Page 21 of Ruled By Fate

She made a silent vow to kill him.

“Gummy worms and bears, huh?” The officer’s impassive sunglasses gave nothing away. “Have you two been drinking?”

Fair question.

“Not at all,” she replied frantically. “Everything’s just a little… I’m moving to Virginia. For work. For my best friend. With my best friend. It’s a fresh start for me and the plant.”

The officer glanced at the withered tree in the back. “And who’s your silent friend?”

Cameron was staring with muted defiance, as if wild horses couldn’t pry open his lips.

“He’s, uh… he’s like one of those emotional support creatures?” She couldn’t help but phrase it as a question, staring at the officer with wide, imploring eyes. “But neither of us were—”

That’s when she accidentally nudged the horn.

Cameron stared in fascination. The cop flinched.

There was a lengthy pause.

“Ma’am, please step out of the vehicle.”

Cameron shot her a sideways glance. “I really do think you should keep a supply of basil root in your car. Better safe than sorry.”

She shot him a look that could wither flowers before turning back to the cop. “Officer, I’m so sorry. If we could just—”

“Step out of the vehicle.”

Her eyes snapped shut as a familiar lump rose in her throat.

How can this be happening? How can things have gotten so far off course? This is supposed to be my new chapter. I’m supposed to be unpacking and having drinks with my best friend. Now, here I am, about to get arrested.

She pulled in a tight breath, already looping the tired mantra.

It’s fine. Everything is going to be—

“You don’t want her to step out of the vehicle,” said a deep, resonant voice beside her.

Officer Mitchell took off his sunglasses. “Excuse me?”

Yeah, excuse me?

Brie whirled around in shock as Cameron calmly leaned past her, speaking with a strange, sonorous affectation, staring deep into the officer’s eyes.

“You don’t want her to step out of the vehicle,” he repeated softly. “You want her to continue on her way. She promises not to drive so fast anymore.”

Officer Mitchell’s face was a study of conflicted emotions. His forehead furrowed deeply, and he opened his mouth as if to say something before his face suddenly relaxed.

“She promises not to drive so fast anymore,” he repeated with a vacant expression.

Cameron shot Brie a stern glance. “She absolutely promises.”

She looked back and forth between them like she was at the world’s most confusing tennis match, but she caught on. “Yes, I absolutely promise.”

The officer nodded vaguely, playing with his sunglasses. “Nice and safe.”

Cameron nodded as well, never breaking that gaze. “You want to give her back those papers.”

They passed through the open window.

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