Page 9 of Fated

Bernie’s—affectionately dubbed the “barcade” by the locals—was a charmingly shabby mix of arcade games, a bar, and a restaurant. The place seemed to be frozen in time, with its worn-out, bright red and yellow patterned carpet that had seen far better days. Its red booths had been patched up with gray duct tape, and the air always carried a faint musty scent.

The food served was limited to burgers and fries or pizza, but they had twelve flavors of milkshakes which were delicious, my favorite being Triple Chocolate Death.

Tyson’s face lit up when he spotted me heading toward them. I plopped my bag down on the table, accidentally startling Lucy, who had been staring at her phone.

“Sorry!” I squealed, trying to contain my laughter.

Lucy looked up, smiling warmly. “Hey, Rey!” She set her phone aside.

Tyson and Lucy were twins and although they shared the same fair skin, light blonde hair, and striking sapphire eyes, Tyson towered over Lucy by at least a foot.

They had been my best friends since junior high when I’d found myself in a new school, with no friends and alone at the lunch table. They’d also been shy and were more than happy to join me at the quiet, empty table at the cafeteria’s far end.

They were the ones who introduced me to Bernie’s too, and I’d never forget the look on their faces when I beat them—on my first try—at the game they had been working on for weeks.

Tyson was tapping his fingers restlessly on the table. “What’s up, Ty?”

His mouth slowly turned upwards. “You were right, Areya—Cory’s in the back, installing that new game machine right now.”

“Ooooh. Any idea what kind of game it is?” I leaned in, excitement stirring.

“First-person shooter,” he replied, and I couldn’t help but grin.

“Lucky for Areya but unlucky for the rest of us.” Lucy sighed dramatically.

I chuckled. She wasn’t wrong; I had impeccable aim, and Lucy knew it all too well.

“All right, highest score on the first round buys milkshakes,” Tyson challenged, raising his eyebrows.

Lucy smacked her hands against the table. “We might as well just hand her all our money, Tyson.” We all laughed.

As we shared a large pizza, Tyson filled us in on a brand-new game center that had just opened in a city a little over an hour away. “You’d be in heaven, Areya. They’ve got laser tag, virtual reality, all new top-of-the-line gaming machines, and they’re open all night.”

I was nearly drooling when he finished.

Lucy caught my expression and rolled her eyes, chuckling.

Our waiter returned to the table; he was a new guy at Bernie’s, with soft hazel eyes and a cheerful smile. “Can I get you guys milkshakes?”

“Strawberry, please,” Lucy said politely.

The waiter turned to Tyson. “Chocolate for me and Triple Chocolate Death for her.” Tyson pointed at me. I smiled at the waiter, and didn’t miss the faint blush creeping across his cheeks before he walked away. Embarrassed, I quickly looked away, hoping no one had noticed.

I shifted uncomfortably in my seat.

“Guys, I’ll be right back; I’m going to use the restroom.”

The women’s bathroom was tucked away at the far back of the building, past the bar and just before the kitchen. Making myway down the dimly lit corridor, a strange feeling prickled at the back of my neck, sending a shiver down my spine.

It was subtle at first, a faint tug in my subconscious, but it grew stronger with every step as though someone’s gaze was boring into me.

My steps faltered. I hesitated, swallowing hard, casting a cautious glance toward the bar.

That’s when I saw him.

My breath hitched, caught somewhere between surprise and disbelief. A stranger—a strikingly beautiful stranger—was staring right at me. His gaze was intense, dark and magnetic, holding me in place as though the world had narrowed to just the two of us.

I had never seen him here before, and he certainly didn’t belong in this dingy, worn-down bar. Everything about him felt out of place. The sharp cut of his jawline … the effortless way he seemed to command the room without moving a muscle.

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