Page 64 of Click of Fate

Luke’s quiet for a beat.

“Let me guess—spam call from someone named Brad who thinks you’re ready to diversify your portfolio?”

I let out a small, exhausted laugh. “Brad’s very concerned about my financial future.”

“He called me last week. Offered me crypto, real estate, and inner peace.”

“He must be expanding his services. He offered me a ‘fast-track path to home ownership.’”

“Oof.”

“Yeah.” I take a breath. “Brad’s a lot.”

I smile. It’s small, but real.

“I’m glad you called,” Luke says.

“I didn’t say I was glad yet.”

“But you are, right?”

I sigh. “Maybe a little.”

“That’s what I thought.” He pauses. “Want me to bring you something tomorrow?”

“Like what?”

“You strike me as a muffin girl.”

“Wow. Stereotype much?”

He chuckles. “I bet you like the ones with fruit but hate the ones with raisins.”

“Who puts raisins in muffins?”

“Monsters. Obviously.”

I lean further into the couch, letting my muscles relax just a little. “I did not see this conversation leading down the path of muffins. I’m a fruit muffin girl.”

“Blueberry or banana?”

“Dealer’s choice. Just not lemon poppyseed. I’ve also been known to kill a chocolate muffin in seconds flat.”

He makes a clicking sound with his tongue. “Noted. One emotional support pastry incoming.”

I want to thank him. For knowing how to make me laugh. For not pushing too hard. For just being… steady.

But I can’t get the words out.

Instead, I say, “Thanks for picking up.”

“Always,” he says. “See ya tomorrow, Trouble.”

I end the call and set my phone facedown beside me.

Then I sit in the quiet, wondering how long it takes to stop running when someone starts sounding like home.

It’s almost 1 a.m. when I realize I’ve been standing in the kitchen for twenty minutes, holding a wooden spoon andcontemplating whether I remember how to bake anything from scratch.

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