Page 92 of Waiting For Fate

“Try this.” He lifts one arm, turning in my grip and holds the mini bagel to my mouth for me to take a bite.

“Oh my god,” I mumble with a mouth full. “What is that?”

“Cinnamon butter.” I moan as I savor every bit of the taste.

“I loved making cinnamon butter when I was little. I never could get the ratio right though,” I say after finally swallowing the bite.

“Well, problem solved. They make it for you now.” He winks, pressing his lips gently to mine.

Being kissed by Sawyer will never get old.

I begin walking around the kitchen, taking in the massive space. I told myself no matter how badly I wanted to let my eyes roam around last night, that I would stay focused on us. Because the second I get distracted, there’s usually no saving me.

The kitchen is the same size as my kitchen and living room combined, with an island the size of my car in the middle of it. The cabinets are a light natural wood, complemented by off-white marble countertops. The island base is painted the most gorgeous pine-green color that I can’t stop staring at, and black appliances with gold hardware top it all off.

“Can you grab some creamer out of the fridge? Second shelf.” Sawyer points to the refrigerator but as soon as my fingers wrap around the handle, something catches my eye and I stop to stare at the magnet hanging perfectly at eye level.

“Dove, you okay?” I feel Sawyer stop behind me—his presence sending an undeniable heat through my whole body. “You like it?” he asks, causing me to finally turn and face him.

“I completely forgot about that photo,” I admit, fighting the tears that have formed in my eyes. He pulls the magnet off the fridge and lays it face up in his palm.

“I have looked at this picture of us every day since it was taken, holding out hope that one day you’d look at me like that again.” I dry my eyes and look again. It’s the picture Taylor took of us on Halloween night my senior year. Sawyer is wearing my angel wings and I’m in his denim jacket, staring up at him like he hung the damn moon.

“I’d been looking at you like that for years, you just never noticed.” A sadness swirls in my chest as the magnet pops back onto the door.

“I hate that we never caught each other staring. Maybe life would have been a whole lot simpler if we had. But—” He pulls his hand around, with another magnet facing up. “I have to believe that where we ended up is exactly where we were meant to be all along. I just had to stop waiting for fate to bring us back together and do it my damn self.” I choke out a laugh as I stare at the new photo magnet he’s holding.

This one is the picture he took of us in my bed the morning after he stayed over the first night. Ten years later and I’m still looking at him the way I always have. He tilts my chin up with his forefinger.

“I love you, Dove. I always will.”

“I love you too.”

BANG. BANG BANG. BANG. BANG.

“Moose! Open this fucking door!”

Is that?

“Is that my sister?”

“How many other people with that pitch call you Moose?” I narrow my gaze at him, making him snap a finger gun at me.

“Right.” He turns to walk towards the door when she starts yelling again.

“Your girlfriend is MISSING! Get your ass up and ANSWER THE DOOR!” she screams, causing him to turn around with a devilish smirk.

“Please go answer the door.” He shoots me a pleading look, and I tilt my head at him.

“Are you serious?” He folds his hands like he’s begging. “Sawyer, I’m not wearing underwear!” I whisper shout at him, as if Taylor could hear me over the crisis she’s currently having on the front porch.

“I don’t think that’s really going to matter unless you’re planning on straddling her.”

“MOOSE!”

“Okay fine!” I walk over to the door and take a deep breath, shooting one final eyeroll in Sawyer direction. He looks so fucking giddy about this I have to fight to keep from smiling about it.

I swing the door open, and Taylor lets out a loud groan. “Fucking fi—” Her mouth hangs open, her words dying on her lips when she sees me.

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