Page 25 of Waiting For Fate

“Hey you. Everything okay in here?” Her eyes bounce between me and my mom as I quickly wipe away the tears that have stained my cheeks.

“I’ll let you two girls talk. I’m going to go find your father and make sure he’s not into dessert just yet.” Mom gives me a reassuring wink before standing up.

“He was definitely eyeballing Ruby’s homemade brownies before I came up here.” Shane tells her, making Mom shake her head.

“This man will be the death of me.” The soft smile that plays at her lips is a dead giveaway that she’s not the least bit angry. When she’s finally gone Shane slips in and shuts the door, following me to the bed to sit down.

“Wanna tell me what that was all about?” She pulls a water bottle from behind her back and hands it to me, making me laugh.

“What has happened to me? Are you the only levelheaded one left?” I laugh, unscrewing the top to take a sip.

“Starting to look that way. Even with Ruby in the group now, she leans a little more on the unhinged side,” Shane laughs. “Probably all of those mama bear instincts that make her not give a shit.” We share another laugh, but when it’s silent again Shane takes my hand in hers. “If you don’t want to tell me what’s going on, then I’ll respect that. But I know you and Sawyer used to be close—like, really close—until you weren’t. Losing a friendship like that has to be hard, and you shouldn’t have to go through it alone.”

My phone buzzes in my pocket and when I pull it out to see who it’s from, tears resurface in my eyes.

Dad

Car’s warmed up and ready to go. Just say the word.

“I didn’t go through it alone.” I smile, earning a confused look from Shane. “But I’ll keep what you said in mind. Coffee date tomorrow?”

“Yes!” she immediately agrees. “Brüman’s at nine?”

“Sounds like a plan.” She pulls me in for a hug and when I finally let out a full breath, it feels as though there’s been a weight lifted from my shoulders.

Not telling my three best friends what really happened between Sawyer and me was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done. No matter how much support I got from my parents, sometimes you just need your girls. Because they’re the ones that will trash talk, prank call, and help you rebound from the guy who broke your heart.

Since he’s my best friend’s brother, it always felt a little too messy to bring them into the middle of it, but we’re grown now and that’s about to change.

CHAPTER 10

LEAH

I can’t explain what it is about the smell of a coffee shop that puts me in a good mood as soon as I walk through the door. The rock music playing through the speakers just loud enough to catch your attention, the sound of the coffee machine whirring every few minutes, and the smell of your favorite pick-me-up drink being made is just overall the best combination if you ask me.

“One iced mocha latte, and one iced vanilla latte.” Shane and I walk up to get our drinks and find a table tucked into the corner of Brüman’s and settle in.

“If they ever shut this place down, I think I might die. No one else makes a latte like Clara.” Despite the cold weather outside Shane and I stay true to our iced beverages.

“Okay, so. What is new with you?” Shane asks, pulling the sleeves to her wool sweater down over her hands before tucking them under her chin. I give her my best are we really beating around the bush with this stare, but she shrugs it off innocently.

“I’m serious! I meant what I said— if you don’t want to talk about…that, then we can talk about anything.” I roll my eyes playfully, appreciating Shane’s willingness to respect personal boundaries.

“No, we can talk about that.” I imitate her over exaggeration of referring to what happened between Sawyer and me as a that.

“Oh, thank God.” She practically melts in her seat with relief. “I was really trying to play it cool but I’m lowkey dying to know what the hell happened with you two.”

“Me too, if I’m being honest.” I lean back in my seat and let out a sigh. “Do you remember our senior year class party? It was on Halloween night at the McCallum’s ranch. I mean, it was an empty field at the time but…”

“Oh my gosh, yes! I thought Lauren was going to throat punch a guy for trying to grind on her at that bonfire,” she snorts before taking a sip from her coffee.

“As she should. Anyways, that same night Sawyer had been acting a little different around me. He was…” My words tail off as I absentmindedly get lost in my thoughts from that night.

“Patience is not my strong suit, Le. He was what?” Shane presses. My cheeks flush as the next words come out of my mouth.

“He was acting as interested in me as I had always been in him.” Her mouth hangs open like her jawbone no longer has the capability to keep it shut. She casually regains her composure and clears her throat. Wrapping her hands around her coffee cup she leans in closer to me.

“You had a thing for Tay’s brother, and you never told us?!” Her voice becomes pitchy at the end of her sentence.

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