In the vestibule, Selena checked her appearance and added a gloss to her lips. After the romp she and Jordan had in the elevator, and then her tussling to get away after that blissful shower, Selena had to remake the bounce in her shoulder-length mane taking a comb through it to curve around her neck. It was perfect as of now, but the rummaging in her stomach wasn’t. What are you doing in here?

“Damn you, Octavia,” she whispered to herself.

It would be all but expected for Selena to show out on Madison’s ass, but she had to learn to be subtle about things. Selena couldn’t go her whole life getting loud or flipping out when things didn’t go her way.

Except for this time. Selena shook her head. That was it. She’d given Madison a long enough time to say what was on her mind. And really, she shouldn’t have. Selena left the restroom just as quickly as she’d entered. It must have been about five good minutes, but that would just have to do. As she sauntered through and around the network of tables, Selena’s eyes skipped over the heads around and froze. Peering just slightly combined with an immediate frown, Selena’s mind reared, and her legs changed directions as she moved away from Jordan and Madison.

As her footfalls crept to a table in the middle of the restaurant, Selena couldn’t help but be taken aback by the carefree and loving way the woman watched her date. They leaned into each other and kissed. A long, drawn out, sensuous coupling of their lips. Selena’s heart pounded in her chest just as it became tight with a sudden grip. When she stood just inches from their table, the woman glanced her way with a raised eye as did the man.

“Dad?” Selena’s voice was a shaking vibration, as if at any minute she would pass out from what she’d just witnessed.

Memories of her childhood reeled through Selena’s thoughts: laying in her parents’ bed at night when she was sick or afraid of the dark; having breakfast, lunch and dinner in the home she grew up in; watching her parents be affectionate and kiss when they were headed out for date night. The playful way her father played with her mother when she was trying to pay attention to her favorite TV show of all time, Law and Order: Special Victims Unit. The lush look in their eyes. The love her parents held for one another. All the lessons they’d instilled in her about honoring your family unconditionally now felt polluted. Selena blinked back a morsel of tears that threatened to spill from her eyes. Now this. A kiss to a woman who was a stranger. Not her mom. An obvious lover. It was branded now, trying to rip Selena from everything she’d grown to understand about love. Her heart beat erratically, and her voice was caught in her throat.

“Selena.”

Her father’s voice was dismayed. It was clear he didn’t want his baby girl to see him with another woman, not until she was ready at least. His gaze bounced around before landing back on her.

“Are you here with someone,” he asked.

Still stunned, Selena’s hand shook with fury. How dare he say anything other than explain his actions.

“What the fuck is this?” Selena finally shrieked.

The woman was stunned, and she glanced between Walter and Selena.

“Watch your mouth, young lady,” Walter said, his voice elevated.

Selena shut her lips tight, still aware that this was her father she referenced. Selena turned on the woman.

“Who are you?”

The woman opened her mouth to speak when Selena shot out another question.

“Did you know that he’s married,” she screamed.

Her outburst garnered the attention of nearby customers.

“I’m sorry, Amelia, this is my daughter, Selena, we haven’t had the conversation yet.”

Amelia now looked just as dismayed as Walter.

“You’re sorry?” Selena shouted again. “Why are you apologizing to her?”

“Selena, you know your mother and I are not together—”

“Why because you’ve been sleeping around with this bitch!?”

Selena was livid and too far away from reason to care about her explosion.

“Young lady, you will lower your voice and not talk to me or Amelia in that manner, do you hear me!?” Mr. Strauss tried to gather himself, and Selena shook with absolute vehemence.

Without giving herself a chance to think, Selena marched up to her father and sent a reckoning palm across his face in a stinging slap. His surprise spread across his face.

“All my life you’ve talked about respect. But you sit here, with this, this… whoever she is, disrespecting my mother!?”

Her father went to open his mouth, and Selena slapped him again as her heart broke for her mom. “You son of a bitch! I don’t want to hear you’re separated! You’re still married! You can’t do this to her! You’re not even trying to work it out!”

Selena went crazy slapping her father again just as he came out of his seat to return her strike.

“Don’t do it, Walter,” Amelia said.

But he held a hand back to attack Selena when Jordan entered the ring, gallantly shoving in return with the force of a charging bull. Mr. Strauss stumbled, tripping over his feet, and Jordan stepped closer to the man. Jordan reached out and grabbed Mr. Strauss’s collar, fisting it as he gave a one-time warning.

“Listen to your date,” he barked.

With a shove, Jordan tossed Mr. Strauss back into the table and glowered at him in a dare. He waited a beat then turned to Selena, his glower turning into a sympathetic stare. Selena still shook with rage, and once again her thoughts jumbled.

“Is this what you’ve done?” she asked. “Did you hit my mother when she angered you?”

Both Jordan and Selena glared at Mr. Strauss, and he huffed and pulled his suit jacket together.

“Young lady, I don’t owe you an explanation for—”

“Bullshit!” Selena screamed. “You owe me an explanation for everything that’s happening right now. I can’t even believe this. You are not the father I once knew! You… You... Ugh!”

Selena turned on her heels and ran out of the diner. Seconds behind her, Jordan flew to her side and drew Selena in just as she stumbled out into the midst of the chilly night air.

She fell to the ground.

Selena’s world was collapsing all around her. The life and love she’d known had been given by her parents were her blueprint. And now, they just weren’t. Selena cried heavily as Jordan held her tight. His heart crushed to see Selena in such a grim state of distress. Selena’s head pounded, and she pushed away from Jordan, but he held on to her.

“No,” he said. “Don’t pull away from me. I won’t let you.”

His words softened Selena’s heart, making her cry even harder. Jordan hadn’t done a thing to her. He didn’t deserve to be pushed away, but the unfaithfulness of Selena’s father made her begrudge Jordan, and she shoved him hard again.

“Hit me if you must. Use me as your punching bag if it helps, but please, Selena, don’t push me away… please.”

And she did. Her hands connected with his chest, heaving a surge of pounds and pushes into what felt like a brick wall. Tears streamed faster down her face, and Selena screamed a long wail of an outcry.

“Why is he doing this!?” She sobbed as her fist hits slowed, and she fell into pieces. “Oh my God, my mother!” she wailed. Selena’s head fell against Jordan, and he took a sweeping hand down her back.

Abruptly, Selena blinked back her tears and straightened in his arms.

“I’ve got to get out of here,” she said.

“Wherever it is, I’m taking you.”

“No, no!” she shouted, lost in a hail of thoughts.

“Selena…”

“No, Jordan, okay just…” She turned and staggered then walked away.

“I’m not letting you leave like this.”

“You don’t have a choice!”

Selena jumped into an awaiting taxi that had been sitting for a customer to exit the restaurant.

“Selena!” Jordan shouted, stepping to the back door.

Selena shouted at the driver, and he sped away from the curb, leaving Jordan brimming with intangible frustration.