Unexpected | Simon Minter | Miniminter

Chapter Four

As I walk through the rotting double doors, memories flooded my mind. I watched my brother and I chase each other around, see-through and ghostlike, but glowing with joy. Our father watched from the top of the stairs, shaking his head, but smiling.

I wandered around, at least four other memories playing out in front of me at once. The two of us lived here as kids, but we were raised on the base from the moment we were old enough. Yet returning to this place, this empty, forgotten stack of bricks and cement, hurt more than I thought it would.

Especially when her voice danced through my mind, light and airy.

Inhaling sharply, I sunk to my knees, surrounded by the remains of our once beautiful kitchen. Tears blurred my vision, burning hot as they spilled down my cheeks.

Every year, I reminded myself of what happens when you place your trust in the wrong person.

The tears eventually slowed, allowing my mind to clear. The clouds lifted and I could see the light again. I left the foreclosed house with my head held high, despite the heaviness in my heart.

I trudged along the bank of the small creek behind the house, headed for the petrol station up the road. I thought about my brother as I basked in the afternoon sun, his last words and their bitterness. I thought about the kid with the toothy grin and mismatched socks, his naive wonder and optimism. I wished I could see him again.

But all that was left was a man who wanted nothing to do with me.

I considered calling him from the uber back to London. His number wasn't hard to find with the right knowledge, but it still sat untouched in my phone for months.

Instead, I checked the message from the unknown number.

hey! think i can run into you tonight?

there's this great pizza place downtown i've been dying to try

this is simon btw

Though I'd never tell Athena, the awkwardness that seeped through made me smile. I didn't know how to respond, or if it was even a good idea, so I reluctantly asked her when she dropped off Noah a few hours later.

"My little girl has a date!" Athena squealed, bouncing around her flat.

"I'm older than you," I grumbled, rubbing Noah's belly.

Her grin didn't falter. "What are you wearing?"

"If I say a jumper and joggers, that's the wrong answer, huh?"

She glared. "I know you have something better."

Without any warning, Athena pushed past me into the bedroom, heading straight for my closet. She rummaged through it for what felt like hours, pushing my clothes on hangers back and forth, until she let out a shrill cry.

"You still have it!" From the back of my closet emerged a red, strapless dress.

"Last year's birthday present," I recalled, nodding. "Why would I get rid of it?"

"You're not exactly known for being girly." Athena shoved the dress into my arms, pointing to the bathroom. "Change."

Sighing, I did as she ordered. I didn't have it in me to fight her.

Athena's jaw dropped to the floor when I opened the door.

"Elsie! You . . . You're absolutely gorgeous!"

I ran a hand through my hair. "Thanks?"

She clapped her hands together. "Time for shoes!"

Despite my best efforts, Athena managed to wrangle me into a pair of black pumps I kept for formal events. Somehow, she thought a non-date was classified as a formal event.

"Have fun, sweetie!" she cooed as she shoved me out the front door. "If I see you a minute before eleven, I will lock you out."

"I have keys," I groaned, dangling them in front of her.

"Let me have my fun!" she pouted. "I've never seen you go out with a guy before."

"Thanks."

"You know what I mean."

I hummed in response, checking my phone for the time. "I'll text you when I'm heading back."

"Bye! Use protection!"

My ears burned as she slammed the door in my face.

Though I knew it was a joke, I thought about it on the way to the restaurant. Simon didn't strike me as the type of guy to expect something off the bat, but the concern lingered in the back of my head. With Athena around, I couldn't bring along the weapons I wanted to. Pepper spray rolled around at the bottom of my purse, and a single knife sat snugly against my thigh. Though, the knife was all I truly needed if things went south.

My heels clicked against the pavement as I stepped out of the uber. A cold breeze brought light goosebumps on my arms, and I instantly wished I had brought a jacket.

But my entire body warmed at the sight of Simon rocking on his heels outside the restaurant. He looked completely out of his element, nervous before the night even began. Interestingly, my nerves seemed to settle.

His eyes lit up when he saw me, lingering on the dress a second too long.

"Hi," he whispered, taken aback.

"Hi," I drawled, feeling slightly embarrassed for letting Athena rope me into dressing up. Simon wore a button-up and light washed jeans, hardly the suit Athena apparently pictured when she chose the dress.

"You look . . ."

"Ridiculous, I know."

The smile on his face disappeared, and he all but shouted, "No!" His eyes widened slightly, confused by his own reaction. His cheeks flushed a deep red as he scratched the back of his neck. "I mean—You look great."

"It wasn't voluntary . . ." I mumbled. "Can we go inside? It's not exactly warm out here."

His smile returning, Simon offered me his arm.

When I took it, a new feeling washed over me. For once, I let hope drown out the worry.