Page 58 of Something Like Fate

“Of course. Isn’t that obvious?”

“It is,” I say. Based on how often he takes my hand and kisses my knuckles, or wraps his arms around my waist from behind, he’s made his feelings pretty clear. But it still feels like a fever dream, too good to be true. Sometimes, I’m scared to go to sleep at night in case I wake up at home, in my bed, in my normal, boring life. “It’s just—I’m scared that I’m not enough for you. You’re this super cool guy who’s traveled everywhere, who’s done everything. And I’ve never even left the country until now,” I say, easing into deeper conversation. I can’t just segue from toes to soulmates seamlessly.

“You haven’t traveled as much as me. But the point is that you want to, right?”

I nod, ripping out a blade of grass to shred.

“What matters is you want to get out there. You want adventure. You’re always in a good mood. Always happy, down for anything.”

“It’s funny, I’ve always seen that as a weakness.”

“What do you mean?”

“I’m a bit ... flighty. I like a lot of things, but I have no real passions. I don’t know what I want to do with my life.”

“You’re passionate about animals. What about being an animal doctor?”

I sigh. “I wanted to be a vet when I was really young. But I also don’t want to put animals down. I don’t think I’d be able to handle that side of it.”

“There must be something you could do with animals.”

I stare at the torn blade of grass and contemplate. “In an ideal world, I’d love to buy a huge ranch and open an animal rescue for disabled pets.”

“Why can’t you?”

“It’s expensive. And I don’t exactly have the money to run something like that. They rely on donations and they’re always super underfunded.”

He shrugs like it’s no big deal. “You of all people could rally donations.”

“Yeah. Maybe.” I smile wistfully. It’s nice to know he doesn’t think I’m a total loser.

“I can see it. You, dedicating your life to wounded and unwanted animals.”

“You think I’m a weirdo, don’t you?”

“No, sweetheart. I think it’s adorable.”

Sweetheart.My heart flutters.

Only days ago, Caleb was nothing more than an idea. I was terrified to talk to him at first. And now he’s here, right in front of me. And I’m casually running my fingers across his forearm. I open my mouth, poised to finally bring upthetopic, but Caleb has other plans.

He leans in, hovering over my lips for a beat before exhaling just as I inhale. It’s embarrassing how loud my heart is jackhammering as he glides his hand up my arm, over my shoulder, and down my back. He finally rests his mouth over mine, and I fall back onto the cool grass, dizzy.

As our tongues meld together in an intricate dance, I can’t help but compare Caleb and Teller. Caleb is broader and more barrel-chested to Teller’s lankiness. His hugs are more commanding, gruffer than Teller’s measured touch. Not that I should, or have any reason to compare thetwo.Why am I thinking about Teller at all right now?But I can’t help but wonder what he’s doing on his last day with Riley.

Caleb’s hands lock around my wrists as he rolls over me. His fingertips trace down my dress, over the soft part of my knee. I nearly unravel. We kiss like this for I don’t even know how long, until my updo has fully fallen out and our mouths are red.

And while I’m tempted to do a whole lot more, this is as far as I want to go physically. Something about having sex before he knows the truth feels ... wrong. I also want to contain this—whatever this is between us—capture it exactly as it is. Besides, we have our whole lives ahead of us to have sex.

“Is it just me, or does it feel like we’ve known each other longer than just two weeks?” he asks.

“It’s not just you,” I say. “I feel the same way.”

“It’s wild. I feel like I was meant to meet you or something.”

“Do you believe in that kind of thing?” I sit up straight. This is it. This is my time to tell him the truth. “Like ... soulmates?” A flush creeps across my cheeks and I squeeze my eyes shut, bracing for his reaction.

“Totally. I believe in soulmates. Why?”

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