?” I ask incredulously.
“A colleague of mine saw you in Cambridge and called me. I immediately came looking and there you were. My baby girl was a college student; all smiles with her auburn hair again. And I realized you didn’t need me anymore. I couldn’t give you the life you deserved.”
“But I did need you, Dad! I needed you financially, but not only that, I needed your support, your love. Now you’re probably going to prison, and our chances are shot to hell!” I can’t fight the tears streaming down my face and the sadness consuming me.
“I’m so sorry, Amanda, but the man I’ve been the past five years, it’s not a man I want you to know. They don’t have enough evidence to convict me. Lord knows I deserve to be put away for the things I’ve done, but chances are I won’t be. I wish I could change this part of myself for you, but it’s who I am. But either way, I’d really like the chance to get to know you again. To prove to you how proud I am of all you’ve accomplished in life.”
I don’t correct him when he calls me Amanda again. I guess there are some things I need to let him hold on to.
“Okay,” I say, surprising both of us as I wipe away the tears. Taking a deep breath, I look him in the eye. “I’ll give you one more shot, Dad, but if you mess it up, I swear to you I’m not going to be coming back.”
The seriousness behind my words hits him, and he hastily nods in agreement. A faint smile traces his lips as he looks at me, and for the first time since Mom died, I see hope behind his eyes.
“I won’t mess this up again, Amanda,” he promises, and I believe him.
The door opens and a man I’m assuming to be my dad’s lawyer enters the room. “Mr. Morello, we need to get started.”
My father gives him a reluctant nod and turns back to face me. “I really hope to see you soon,” he says.
“I’d like that,” I say with a small smile. Although I’m reluctant to let my dad reenter my life, I won’t let it hold me back.
We awkwardly say our goodbyes with promises of another reunion. As I close the door to the room, emotion floods me and I search for the one person I know can make me feel better. And as promised, he’s right there, still waiting for me.
“I got chips and salsa!” Viv calls out as she exits the kitchen, her gold-and-white cocktail dress catching the light. Any excuse to dress up and Viv takes it, going all out with her hair pinned up and gold stilettos to match.
“I’m surprised you didn’t make some fancy appetizers.” Will chuckles as he unbuttons his blazer.
Instead of a casual party to ring in the already two-week-old New Year, Viv insisted we throw a New Year, New You party with our closest friends. I didn’t have the energy to fight that, and if I’m being honest, I didn’t really want to. Last year had been crazy to say the least, so I don’t see a reason why this year has to be.
“Don’t be silly, William,” Viv says as she smacks his shoulder. “They’re coming out when the guests arrive. The chips and salsa are a small snack before the appetizers.”
I stifle a giggle at Vivian’s adorable ways as Will pulls her in for a hug.
“Love you,” he whispers in her ear. The elation on her face from those words is hard to miss, and I can’t help but smile. If anyone deserves to be happy, it’s Vivian. I’m just glad she finally got her happy ending. Jesus, did I just say happy ending? I guess I did. Sue me. I’ve become a romantic!
The ring of our doorbell alerts us to the presence of our first guest, and I go to get it. Smoothing my velvety red dress, I take one last look in the mirror before pulling open the door.
“Happy New Year!” Wren and Claudia say as soon as I see them.
As usual, Claudia looks adorable in an emerald-green dress, while Wren is rocking blue jeans and a blazer.
After exchanging hellos, I take them into the living room, where casual conversation comes naturally.
Within the next twenty minutes, Wolf arrives, dateless might I add. Finally, the doorbell rings and I rush to get it, knowing very well who will be greeting me on the other side.
“Hello, beautiful,” Jess says as I basically jump into his arms. He seems surprised by my sudden display of affection but doesn’t question it.
“Hey, handsome,” I say as I lean in for a kiss. The second our lips meet, I want to say ciao to the party guests, but that would definitely put me in Vivian’s bad books.
“Someone’s excited to see me,” he says as we pull away from one another.
A smug smile pulls across my face. “You have no idea.”
Judging by his grin, he likes that response.
“How are you doing?” he asks, suddenly changing the topic. I know he means how am I coping with everything going on with my dad, and for once, I don’t hesitate telling him the truth.
“I’m okay. You coming with me really helped. I can’t thank you enough, Jess.”
“Hey,” he says, wrapping his arms around my waist, “I’d do anything for you.”
Did you hear that? I’m pretty sure my heart exploded.
I give him a quick peck before pulling him inside, because if we stand out here any longer, I guarantee Viv will come looking for us.
“Okay, everyone take a seat,” Viv calls to the seven of us.
“Nick’s not coming?” I ask Jess as we sit down at the table Viv has placed in the middle of our now-rearranged living room.
Jess shakes his head. “He has to work a shift at Viper tonight.”
Although I’m close with most of Jess’s roommates, Nick is the only one who never seems to be around. Minus our interaction at the Viper bar that afternoon, I don’t really know a lot about him.
After everyone is seated and Viv has placed a feast on the table, the doorbell rings.
“I’ll get it!” Viv calls as she exits the kitchen.
My back is to the door and I’m having a conversation with Claudia, so I don’t bother turning around. That is, until Vivian starts screaming.
It isn’t till I turn around that I realize it’s not screams of fear but of complete and utter joy.
I swear I’d be more surprised to see my dead mother’s ghost right now than who is standing in my living room.
Her straight dark-brown hair is still just above her shoulders, and her height of five foot four hasn’t changed.
“Holy shit, Winona?” My voice cracks in shock.
“Surprise.” She gives a small shrug, pulling out of Vivian’s tight embrace. Heading over to me, she cautiously awaits my reaction. She doesn’t need to wait that long, because I’m running for a hug faster than you can say surprise.
“I can’t believe it’s actually you,” I say, my face buried in her hair. I feel the tears coming
on and hastily try to compose myself.
“In the flesh and blood,” she says, her voice still a fraction wary. “I hope it’s okay that I’m here, Piglet.”
God, haven’t hear that nickname in years. She’s the Winnie to my Piglet.
“Oh my god, of course it is, Winnie. This is the best surprise I’ve had in ages!”
“Piglet?” Jess asks from next to me, snapping me out of my Winona haze and reminding me there are other people in the room.
“Oh god, this is Jess! Winona, Jess, Jess, Winona,” I say, making introductions. She slyly raises an eyebrow at me before shaking Jess’s hand.
“Nice to finally meet you,” he says as he affectionately wraps his arm around me.
We hastily set a place for Winona at the table and continue with the introductions. The next two hours are filled with light conversation and laughter about days old and current. Winnie knows that most of these guys don’t know about my life as Amanda, so she’s especially careful. That’s something I’m beyond thankful for, although if the past few weeks have taught me anything, it’s that I don’t think everyone finding out the truth would be such a bad thing. Don’t hold me to that statement, but telling my close circle of friends about who I was, or better yet, who I am, doesn’t seem so scary anymore.
“Hey,” Jess whispers into my ear. I pull away from the group conversation and adjust my body so I’m facing him. He hands me a plain envelope and I look at him, eyebrows knit.
“What’s this?”
He doesn’t say anything, just gives me his oh-so-sexy smirk and signals for me to open it.
“Oh my god,” I say as I pull out two tickets to the Yeah Yeah Yeahs concert for this July. Absolute bliss floods my system as I stare into the eyes of the only boy who has ever possessed my heart.
“I don’t even know what to say.”
“Well, that’s certainly a first.” He chuckles. “I’ve had them for a while now, but wanted to wait till the right moment to give them to you.”
“Well, you certainly waited till the perfect time. But I’m gonna be honest, if I get any more surprises today, I might cry.” He takes my hands in his, then places a kiss on each of my palms.
“Well, we certainly don’t want any tears tonight, so I think this will be the last surprise.” Warmth radiates from his touch, and I can’t help feeling that for the first time in a long time, I’m whole.
Jess didn’t change me, but he made me realize I could change myself. Being with him helped me understand that I don’t need others to survive, but if I want to truly live, having people in my corner doesn’t hurt.
“I love you, Jess Parker,” I say right before our lips meet for what feels like the first time. The thrill, the warmth, the love, it only multiplies every time I’m with him.
“Not as much as I love you, Eleanor Ivy,” he says, pulling me in closer, not caring who is watching.
Looking back at Jess, I find myself answering the question I asked so many months ago. Does my past have to define my future? And what I realize is, it doesn’t. I don’t have to live in fear of what’s hiding in the shadows.
Before Jess Parker, I never bothered to openly let myself be vulnerable with people for fear of getting hurt. My days were filled with brief encounters with faceless men, attempting to stay afloat in life. But not this time. For all I care, Jess Parker can kiss me in front of the whole school, because this encounter is anything but brief.
Thank you to anyone who picked up this book and gave it a chance. There is nothing that brings me more joy than writing.
Thank you to everyone who has supported and encouraged me along this journey that started three years ago. Who would have known that a story I thought up at Coachella in my senior year of high school would ever make it to paper.
To my Bees: Xochitl, Eva, and Rebecca, I love you all so much. Thank you for always listening to me and my ideas when talking to myself just wasn’t enough.
To my best friend Valentina, I know you don’t read romance novels but I hope you read this one. Hopefully one day I can write about one of your adventures.
To Alex, aka, Panel, I'm so thankful to have met someone who shares the same passion for writing and reading as I do. Instantly you embraced my work and our endless chats mean everything to me.
To Soph, you are my ultimate hype girl and I love you. I could not ask for a better best friend.
To everyone who read Brief in its early stages, Nikki, Brittany, Kathleen, Maddy, and many others, thank you for your feedback and love.
My beta reader and proofreader Nikki from Nam Editorial, your advice and notes never fail to guide me, I don’t know what I would do without you!
Brittany, an initial beta reader of this novel, thank you for dedicating your time to someone you didn’t know and all your invaluable feedback.
My cover designer Sarah Hansen from Okay Creations, you exceeded my expectation and gave me a cover I instantly fell in love with.
To Brenda Wright at Formatting Done Wright, thank you for creating a beautiful interior for my book. You were a pleasure to work with and knew exactly what I wanted.
To the aspiring author Cohorts & the PLN author group, you all were so welcoming and understanding when I had a million questions, thank you for all your help in this process.
To all the people who read and reviewed the Brief Encounters ARC, thank you for taking a chance on my novel.
To my sisters, Alex, India, and Horatia (Duck), I don’t know what kind of human I would be without you all, I love you so much. India, without you I wouldn’t be the writer I am today. Duck, you constantly push me to be my best. Alex, I look up to you more than you could ever know.
And to my parents, Paul and Debby. Without you this book would still be a rough draft on my laptop. Thank you for always supporting me and pushing me to show my work to the world. I love you.
Finally, to the readers. I will always be one of you and I know how hard it is to pick from a TBR list, so thank you for picking me.
Scarlett Hopper was born in Sydney, Australia and moved to Los Angeles when she was 10 years old. Her passion for writing came about at a young age when her sister would read her the works of Virginia Woolf and Sylvia Plath. Three years ago, Scarlett relocated back to Sydney where she studies creative writing and communications. When she isn't writing or reading, she spends her time travelling and searching for the best record stores. After her graduation, Scarlett hopes to move back to the US and begin a new adventure in Seattle.
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/author_s.hopper/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/author.s.hopper/
Website: https://authorscarletthopper.wixsite.com/author
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/16952718.Scarlett_Hopper
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com.au/timtamscarlett/
Table of Contents
Prologue
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Epilogue
Thank you
Acknowledgments
About the Author
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Brief Encounters_The Encounters Series Page 30