Page 83 of Fate Forever and Always

We chatted and watched a few chick flicks until it was two in the morning. I didn't realize how much I had missed her. Ourlives had changed so much in such a short time. We were both successful music teachers, and we were both in happy, loving relationships. It's exactly what we both always dreamed of. I think things were finally going to be good for both of us.

NICK

We went to our favorite bar, Spectators. The name made it sound like a strip club, but it wasn’t. It was just a dive bar with really good wings. It's old but well-kept. They had a small corner stage for karaoke night and two pool tables with two dartboards on the wall. There was a rooftop bar, but it closed in October for the winter.

When I got to the bar, the whole band was with Elijah. Elijah was the lead vocalist for the band Reckless Riders. All the guys seemed pretty nice. I only met them once before when we went to their concert back in June. Elijah was the exception since we had met a few times when he and Link got together and I tagged along.

Owen, Elijah's brother, played guitar. Connor was their bassist, Hunter was on drums, and Beck was their keyboard player. Hunter was a bit standoffish the last time I saw him, but he seemed fine this time, probably because of the alcohol.

There were a few women who recognized them, but they told them they would find them later and went with us to a booth in the back. Hunter told me about their last gig while we waited for some beers.

“It was wild. We had bras being thrown at us left and right.”

I looked at Elijah in question, and he shrugged. “Happens more than you think, honestly. I slept with a girl last night who had the biggest tits I’ve ever seen. They were fake as shit, though, so it wasn't even attractive. I want an all-natural girl that I can throw around.” He looked over at Link. “How is my girl, Brielle? Is she burning for me yet?”

I snorted, coughing up the water I was sipping.

Link's voice was firm but friendly, “Elijah, she wouldn’t burn for you if you were the last person on this earth.”

I laughed again.

“I will keep trying, bro,” Elijah stated. He slapped Link on the shoulder, “Dude, if I can get her to want me, then we can be brothers.”

Link’s eyes went wide. “So what you are saying is you want to get married.”

Elijah's eyes went wide. “That’s not what I meant.”

Link pointed at him. “But you said it.” Link chuckled.

The waitress arrived and dropped off our drinks, and the entire band was checking her out. Beck, Connor, and Hunter took off to flirt with some women near the pool tables.

Elijah leaned back in the booth to look at us. Then his attention fell on me.

“You fuck her yet?”

“Who?” I asked.

He looked at me like I was stupid. “Callie, dumbass. Last time I saw you guys together, you were fucking each other with your eyes.”

“Fuck you,” I said with a chuckle. “And yes, we are together.”

He laughed loudly, making a few people look over and notice us. “I fucking knew it. Congrats, my guy. When’s the wedding?”

“Tomorrow, if she would let me,” I joked. I took a sip of my beer. “But really, I think I will propose sometime next year. We can settle into our life together and then get married.”

Link cleared his throat, eyeing the both of us strangely. I was about to take a little offense, thinking he didn't want me to propose to Callie or something, but then his words cut off my thoughts.

“I am proposing the day after New Year's, on the second. Two is Aubrey’s favorite number.”

Elijah and I looked at each other and smiled. Elijah looked away to motion to the bartender.

“Hey, love, can we get a round of shots over here?”

“What kind, handsome?” The waitress leaned one hip on the side of the booth, giving Elijah sex eyes.

Elijah looked at both of us and asked, “Whiskey?”

Link and I nodded. She motioned for Elijah to follow her, which I thought was weird since we just ordered drinks, but he got up.

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