His

Coincidence

Did you here what I said Julia?...Jules. Emily was waving her hand in my face. "How many times do I have to tell you not to call me that you know I hate it. I'm sorry but you were so far off in space I had to do something to get your attention. Are you okay...wanna talk about it." I've just come from my kickboxing class and we're sitting on the beach eating frozen yogurt. "Sorry Em I just have a lot of my mind." She bumps my shoulder with hers "well spill maybe I can help." Julia looks out across the water. The beach has always been her favorite place to come. Something about the water just calms her mind. "Well in about six weeks I will be a married woman and to add sugar to sh*t I don't know him. We've met once when I was a baby...I mean I have heard of him but we don't run in the same circles he's 4 years older than me. What am I supposed to do Em...my life is pretty much over. All the plans I had for my future are to be null and void." I looked away from the water and at Em to see why she wasn't saying anything. Pure shock was written on her face. Em is a very talkative bubbly person it's one of the many things I'm things I love about her. It takes a lot to make her speechless. "Yeah that's how I felt when I got the news too. Oh my oh my Julia...I'm so sorry. Let me guess your father. Yup...him and his friend Anton has some kind of agreement and I'm expected to fall in line and go along with it...well not if I can help it.

I've been saving money in a secret account from my allowance and the part time job I was working. It's a good amount enough to get me by for at least a year. I plan to disappear maybe travel then find somewhere to settle down start a life for myself. Whatever you need I will help when do you plan to leave. Well I don't want to make it to obvious so maybe a week or two after my birthday." Out of nowhere this beautiful golden retriever runs up and sits right next to Julia. "Hi cutie what's your name." The collar says star. "Where's your owner Star are you lost girl?". Julia says as she strokes her fur. "I've always wanted a dog my dad would never allow it." She says to Emily. "She is beautiful I wonder where she came from." Emily says while scratching her chin. "Star come here girl." Emily and Julia looked up to see a guy walking towards them. He looks to be about 6'5 muscular build. He was shirtless both of his arms have tattoo sleeves that meet in the middle of his chest. Maybe it was the sun but his skin seemed to have a golden glow to it. The closer he got the more of his facial features they could make out. His lips were plump and rosy he has a dimpled chin with a chiseled jawline. They couldn't make out his eyes due to the extra dark shades he had on. Emily was practically drooling over him.

Julia stood up and dusted of her butt. "Hi this must be your dog. Yea she usually isn't this friendly, she must really like you." He said and smiled. His voice and smile was so deep and mesmerizing Julia didn't respond. "So do you two live around here?" Realizing that he was talking to her and she hadn't responded Julia blushed "I'm sorry yeah we do we live over on Cedar Crest. I'm being rude my name is Armano what's yours?" He stuck out his hand to shake hers but Julia didn't take it right away. She was frozen in place. This can't be the same guy it has to be a coincidence. Emily jumped in "hi I'm Emily and this is Julia nice to meet you. Nice to meet you ladies too." He shook her hand but the smile had disappeared from his face. Julia could feel his eyes trailing her body behind his shades. A shiver ran up her spine. She bent down and grabbed her blanket and bag. "Um I think it's best we get going nice to meet you." Julia turned quick on her heels and started towards the path leading back to her car. Emily rushed behind her throwing a bye over her shoulder to Armano. By the time Emily catches up to Julia she's already getting in the car. "Julia slow down what's the big rush. I think that was him...the guy I'm supposed to marry his name is Armano.

No way it has to be a coincidence...there are probably a million men with that name. I just can't shake this feeling that that was him...I felt his eyes on me like he knew me. Did you notice how his face changed after he heard my name? I don't know Julia that would be a crazy coincidence for you to meet him like that. Yeah maybe I'm just overthinking it. Yeah...maybe." Julia started the car and pulled off. The ride home was silent, Emily was listening to the music while Julia was lost in her thoughts. What if that was the guy she's supposed to marry? He's not bad looking but to me he's a stranger. What if he's just as bad as his father or worse? It doesn't matter any way I won't be around to find out. Julia pulls up in front of Emily's house and parks. "Hey... Emily reach's over and takes Julia's hand it's going to be ok don't stress about it. You have a plan in place right and I have your back 100 percent okay. Okay Em...I don't know what I would do without you. Awe Hun you would simply die" Emily says in a dramatic voice. They both laughed and hugged each other good bye. "Call you tomorrow. Okay." She watches Emily go in the house then pulls off. Julia kept going over her plan in her head. She will go along with the agreement her father has in place for now. When the time is right she will rent a car drive over to Texas then catch a flight out of the country maybe Spain. She pushed the button for the gates to open and drove up the mile long driveway to their garage. Walking in the door from the garage she bumped into a hard body. Strong hands reached out and grabbed her by the shoulders, stopping her from falling flat on her butt. "Watch where your going little sis. Next time I might not catch you. Drake!? oh my God I'm so glad your home." Julia threw her arms around her brothers waist and hugged him tight. "Wow I missed you too little Star." She couldn't help it Julia started sobbing and crying. No matter how her parents treated her Drake always was sweet to her. He always showed up for her when their parents didn't.

"You don't know how much I've missed you Dray. Cupping her face in his hands "stop crying I'm here now everything is going to be just fine.". Julia sniffled and wiped the tears from her face. "I'm sorry it's just been real lonely around here without you and with what dad has planned for me in the next few weeks I've been pretty stressed. What do you mean?" Drake asked with a concerned look on his face. Julia took a deep breath and said "dad has made some kind of agreement with Anton that I am to marry his oldest son Armano four weeks after my birthday. What!?" He yelled, he wouldn't do that to you. No way let's go find him and talk about this." Drake grabbed her hand and turned on his heels. Julia pulled him back. "Wait no." Drake just kept walking to their fathers office. He knocked on the door and their father yelled "come in."