Chance Encounters
Amelia’s POV
There I was on my 21st birthday, dancing and laughing with my friends. I was wearing my favorite pair of black pants that hugged my ass perfectly with a white linen button down shirt that hugged my breasts and curves showing my black lace bra underneath. The outfit was completed with dangling feather earrings and layered necklaces with a feather pendant on one of them finished with cork macrame wedges. My long beach waves were flying around me as I danced. I felt carefree and on cloud nine. The music was pumping, and I was loving every moment.
After dancing for a while, a few of us had to step away to grab a drink because we were hot from dancing for so long. As I walked up to the bar, I noticed several men staring. This is so common for me that I just ignored it and walked straight to the bar to order a drink. Not wanting anything heavy, I asked for hard apple cider and water, while my friends ordered shots, beer, hard drinks, and a few glasses of wine. We started walking away with our drinks when I noticed his intense stare in my direction. As I continued walking to the sofas with my friends, I couldn’t help but look back, meeting intoxicating blue eyes. I quickly turned away.
I kept feeling his stare as we laughed and giggled. As usual several men came over to hit on my friends and offered them drinks. A few of my friends' boyfriends and their friends showed up and joined the party as well. Mark sat beside me and dropped his arm around my shoulders while planting a kiss on my temple. Even this didn’t deter his staring. If anything, he seemed a little pissed. I kept ignoring him. He disappeared after a while.
“Happy Birthday, Amelia!” Mark said gleefully.
“Thanks. Breakfast tomorrow?” I asked.
“Of course, your place or mine? Or did you want me to treat you for your birthday?” He asked.
“Hmm, can we go to Meg’s Diner?” I asked cheerfully.
“Yes, if we avoid Rebecca. We broke up,” he said softly.
“Then let’s skip it in case she’s working. Let’s do your place so we can talk.” I said with concern.
“Nothing to talk about.” He shook his head and looked away.
“Why don’t I just go home with you and stay the night. We can watch movies or play video games.” I suggested.
“Sure. You’re the best friend a guy can have.” He smiled at me. I smiled back but wondered what had happened. They seemed to be getting serious and he was going to ask her to move in.
“This way you can harass Zane too. Best cheer up session ever.” He laughed. I laughed along with him.
After a while when Maggie invited me to the bathroom with her, I had forgotten about the guy entirely. Five of us headed to the bathroom. As I was walking back, I wasn’t paying attention and walked smack into a solid chest. I immediately freaked out and looked up to the most intoxicatingly intense blue eyes I had ever seen. I was swimming in them. He didn’t even move. After a few moments I profusely started apologizing.
“I am so sorry. I wasn’t paying any attention to where I was going.” I let it all rush out as though it was a very quick and long sentence.
His intoxicating blue eyes just stared at me for a long moment before he replied. “Lucky for you I’m the one that you ran into. If you would have run into my friend here, she would have her drink all over her and she would have been ticked off.” He said this while pointing at a gorgeous redhead standing next to him. She had piercing green eyes and an infectious smile as she stared at me while cuddling up to the stranger. I was mesmerized by both of them.
At that moment Mark walked up and wrapped his arm around my shoulders. “Is everything okay?” Mark was very intimidating with his muscles and gorgeous body.
“Yeah, just me being clumsy as usual.” I said to him, moving my gaze from the couple. Not before noticing the redhead checked both of us out. Something about it made me feel slightly aroused.
I glanced back at the guy who was still intensely staring at me. I nervously tucked my hair behind my ears and licked my lips before apologizing one last time. “Again, I’m sorry.”
He smiled and said “No harm.” Mark gently guided me away. I turned around one last time before joining the group to find that he was still staring, but with a grin on his face as the woman next to him whispered in his ear.
I rejoined my friends but felt him staring throughout the night and caught him several times, as well as his friend. I never forgot that moment or that night. Had I known at the time that our paths would continue to cross throughout the years, I might have asked more questions. But I was 21 years old and just starting my life. I had no idea what had been set into motion that would lead me back to him. Nor did I know that we were fated to be together. I would meet him again for the second time when I turned 22 and every year following.
I didn’t question Mark until the next morning about Rebecca.
“So what happened with Rebecca?” I asked Mark and Zane.
Zane snorted and walked away. I had been harassing him since last night and we all stayed up way too late. I think that he was glad to have the topic switched back to Mark.
“Shut up!” Mark yelled at Zane. “She freaked when I asked her to move in. We had a big fight. I went to the diner to apologize and found her fucking a guy in her car. I walked away and had Zane drop off her shit at the diner.”
“Sheesh. Just shows how little you knew about her. You know Abby is single. When you’re ready. I think she’ll be a better match.” I said to him.
“Ooh, is your friend Kira single too?” Zane asked.
I said, “No, but I’ll let you know when she is.”
Mark laughed and shook his head. “She’s trying to cheer me up, not you.”
Zane replied, “I need cheering too after dealing with that bitch and the shit that she did to you. I can’t take the wallowing anymore. I need a new playmate to distract me and ease my pain.”
“Don’t you get that at your club?” I asked, smirking.
“Yes, but it’s not the same. I want someone to snuggle in my bed. Speaking of the club, when are you going to bring your dominatrix ass over there?” He asked, wiggling his eyes. Mark threw a towel at him.
I blushed. “I’ve already told you, that’s not my thing.” I giggle.
Zane shrugs, “Suite yourself. You don’t know what you’re missing.”
We all laughed at his dramatic effects.