Unexpectedly Yours

Chapter 1

Amelia

I've been left stranded in Sin City.

My best friend planned a whole trip with me, only to leave me high and dry.

Anger flares up within me. To say I'm not pleased is an understatement.

I've never been to Las Vegas before, but the stories I've heard have been far from pleasant. In fact, it sounds like my personal nightmare.

All I wanted was a nice vacation in the mountains sipping hot cocoa in front of a roaring fire. That's the vacation that I spent a year working back-to-back shifts at the restaurant and scrounging up every penny for.

But my best friend wanted to gamble and get drunk on the Strip instead, and unfortunately, I lost the bet.

Which is why I'm now alone and anxious outside a hotel that looks like something out of history novel. Grecian architecture with Corinthian columns adorned with intricate gold leaves.

Cracking my neck, I narrow my eyes and focus on my phone. My chat with my best friend looms in front of me as my fingers hover over the screen.

Just then, my phone pops up with an incoming call from her. I debate whether to answer it or let it go to voicemail but decide I should at least hear her out.

"Hey, pookie. Where are ya?" Her voice rings through, bubbly.

"Don't you pookie me," I say, annoyed but not as stern as I'd like it to be.

Elisa laughs on the other end of the line, but I can tell it's strained.

"I'm so sorry, Ames. I swear. I was at JFK airport, ready to board. I was so excited to come meet you, but Jeremy showed up. I know it sounds bad, but oh, it was so magical. Like those scenes in movies. He had flowers and begged me not to leave."

I scoff. Of course.

Elisa has always been flaky like this. The woman barely has her head screwed on right. It takes a lot of hard work to make sure she doesn't bail.

But I never anticipated she'd bail on me now. Not when we worked so hard for this.

"We've been planning this trip since the past year. I had to save up for this! This was supposed to be a girl's trip, and you're ditching me for your ex-boyfriend the minute he comes crawling back?"

I wince as the harsh words leave my mouth, but I'm too worked up to care.

"I know, but he swore on his life this time. He'll change and be better."

My eyes roll so far into the back of my head I'm surprised they don't get stuck. Her ex is as flaky with her as she is with me.

"Did you tell him this was just a girl's trip and that you aren't relocating for good?"

The silence on the other line is answer enough.

I love my best friend, but she's a magnet for drama. I had a bad feeling this would happen. She has a habit of falsifying stories so that her ex comes grovelling back. They've been on again off again since I've known her.

Closing my eyes, I take a deep breath. "I'm going to get the room keys. Making the best I can out of this whole shit show. I'll text you later."

I don't wait for a response.

I can't believe I spent so much time saving for this trip. I wanted to treat myself but look where I've ended up.

The front of the hotel is teeming with people as I grab my suitcases. Luckily, I'm not a complete headless chicken and manage to make my way up to the front desk. I'm glad I handled all the bookings because Elisa doesn't have a clue how the world works.