Page 20 of When Fate Breaks

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“I don’t know,” Blake says. “Like an adult?”

I snort. “I’m just wearing an apron, Blake,” I say.

“I know, Evangeline.”

I rear back, caught off guard.So, I guess he’s still insisting on calling me that.

“Something about you just makes you seem older than you are. More mature, I guess. Confident. You really seem to know what you’re doing,” Blake says.

I push a loose strand of hair from my ponytail behind my ear. “Well, this is our store. I spend more time here than I do at our house. I guess it should look like I know what I’m doing.”

He glances around the small store fully for the first time, taking it all in. “Hmm…”

“What?”

“That’s just kinda…”

“What?”

Blake’s eyes flick back to mine. “Kinda awesome.”

My back straightens. “Oh,” I say. “I mean…not really. It’s just the way things are for now.”

“For now?” Blake asks, his brows pinching.

“Well, just until college… or whatever.”

“You’re not gonna take this place over?” Blake asks curiously.

“No way,” I respond, busying myself with straightening things around the register.

“Oh,” Blake says. “I just figured…” I continue shuffling things around on the counter. When I don’t elaborate on my answer, Blake pushes. “Well, why not?”

I look up at him and sigh. “Several reasons.”

“Well, give me four.”

“Four?”

Blake nods.

“That’s a very specific amount.”

“Gotta start somewhere,” he smirks.

I blow out a breath. “Well, first, mainly…. I want out of this town. Out of this state, really.”

“Why?”

“It’s just so…small. Everybody knows everybody.”

“What’s wrong with people knowing you?” Blake asks.

“Nothing, I guess. I just want to see something different. Be somewhere new.”

Blake’s head tilts. I think he’s going to question me further but he just nods, signaling me to continue.

“Second,” I say, opening a drawer behind the counter to organize its already organized contents. “...I don’t want to be a Van der Mooch.”