Page 91 of The Fate Of Us

Iturnthecorneronto Third Avenue and duck into Flo’s.

“Come fifteen minutes before opening or right after we close.”Those were Flo’sinstructions when she opened the bakery, reminding us that as much as her friends were important, her recipes deserved the spotlight for once. I had to agree with her. They were soul healers.

Which was exactly why I was there at 5:59 PM on the dot. She closed her doors at six,giving me a minute to slip in before she locked them.

I peered around the seating area, hopping over the empty booths and unoccupied stoolsand realising I was the only one in here.

“Hellooooo…” I called out, my voice echoing off the tiles, before a cloud of lilac and light brown waves popped up from behind the counter with a tiny scream.

“Oh my Christ, Nate. You scared the shit out of me.” she says, taking in a breath and resting a hand over her heart.

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry,” I rush. “I thought you were in the back.”

A laugh breaks through her breaths, her green eyes softening. “It’s fine. Just… long day,that’s all.”

“Do you need any help with anything? Cleaning? Eating leftovers?”

“I think you’ll find that’s why I’m here.” My best friend, Jacob, calls from the door I justwalked through, my head twisting to face him. Stealthily quiet for such a tall man. He passes me a crescent smile, one of his dimples on show, before he looks to Flo. “I brought wine and that spicy pasta from that deli you like, and—”

Flo bolts from around the counter and shoots past me, The breeze that follows hersmells like croissants and sugar, as her run takes her to her boyfriend before she leaps up and into his arms. I lean over and grab the wine and pasta from Jacob's hands so he can hug her back.

Then I look away, for obvious reasons.

“Have I ever told you that I love you?” I hear Flo mumble into Jacob’s chest.

What sounded like a grunt came from my best friend. “Many times, but feel free to neverstop saying it.”

“Oh, I plan to do a whole lot more than that to you later—”

“Guys, I love you, but please wait until I’m gone to rub it in my face that you’re happyand in love.”

“What’s up with you?” Jacob calls as she unwraps Flo from his waist.

“He’ssad, and in love,” Flo whispers too loudly. She gets a glare from me. I get astuck-out tongue from her.

“Oh, right. How’s that working out for you?” Jacob asks as he rounds the counter andtakes the wine out of my hands, pouring out three glasses as Flo whips past me again, stealing back her pasta and leaping up onto one of the stools lined against the counter.

As I let out a sigh I’d been holding since this morning, I launched up onto the counter, myfeet dangling as I replied, “It sucks. Really sucks. Wouldn’t recommend it.”

“Well,” Jacob hands me one of the glasses filled halfway with white wine, then handsone to Flo before taking the last for himself and claiming the stool next to Flo. “I think we can delay closing down for a while so we can hear this.” he says, nodding to Flo with a grin. “Agreed?”

Flo takes a quick sip of her wine. “Oh, hang on.” She swallows before yelling, “Girls!?”

Not a moment later, two girls appear in the staffroom doorway. Both with wide eyes, onewith a black bob and a fringe, the other one brunette. They look frozen. Wide eyes glued to me.

“Rory… it’s Nate fucking Patricks.” The one with the jet-black hair says to the brunette.

The brunette, Rory, shakes her head as she whispers to the other, “I’m telling you, Cora,we literally have the best jobs in the world.” It really wasn’t a whisper at all, though, seeing as though we all heard every word from across the bakery.

Cora cups a hand over her mouth, but it does nothing to stop us from hearing when shesays back, “We get to take home the leftover pastriesandhang out with the biggest celebrities in the world right now.”

They both giggle before Flo interrupts. “You know we can hear you both, right?”

Cora’s balled fist raises to her mouth as she clears her throat. “Florence, just how manyfamous people do you plan on introducing us to? Because if it gets better than Nate Patricks and Jacob Emerson, I have got to start wearing makeup to work.”

Rory nods too. “Yep. Me too. Clear mascara and bronzing drops aren’t going to cut itanymore.”

“Okay, first of all,” Flo said, raising her wine-glass free hand at the pair. “You know Jacob.You’ve met him before,”

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