Read Online Serendipity by Stacey Bentley - Free Book Online Page A

phone.
    “Hi Mom,” my voice cracks as I roll to my side and bump my hand.
    “What’s wrong, Phoebe?”
    Leave it to my mom to pick up on the littlest things. “Well… I’m sorry I didn’t talk to you yesterday, but there’s kind of been an accident.”
    “Kind of? What do you mean?” She raises her voice.
    “I was on my way back to the hotel after I picked up dinner and I got into a car accident. I was taken to the hospital but everything’s fine.”
    “Phoebe! Oh God, you should have called me!” She’s all but screaming into the phone. I’m sure just hearing the words ‘car accident’ brought back memories of my dad.
    “Mom, I’m fine. Please calm down.” I glance up to see Emily staring at me.
    She walks over and gestures for me to hand her the phone. When I hesitate, she pulls the phone away from my ear.
    “Hi, Mrs. Andrews? I’m Emily Montgomery,” she introduces herself.
    Emily smiles as she walks out of the room. My mom will soon discover the power of Emily Montgomery. She has taken complete control, but right now I don’t have the energy to fight her. I rest my head on the pillow and as the medication kicks in, any pain dissolves and my eyelids weigh down as I drift off to sleep.

    I wake to a knock at the door. “Come in,” I call, rubbing the sleep from my eyes.
    Dean pushes the door open with his worn, brown boots, carrying a tray. I sit up when he sets the tray down on my lap and sits on the edge of the bed.
    “I’m really sorry about earlier. It was a total accident.” He puts his arms behind him on the bed and leans back onto them.
    “An accident just like yesterday?” I ask sarcastically.
    “That was not my fault and you and I both know it. My light was green which meant that yours had to be red,” he says defensively, sitting up straight.
    He turns to face me, folding a leg underneath him. “Listen, I’m really sorry about yesterday and today. Okay?”
    “Okay,” I nod. “So, why are you bringing me food?” I scrunch my nose when I get a whiff of him. He smells like a zoo. The food on my tray is looking less appetizing, even though my stomach is growling.
    “My mom is busy so she asked me to bring you lunch. Plus, I need to grab some clothes and take them downstairs into the den.” He shrugs and walks to the dresser. I stare at him and take a sip of the juice. I’m not sure what kind it is but it’s delicious. She’s also made some kind of sandwich and a bowl of chopped fruit.
    “Please tell your mom thank you for me. If you don’t mind, I’d like to eat and then go back to sleep.” I say, popping a blueberry into my mouth.
    “But you just woke up,” he glances at me over his shoulder.
    He’s in the same clothes as yesterday which is probably what the stench is. I watch him as he gathers clothes and piles them in his arms. He’s very handsome, dark, olive skin—which I’m sure is from hours spent working outside—and dark eyes that look like pools of melted chocolate.
    I shrug my shoulders and chew. “I may be tired again after I eat. I’m starting to get another headache.”
    He looks at me with concern. “Are you in any pain?”
    “Yeah, a little I guess. Whatever they gave me really helps. I just want to rest so I can go back home, or wherever it is I’m going.” I dig through the bowl of fruit, searching for more blueberries.
    “You know you can stay here for as long as you need to, right? Mom would love for you to stay.” He places his clothes on top of the dresser and walks over to the closet in search of something.
    I sigh and place the tray on the bed next to me. “Listen, your parents seem really nice but I need to get out on my own. I want my own bed and my own clothes, in my own place.”
    He holds a hand up in surrender. “Okay, okay, I get it. Enjoy your lunch.” He says with a smile and grabs his clothes as he turns to leave without another word.
    What was that? Did we just have an actual conversation?
    After he leaves, I eat in