Page 105 of When Fate Breaks
“Blake, I really am so sorry. It’s absolutely no excuse, but I’ve been so busy. This internship is…intense.”
“Yeah, I can tell...” he trails off. I start to think he’s hung up, until he suddenly speaks again. “Are you happy though? Is it what you wanted?”
I blow out a breath. “It’s getting me to what I want. And that’s what matters.”
“Hmm…” Blake hums, dejected.
I clear my throat. “Speaking of, I have some news. And…possibly a way to make up for the whole forgetting your birthday thing?”
I hear shuffling from the other end of the line, sounding like Blake rolled over on either his bed or his couch. “I’m listening.”
“So… I’m coming to New York.”
“You’re coming to Lake Placid?” Blake asks, his voice raising nearly three octaves.
“Well, no. New York City. My company invited me to attend a conference there. It’s the biggest and most important marketing conference in the country and if things go well at it…I could be hired on full time. Could live in New York City.”
“Oh. Wow. That’s great, Evangeline…” Blake says, sounding confused as to what this has to do with his forgotten birthday.
“The conference is on a Friday,” I continue. “I was thinking that maybe…if you can get off work…you could maybe, uh…meet me? In the city? Afterwards?”
“Oh.”
“Yeah… I thought…we could make a whole weekend out of it? Catch up? It’s been a long time.”
“Entirely too long.” My heart skips a few beats. “Of course, Evangeline. Let’s do it. I’m there. What’s the date?”
I chew at my bottom lip anxiously, not wanting to have to say the words out loud and not completely sure how Blake will react. “It’s…um…September 1st.”
The line goes silent.
“Blake, I know that–”
“Oh,” Blake cuts me off. “I, uh, I’m not sure.”
I blow out a breath, tears burning the backs of my eyes. Another opportunity to see Blake, gone. “I totally understand. If you want to be alone that day, I get it. Don’t worry about it.”
“Evangeline…” Blake hesitates. “That’s the absolute last thing I want. There’s no one else I’d rather be with than you. On any day, but especially that one.” I roll my lips into my mouth, fighting against the moisture in my eyes. “It’s just…I can’t promise you how much fun I’ll be that day. Being with you will make it so much more bearable but…it’s just hard. I wouldn’t want to ruin a trip to your favorite city for you–”
“Hey,” I interrupt him. New York may be my favorite city, but Blake Di Fazio…he might just be my favorite person. There is no way I’m about to let him talk himself out of this for my sake. “Blake, I want to seeyou. In whatever state you are in. It doesn’t matter. And I want to be there for you.”
“Are you sure?”
“Positive. Please, Blake. Allow me to make that daybearablefor you. And maybe the ones following just a hair above bearable. If we’re lucky.” Blake chuckles and this time, without a doubt, I know that this one is sincere. “Are you in or are you out, Di Fazio?”
“I’m in, Jacks. It’s on the calendar.”
I suddenly realize that I am pulling on to my street. I always have a tendency to drive way over the speed limit when I’m talking on the phone while driving.
Not the best multitasker.
My driveway comes into view and excitement hits me when I see both my mom and dad’s vehicles in the driveway. Mom has been gone nearly every other weekend the last few months at trade shows and buyer fairs as her and Dad have been trying to make some upgrades at the hardware store. I’m so glad I get to tell them both about the conference at the same time. They know how hard I’ve worked for this, especially Dad, who’s brought far too many midnight snacks up to my bedroom over this past summer.
“Beautiful. Hey, I just got home. Text you later?”
“Beautiful,” Blake echoes. I start to hang up when I hear his voice again. “I’m… I’m glad. Glad we’re doing this.”
“Me too,” I smile. “See you in a month. I promise to suck less by that time.”
