A Chance Encounter

“Well, when a man and a woman—”

“Bitch, now is not the time for jokes.”

“I know.” I sigh. “But if I don’t joke, I’ll cry.”

“Is it the guy you mentioned you’ve been seeing? What’s his name?”

“No, he’s dead.”

We’re both silent for a moment while I wait for Naomi to call me out on my lie. She knows me better than I know myself, and she knows damn well if the guy I was dating died, I would’ve told her.

“Dead?”

“Yeah, dead.”

“Okay then. He’s dead.”

I exhale in relief, thankful she’s going along with the lie so easily. I’m not sure I could continue the lie if she questioned me.

“Your mom know about the baby?”

“Yeah.”

“Oh boy. How’d she take it?” Naomi’s mom and mine are sisters. But while my mom struggled, Naomi’s mom did things the right way—went to college, found a wealthy man to marry, bought a home in a nice area, and then had Naomi. My mom isn’t jealous of my aunt Vicky—she’s more envious, if anything. And any time she talks about my future, she always tells me she wants me to be like her sister—get out of this trailer park and make a life for myself.

“Not good. I know she’ll help me, but I can’t let her do that. She’s finally working at a job she likes and pays well, and I’m grown up. I can’t put her through this… But I don’t have anywhere to go… And bartending isn’t going to pay for a baby. Shit, Naomi, maybe I’m in over my head here. Maybe I should have an abortion,” I choke out, hating myself for even thinking that. I’m not against abortion by any means. Every woman has the right to do what she wants to her own body, but could I live with that choice?

We’re both quiet for a moment before she says, “Move here.”

“What?”

“Move here. I need a roommate and you need a place to live.”

“Did you not hear I’m pregnant?”

“Yeah, I did. We’ll figure it out together.”

I think about my options for a moment, but the fact is, if I stay here, I risk running into Freeman, and while I’d like to believe he’s not capable of acting on his threats, my gut tells me he is. Then there’s my mom—I can’t put her in a position where she feels she’s obligated to help me raise my baby. But if I leave, I’ll be across the country, away from Freeman, and my mom will be off the hook. She deserves to finally live her life for herself. She gave me eighteen years. It’s not fair to put her through another eighteen.

“Okay, I’m in.”

CHAPTER ONE

SOPHIA

Seven Years Later

“Two Jack and Cokes, a Tom Collins, and a whiskey neat.” I repeat the order as I set them on the tray. “Anything else?”

“Nope, that’s it. Thanks, Soph.” Sterling grabs the tray and sashays over to the table with the drinks.

I go back to manning the bar, when a gentleman sits down, his eyes immediately raking down my body. I ignore it and place a napkin in front of him. “Welcome to Emerald’s. What can I get you?”

“You,” the gentleman says with a cocky smirk splayed across his face. I avoid rolling my eyes. He isn’t the first, second, or hundredth guy to make that cliché remark, nor will he be the last. Do guys seriously think that’ll work and us women will just jump into bed with them? Ugh. Why are men so stupid?

“I’m not available,” I tell him pointblank, like I tell every guy. Never will I let a man pick me up in a bar again, nor will I allow him to even think he has a sliver of a chance. “But I can get you a drink.” I wink flirtatiously to lessen the blow—because, hello, tips—and like always, it works.

He smiles. “Gin and tonic, please.”

“You got it.”

I go about making his order, serve it to him, then grab the ticket that just came in to make an order for a waitress. Once that’s done, I check on my other customers, making sure they’re good. The music throughout the club is thumping, and I find myself dancing as I walk over to greet my new customer who’s sat himself at the end of the bar.

“How’s it going?” Dante asks with an easy-going smile. He’s the owner of the club and my cousin Naomi’s boyfriend.

I make him his usual whiskey on the rocks and hand it to him. “It’s fine. Tips aren’t as good, but it is what it is.” I shrug, making him laugh. The corners of his eyes crinkle, showing his age—fifteen years older than Naomi and me. At first, I was concerned about her dating an older man, but I quickly understood why she’s attracted to him. He’s good-looking, mature, responsible, and doesn’t play games—all rare qualities in a man from what I’ve seen. My cousin has hit the jackpot with him—and him with her, because she’s a damn good catch herself.