Page 69 of Destiny

“I see.” Then, I laugh.

“What’s so funny?”

“I was just thinking that if you come to America, you can’t call these what you Brits do.”

“A f—”

“Don’t say it! That’s a derogatory and offensive term over there.”

“You Americans are so sensitive. This is exactly what I’d be talking about if I said that word.” He holds it up and points at it.

Chapter 4 – Marco

It wasn’t my favorite thing in the world to have to tell the girls that Bea wasn’t coming home yet after all.

Both of their little faces looked so sad, and when she called me the next morning, I almost didn’t answer it. But I eventually give in.

“Hi.”

“Uh, hi. Are you okay?”

I go out into the garage so my children don’t hear me bickering with her.

“Honestly, no. You’ve been hyping Aurora and Alessia up for days that you were going to be back by now.”

She sighs. “I know. I’m sorry.”

“Plus, you didn’t even think to call and talk things through with me. All I got was a text.”

“First of all, please lower your voice. I’m super hungover and have a massive headache. Secondly, I figured you were busy at work. And that’s why I’m calling now…to talk.”

I cross the arm that isn’t holding the phone up to my head around my chest. “Okay, so talk.”

“Blakely and I—”

“Hold on. Who is that?”

“The guy who was in the video with me. He and I have a meeting with Peninsula Records later today.”

I’m confused. “I thought you were on the fence about signing with a record label?”

“I mean, it was easy to say that when someone wasn’t calling from one and saying they want to work with you.”

“Okay. So, what is the meeting going to be about?”

“I don’t know. I assume that is what it would look like if we signed with them. Oh, and they said they want me and Blakely as a duo.”

“Are you serious?”

“What? He has a serious girlfriend—you don’t have to worry about that.”

“No, I just can’t believe you made so many life-changing decisions without talking to me first.” She doesn’t know this, but I was planning to propose to her in the next year. So, I thought our futures were something we’d decide together.

“I’m sorry. I had to make them. And fast. This is my dream we’re talking about.”

I run my fingers through my hair. “I understand that. But I just…”

“What?”

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