Page 10 of Fate Forever and Always

Aubrey whispered in my ear. "Did Nick dye his hair? Or is it just the lighting? It looks so dark."

"Yeah. I haven't mentioned it. I figured he was going through a quarter-life crisis or something."

Nick's voice chimed in, and he looked at me in the rearview mirror. "If you must know gossip girls, I just wanted a change."

Aubrey and I righted ourselves in our seats and let out a laugh.

The ride seemed quicker than usual, thanks to the lack of traffic. When we pulled up into the casino parking lot, I saw the beautiful Brie talking to her best friend, Amani, and a guy with neatly cut copper-colored hair. He looked like he could have been a lawyer or someone important. He and Brie looked awfully cozy, but I’d never seen him before.

Aubrey and I both screamed as we rushed toward Brie and Amani. We all started obnoxiously running slowly toward each other like we were from Baywatch. I’ve always told my students if they don’t have friends that match their energy, they need to find new friends. This type of moment is precisely what I meant.

The guys did not pass the vibe check. They passed us by, stood at the elevators, and then just watched as the four of us girls acted like idiots…and you can bet your ass we made them wait.

We hugged the girls tightly. It felt good to let all my worries dissipate for a little while.

“Hey guys, this is Shane. He works at the gallery with me." Brielle then introduced each of us to him by our names.

“Now, Shane, make sure you remember all that. There is going to be a pop quiz later,” I teased.

His eyes widened a little. I was joking, of course, but I actually think I scared him.

“Nice to meet you all,” he said hesitantly. “Especially you, Aubrey. Brielle doesn’t shut up about you.”

Link cleared his throat, and Brie smacked his shoulder. We all broke out in a burst of laughter.

Aubrey and I gave Brie the look as if to ask if she was seeing him or interested in seeing him. She mouthed the word “gay” as she pushed her bottom lip out into a pouty face that made me chuckle.Damn. The four of us girls let out a loud burst of laughter and linked arms as we walked into the elevator.

“Are they always like that? I’ve never seen Brielle smile like that before,” Shane asked. It made me smile.

“Yes,” Lincoln and Nick said in unison in an annoyed tone.

We let out an even bigger laugh as the elevator door closed.

“Better get used to it if you plan on sticking around, Shane,” Aubrey called out.

“Ain't that the truth?” Nick added.

We went straight to Margaritaville because we were all starving. Aubrey and I had chicken salads and shared an order of sweet potato fries, as we always do everywhere we go. We saved getting drinks for the nightclub to help us get our dance on. Aubrey reserved one of the VIP couch areas for us, which was really cool because I’d never done that before. The server brought over some light snacks with some beers and margaritas and a Shirley Temple for Brie. Before I could even get a sip of my margarita, Aubrey pulled Brie and me onto the dance floor while also motioning to Amani to join us.

Nick kept giving us dirty looks, but I think that’s just his face. Nick and I have been friends for so long, and we have always had this annoying banter between us that makes it seem like we hate each other, but I could never really hate him.

Now that I have spent more alone time with him, I realize he is more awesome than I thought. It’s nice spending actual time together. We haven’t done it in so long. We used to be much closer than we are now, especially in high school. There was a brief, fleeting moment when I thought I liked him more than a friend. I almost asked him to prom. He asked Aubrey instead. That was the end for me. I pushed those thoughts straight to the back of my brain and tried never to think of him like that again. I was selfishly relieved when it didn’t work out for them. I didn’t want our friendship dynamic to change.

When I met Jake, everything changed anyway. Nick and I got more distant and less friendly. That's when the “hating each other” era started. I don’t know if he or I pulled away first, but Aubrey kept us together, and I’m so grateful for that. I don’t know where I would be without either of them.

Brie is the little sister I never had, but in a good way. Brielle was never that annoying little girl that bothered Aubrey and me. She’s just always fit right in with us.

This night was exactly what I needed. I didn’t think I would be laughing like this again for a long time. It was one of those laughs that made you cry and lose your breath. We were having so much fun. Even Brie was dancing with us. She’s opened up a lot lately, but she’s usually very guarded when we are in public.

Brie was assaulted when she was sixteen. I never got the full extent of what actually happened. I know she was drunk, and I know it had to do with her ex, but that's about it. Understandably, none of us really ever talked about it. Even to this day, she still won’t let us. Aubrey has tried to tell me what happened a few times over the years, but she always stops herself and says it isn't her story to tell.

Brielle hasn’t had a drop of alcohol since that horrible day, and she rarely parties with us, but I think her walls are finally falling a little, and I couldn’t be more proud of her.

After a few dances, we returned to the boys to grab our drinks and snacks. Link, of course, took Aubrey onto the dance floor so he could put his hands all over her like he didn’t do that enough at home. Those two are so in love that it’s almost sickening.

Amani was chatting up some girl at the bar, and Shane and I talked about art and piano. Brie and Nick were talking about her parents when a skinny woman with black hair came over to talk to Nick.

“Hey, Handsome, wanna buy me a drink?” I looked away from Shane as soon as I heard the unfamiliar voice. The stranger cozied up to him on the couch and put her finger on one of his shirt buttons.

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