Dancing with a stranger

Chapter |11✨

It's been over two weeks since I've been here. I haven't left once. Steele only leaves for a few hours, and when he comes back, we eat together sometimes, but that's about it. He sleeps in the bed upstairs, while I stay in the other one.

Today, I'm supposed to meet with Sheryl at 3:00 PM. I glance at the clock-it's 2:45. She was directed to come see me here at the house.

I'm sitting in the living room, idly watching TV, when I hear a knock on the door. I get up, open it, and see an older woman standing there, probably Sheryl, with another woman holding bags behind her.

"Come in," I say, stepping aside to let them in.

I direct them to the living room and quickly turn off the TV. "I'm Sheryl, and this is Melinda, my assistant," she says, shaking my hand. Melinda looks vaguely familiar, but I can't place her. I sit beside Sheryl as she hands me a thick black book.

I open it, and it's filled with pages showcasing various dresses, cakes, and other wedding details. Sheryl helps me flip through it, showing me the pages she'd already marked for me.

I never in my life thought I'd be planning a wedding this soon. Page after page, I couldn't find anything I liked. The dresses seemed too... old-fashioned. Don't get me wrong, they were beautiful, but they didn't feel like me.

After a few hours of flipping through options, I finally decided on a two-tier rose gold cake with flowers running up the side. As for the food, Steele and I would have to discuss it later. I still hadn't found a dress, though.

Once they finally left, I decided it was a good idea to train with Ashton tomorrow. It had been a while since I'd trained, and I was craving the routine.

Steele still wasn't back, and I had no idea when he would be. I headed to the kitchen and started making noodles, vegetables, and chicken. I poured myself a glass of wine and sat at the table, waiting for the noodles to cook.

Just as I was stirring the noodles, the door opened, and Steele sauntered in. "Hey," I said, offering him a quick smile. He returned it and sat down at the table.

"I'm making dinner," I said, getting up to check on the noodles and mix in the vegetables and shrimp. Once it was done, I served us both plates.

"Thank you," he said, starting to eat.

A few bites in, I noticed Steele suddenly choking. My heart dropped into my stomach. "What's wrong?" I asked, panic rising in my chest. He pointed to a bag he had with him. I quickly rummaged through it and found an EpiPen. Steele showed me what to do, and I had to stab it into his leg.

Once he calmed down, he took a sip of water. "I'm sorry. I guess you didn't know I was allergic to shellfish," he said, looking sheepish.

"Well, we don't really know each other," I said, sitting back down after confirming he was okay. I took a sip of my wine, trying to regain my composure.

For the first time, Steele wasn't being a jerk. "Why don't we ask each other some questions, beyond just knowing we're part of the same messed-up family?" I suggested.

I went to the fridge and freezer, found a pizza, and popped it in the oven. "Let's keep it simple," I added, trying to keep the conversation light.

I couldn't help but wonder if Steele had any idea about our father's plans for us to marry each other, but I kept that question to myself. Instead, I asked, "What's your favorite color?"

"Blue," he replied.

"Mine's red," I said, smiling a little.

He asked about my favorite food, and I replied, "Sushi." He grinned and said, "Mine's nachos-with everything. Chili, cheese, jalapeños, and diced tomatoes."

We kept asking each other random questions while he ate his pizza. By the time the evening was winding down, I decided to head to bed, and Steele went upstairs.

The next morning, I woke up at 6:30 AM, getting ready to meet Ashton. It took me longer to get there than I expected, thanks to the cottage's remote location.

When I finally arrived, Ashton was already there, stretching. "Hey, what's up?" I said, high-fiving him.

"Where the hell have you been, girl?" he said, returning the high-five. "I've been wondering what's been keeping you so busy."

"Family stuff," I replied, shrugging.

"Well, let's get to work then," he said, clapping his hands together.

We started with stretching to avoid pulling any muscles. Then, he put on flat gloves, and we went into some kicking and punching drills. After cooling down, I moved on to Jiu-Jitsu moves, practicing techniques with Ashton's guidance.

After a while, I glanced at the time. It was already almost 9:30 AM. I packed up my bag and took a long sip of water.

"Great training," Ashton said, high-fiving me one last time. "You're looking good."

"Thanks," I replied with a grin.

When I walked back into the house, Steele was pacing, looking furious. "Where the hell have you been?" he snapped. "You're supposed to tell me if you leave the house. You don't leave without letting me know. Do you understand me?" His tone was cold, and I flinched at his anger.

"Yes," I replied, standing still, like a deer caught in headlights.

I retreated to my room, locked the bathroom door behind me, and stripped off my sweaty clothes. I turned the shower on and stepped under the hot water, trying to calm myself.