Page 79 of Something Like Fate

“But she didn’t flee the city. She came around, obviously,” I point out.

“They always do, because they’re meant to,” she says simply. “It’s fate, after all.”

We’re ready to go before the sun comes up. It’s a full day’s drive to Amalfi, including our stop in Pompeii. Despite Mei’s multiple bathroom breaks, we make it to Pompeii by late afternoon.

Everything is totally and completely normal with Teller. I mean, if you overlook the fact that he can’t make eye contact without his entire face turning red. Or the fact that when he speaks, all I can hear is the noise he made when he—

“Guys! Hurry up!” Dad shouts, practically running to the entrance of Pompeii like a child at Disneyland.

Teller quietly hands me a water bottle. Before I can finish uttering, “Thank you,” he picks up the pace, long legs carrying him toward the awe-inspiring city.

“Did it hurt?” Dad asks.

I squint up at him. “Did what hurt?”

He tilts his chin toward my finger. “Your tattoo.” Dad never misses a beat. His expression stays neutral, so I can’t tell if he’s mad about it.

Still, my cheeks redden. “A little bit, but it wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be. It’s small, though. Are you mad?”

A pause. “It’s not my body. And I’m just glad you got something discreet.”

“Well, I was thinking of getting a full back tattoo of Brandon and Brian.”

This makes him laugh.

“Speaking of, how are my boys doing?” I ask Dad as we journey through the ruins. Mei and Teller follow close behind. I don’t know what I was expecting, but it certainly wasn’t a fully preserved city, with grand villas and ancient streets dating back two thousand years.

“Brandon is the same as ever. Brian is gassier than usual. Probably because the scoundrel got into that box of Nature Valley granola bars in the pantry. Ate eleven.”

“Eleven? Well, at least this time it wasn’t my birth control pills.” I snort, recalling the time he ate a whole pack and the vet had to induce vomiting. Brian has always had an obsession with eating things, including items that are absolutely not edible, like pens and Dad’s glasses.

“Yup. Came home the other day and the wrappers were all over the floor. When I dropped them off with Ellen, I warned her not to leave anything out. But apparently, he’s already done a number on her shoes.”

“Oh, Brian.” I sigh. “And things with you? How are you doing? I hope you aren’t too bored by yourself.”

Dad looks a little startled by the question, stare fixed on a group of tourists weaving through the square. “Not at all. I’m keeping busy, actually.”

His response doesn’t surprise me. He never admits to feeling lonely. “Oh yeah? Working on a big case?”

He nods. “You could say that.”

“And keeping busy with pickleball?” I tease as we enter the thermal baths.

“Hey, don’t knock it ’til you try it.”

“I’m still confused as to how this new hobby started. I’ve never seen you play a sport in my life.”

He doesn’t answer. Instead, he snaps shots of the mosaics with intricate mythological battles. Strange. It’s only once we make our way to the plaster casts that he responds, “Actually, I wanted to talk to you about that.”

I quirk my brow, eyeing Teller up ahead. “About pickleball?”

“In a manner of speaking. But first, I wanted to ask how things are going with Caleb.”

“I scared him off by telling him about my vision and now he’s gone forever,” I say, hanging my head. Dad has always been wary of the whole soulmate thing. But I can’t help but feel like I’m disappointing the entire family, yet again.

Dad frowns. “Ah, I guess that could scare off the best of them, huh?”

“Afraid so. How did you react when Mom told you about her vision? Did you think she was crazy too?”

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