After selling every ounce of coffee we’d brought to the football game, Lola agreed to let the team go home if we promised to come in an hour early the next day.
I untied my apron and sighed. I was still upset about Selena canceling our date. No matter how hard I tried to let it go, I couldn’t.
I called to indefinitely cancel the flight for the chef and his team and headed to Sweet Seasons. I wanted to know about those so-called “things” she was going through.
I’d been sitting at the coffee counter for five minutes when an older woman, who looked very much like Selena, handed me a menu.
“You back for more pie?” she smiled.
“No...Not today,” I stopped and took a long look at her.
She was the spitting image of Selena: From her small button nose, to her deep gray eyes, to the very heart shape of her face.
I would’ve thought she was Selena’s mother if I didn’t know any better, but I knew that was impossible. My intern’s report said Selena’s family lived in Texas, so I shook it off as an eerie coincidence.
“Um,” I cleared my throat. “I’m looking for a particular waitress that works here…Silky black hair, pretty gray eyes, really beautiful. She’s got—”
“Selena?”
“Yeah,” I tried to sound nonchalant.
“Oh. She was off today, darling.”
“Does she work tomorrow?”
“Is she in some type of trouble?” she looked concerned.
“No. I just need to talk to her about something…something kind of important.”
“I see,” she smiled. “Well, I can’t give you her work schedule, hun. I’m sure you’ll run into her again at some point.”
“Right. Well, thank you very much,” I stood and pushed my stool back up to the counter. “Are there any good bars around here?”
Chapter 13
Selena
My coworker handed me a napkin before dropping me off at my hotel. I unfolded it and saw another handwritten note from Ethan: “If I attempted to sue you for potential third degree burns would that make you talk to me? Can I call you? I really want to talk to you…PS—You looked really pretty yesterday…”
I wasn’t sure how much longer I’d be able to reject his advances. Every time I saw him my heart did a cartwheel, and no matter how hard I tried to act unaffected, I failed miserably. I felt like some of the women in the movies I played, the ones who were left speechless and flustered by a mere wink from the male lead.
What’s more was that Ethan pursued me without even being around: Every morning there was a new white and fluffy teddy bear wearing a golden “Looking forward to that some other time date with you” necklace waiting for me. He even waited for me to get off work some nights, offering to give me a ride home, but I turned him down and slipped into Joan’s car each time.
Although each gesture was sweet, I was becoming skeptical of him. I wasn’t sure if he was some undercover reporter trying to get me to talk, and I still couldn’t believe he’d never heard of me before.
I unlocked the door to my hotel suite and saw Joan typing away at the desk.
“Joan?”
“Yes?” she looked up at me.
“I know this may sound crazy, but could you fly to New York and get me some more clothes? They can be a mix of casual and couture. I have a contact at—”
“Burberry, Chanel, and Neiman Marcus. I sent for some outfits yesterday,” she closed her laptop. “They should be here tomorrow morning.”
Either she’s really that good or I’ve never had a good personal assistant…
She sighed. “Anyway, I’ve got some good news and some bad news. What do you want to hear first?”
“The good news…” I shut the door and sat on the couch.
“Okay. The screenplay you submitted to Universal Studios three years ago was green lit this morning. You have a meeting with the directors in February, so congratulations! Also, Matt wanted me to give you this,” she handed me a small beige envelope.
I pried the flap open and pulled out a beautiful piece of silk white paper. A wedding invitation:
Because you have shared in
our lives by your friendship and love, we
Melody Nicole Carter
And
Matthew Ryan Sterling,
together with our parents,
invite you to share
the beginning of our new life together when we exchange marriage vows at
Heartwood Lake
2665 Raleigh LaGrange Road
Memphis, Tennessee
“He wants me to come to his wedding? After everything I put him through?”
“He does,” she nodded. “He wants to leave that crazy stuff in the past and start all over, especially since you two were good friends in the beginning. He also wants me to emphasize that this is a private event, so no mention of this to the press and whoever you choose to bring as your date can’t be high profile.”
I ran my fingers across the intricate envelope and smiled. “I’m honored...”
“Are you ready for the bad news?” she looked as if it was hurting her to keep it inside.
“Yes…”