Page 38 of When Fate Breaks
“There, too,” I say, keeping my eyes on the city.
Massive lit up buildings stretch on for miles, the electric blue lights of Zakim bridge standing out in the distance. Though the general noises of a city play as a soundtrack all around us, the muffled sound of actual music grabs my attention. I glance to the right, seeing a rooftop party happening at a skyrise apartment just a short distance away from us. I squint my eyes, seeing twenty or so people all gathered around tables and benches, sipping drinks and swaying to the song playing that I don’t recognize.
“You really love cities, don’t you?” Blake asks.
I let out a sigh, smiling. “Yeah. Yeah, I really do. There’s just so much going on. So many people. It’s just so different from what I’m used to.”
“I’ve always meant to ask you,” Blake says, my attention turning towards him. “What made your Dad go to Alabama?”
“Oh, you don’t know?” I question. Blake shakes his head. “Well,” I chuckle, “you actually have your dad to blame for that.”
Blake cocks his head to the side. “What do you mean?”
“Your dad convinced my dad to take a trip to Gulf Shores, Alabama during Spring Break their sophomore year of college,” I begin. “My mom also happened to be there with her friends at the same time. They met at a party on the beach and the rest is history. Dad fell absolutely head over heels and transferred to the University of Alabama to finish out school with her. Ramer is my mom’s home town, so they ended up moving back there together after college, got married, and worked a handful of odd jobs until they scraped enough money together to open the hardware store. I came a few years later and then Steph five years after that. The end.”
“Wow,” Blake says, his brow furrowed.
“I know,” I say. “Sounds crazy right?”
“Well, obviously not that crazy. It seems like everything worked out for them.”
“Yeah, I guess it did,” I agree. “It’s just so weird. The idea that one girl on a random trip to a beach across the country made Dad up and change his whole life. And how all of this came out of it.”
“Hmmm…” Blake says, stifling a grin.
“What?” I ask.
“I don’t know,” he says. “It just kinda sounds like it was meant to be. Maybe like it was…fate?” His eyes meet mine, his lips pulling into a smirk. “Don’t you think?”
I shake my head, hiding my own smile. “I think it's more like a crazy coincidence.”
“Mhmm…”
“That spurred a series of other events–”
“Yeah, totally,” Blake agrees sarcastically.
“Whatever,” I say, lightly shoving at Blake’s hip with my shoe, making him chuckle.
“Well, what about your parents?” I ask.
“What about them?”
“They were high school sweethearts, weren’t they?”
“Yep,” Blake says. “Been together since they were sixteen.”
“Holy shi–”
“Evangeline,” Blake shoves me back with his shoe. “Where did this filthy mouth of yours come from?” Blake questions, feigning offense.
I don’t respond right away, still processing the fact that Blake’s parents have been together since they were my age. Since they were basically myandBlake’s ages.
Holy shit.
“That just seems so young,” I mutter. “So young to commit to something that long term. Like as in…forever.”
I look at Blake, seeing him studying me. After a moment, he shrugs. “Dad’s just always said that when you know, you know. No need to overthink it. Overthinking is life’s greatest waste of time.” When Blake sees my one raised eyebrow, he adds, “Another Kyle Di Fazio original.”
