Page 134 of The Fate Of Us

“Where’d you come from?” I asked, nodding my chin at Jacob as I sank into one of the booths.

“Just taking stock before I have to head to set.” His eyes shift to Flo, all round and doh-like. “The only thing you’re out of is the lemon and blackberry blondies.”

Nate’s eyes roll to the back of his head, Jacob’s body catching it as he stood behind him. “God, they’re so fucking good.”

“That’s why they’re sold out,” Jacob said, resting his chin on Nate’s head. “What are you doing here?” he asked me.

“I was just here for Flo’s advice on something.” Then my attention drops to Nate. “Wait, what are you doing here? I left the apartment like… twenty minutes ago.”

His smirk spurred on something in my soul. “I thought I’d come and bombard your Monday.” I felt my lips tug up. “Turns out they don’t need me today; it’s just the press interviews with Asher and Amber today. Ours aren’t until next week.” He swatted away Jacob, who was still resting his chin on his head, and stood up from the stool and made his way over to me. “Plus, I know you’re sad about Goldie going home for a while, so I thought I’d keep you company.”

He was right. Iwassad about Goldie not being in the city anymore. She’d been here practically all summer, getting to know the city, finding her way around, touring the Liberty Grove campus and seeing everything and anything she could before she came back in the fall.

After it was decided that she was going to study here, our parents let her out of their reigns for the summer months. She stayed at my apartment, while I bunked with Nate at his place. And just like she knew she would… she loved it.

New York seemed to love her, too. I remember bringing her here for the first time, introducing her to Flo, Jacob, and even Rory and Cora, who stole her away and asked her a zillion questions about God knows what. Then, when we left, she couldn’t stop talking about them, babbling about how happy she was to make friends before she'd even taken her first class.

It turns out that all three of them were put in the same dorm block. I can only imagine the trouble they’ll cause during their college years.

The way Nate’s thumb grazes across my jaw pulls me out of my memories. “Thank you,” I whisper up to Nate, his hand trailing the centre of my back, leaving shivers in its path.

He smiles at me before he lifts his head and surveys the room. “And I know this is usually your first stop of the day, so…” His green eyes were back on me. “I came here.”

This smile that bloomed on my face felt natural. It was the same expression I’d been wearing all summer, ever since that day at the pier.

For the first time in years, I felt whole. I felt the path of my life had been cleared, leaving behind the walkway to the future I’d wanted since I was little. But what made the corners of my mouth tug higher and my body feel as light as the lightest feather, was that I wasn’t walking that path alone.

No… holding my hand was the boy I fell in love with who lived next door. Behind me were my two best friends… equally in love as they both deserved to be. On the path to my right was my sister, conquering it the way I always knew she would.

And for once, I wasn’t scared about whatever fate had planned for me. What it had planned for the people around me.

The probability of us being here, in this moment, was all I was thankful for as I angled my head and took in what was around me.

“Shall we head out then?” Nate’s voice pulled me from my thoughts.

And as I settled my eyes back onto his, my lips pried open with a smile as I whispered, “Yeah, I’m ready.”

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