"Stupid moron," Anna screamed out loud in the leather interior of her Land Rover even though she wasn't sure who she was screaming at. She slammed her hand on the steering wheel as she realized she was crying. She had always felt like she wasn't good enough and the constant barrage from Melissa, May, and Isabel had beaten her down. Her insides felt raw. She wiped angry tears from her eyes. She didn't really want to talk to anyone, she wasn't sure if what she would say would make sense so she switched her phone off. She turned off into the downtown area and found the first available spot. She laid her head on the steering wheel realizing she had driven the miles without realizing where she was going. Shopping had been her excuse but now she knew she needed to get out before she did something she would regret, or go to jail for. Anna locked her car and began to walk aimlessly. She realized that she'd spent her whole life trying to impress someone. Whether it was her aunt and uncle, Isa

Anna quickly changed into her own clothes and brought the beautiful dress out and handed it to the waiting sales assistant. She stepped as far as possible away from Seline and Anthony, she did not want to get mixed up in that drama. She searched through the racks and found several other outfits that fitted her new personality. She even found a beautiful pair of Dolce and Gabanna shoes to match the dress. She took them to the counter and laid them on the pile thinking that maybe retail therapy wasn't such a bad idea. "Then go, if you don't want to be here." Seline's voice hissed loudly in the quiet of the store. "Don't be a child," Anthony said angrily as he pulled away. "You are embarrassing yourself," Anthony said with a snarl as she tried to grab his arm again. "The only reason I don't want to talk about the wedding is because I don't want to marry someone who is so cruel."Anthony's steps drew closer and Anna looked at him and smiled hesitantly. "I'm sorry for her behavior, I wi

Anna stopped outside the door and pulled John to a stop. She took his face gently in her hands and kissed him. Her mouth moved over his and she deepened the kiss running her hands through his hair not caring who saw. She pulled back breaking the kiss. John leaned in trying to follow her departing lips and she smiled as he opened his eyes and stared at her curiously."What was that for?" "Trying to be my knight in shining armor." "Well if I knew that was going to be my payment I would do more of it." He said with a smile that didn't quite reach his eyes. "Hey are you okay?" she asked smoothing her hands over his shoulders. "You look like somethings bothering you." "Nope, just some things I have to take care of.""Can I help?" "I love that you asked that," John said with a nip to her lower lip. "You constantly amaze me.""Are you sure?" "Positive, now I think there was some mention about lunch? How about the Biltmore estate?" Anna smiled and nodded as they walked away and slid ins

Anna chocked on the coffee and cookie in her mouth and stared at him amazed. She had known him since high school and even though he had liked her it had never happened. Now here they sat as adults, one of them married and one about to be and he was bringing up the possibilities now?"Can't say I ever did." She said quietly as she met his gaze. "Not even once?" "Well there were times in high school that I might have wondered, but like I said things work out for a reason."Anthony reached over and put his hand on hers and squeezed her fingers. "I think that running into you today was a sign, we don't see each other in years and now we run into each other out of the blue just when I'm doubting everything with Seline, It seems like fate." "I think you are putting too much into this, it was nice to see you again, and it's always nice to catch up with an old friend.""An old friend? don't you remember when I kissed you senior year? I definitely felt something." Anna smiled as she remembe

"What if?"The thought swirled around in her head and as he walked out the door of the coffee shop. Anna hated to leave things this way but there was no other way to leave it. Yes, things had been hard with Melissa, May, and Isabel but she loved John too much to back down and walk away, no matter how many alternatives she might have."What was he thinking?" she thought to herself as threw out her coffee. "I couldn't have made myself clearer."Anna walked out of the shop and slid inside her car with her emotions swirling. She watched the people walk by on the street, enjoying the autumn air, and wondered what it would be like to have an uncomplicated normal life for once. She glanced back in her mirror and noticed a man from the coffee shop slide into the car behind her. He seemed to be looking at his phone but Anna remembered that he'd been at a table not too far away in the coffee shop. She wouldn't have noticed him except the fact that he seemed to be closely following the conversat