Page 28 of When Fate Breaks
I’m startled by Blake's voice. I stand up and spin around, finding him behind me, hands propped on either side of the wooden door frame. “Are you done being nosy?” he asks, his eyes flicking down to the sprig of baby’s breath in my hand. I immediately throw my hand behind my back, shoving the flowers down into my back pocket.
“For now,” I reply, ducking under his arm with a grin and slipping back outside.
I see the dark green canoe pulled out onto the grass and walk over to it. Blake makes his way to the other end, reaching down to pick up his side. I see the muscles in his forearm and neck strain and wonder when those got there until Blake commands my attention, clicking his tongue and nodding his head towards the canoe, signaling me to pick up my end. I do as he says and we make our way towards the lake, me walking backwards and trying not to fall over every single rock and stick I encounter.
Eventually, we make it. I plop down onto the seat on my side at Blake’s instruction as he pushes the small boat out onto the water and jumps in after it, settling in his own seat. We each pick up an oar and begin working together to row.
“Can I ask you a question?” I speak up after a minute.
Blake looks up from the oar to me. “You don’t need to ask permission, Evangeline.”
“What’s with your dad and the lottery tickets? Isn’t he a banker?”
“A financial advisor,” Blake corrects. “But, yes, he does work at a bank.”
“Well, that’s even worse,” I chuckle. “Shouldn’t a financial advisor advise against gambling?”
Blake shrugs his shoulders. “You would think so. I’m not really sure to be honest. He’s just always played the lottery. Every week for as long as I can remember. It’s not like we’re strapped for cash as far as I’m aware.” We both glance back towards the Di Fazios’s rather large and beautiful lakeside home.
“Hmm…” I say. “Maybe it’s just fun for him. Something to look forward to?”
“Maybe,” Blake agrees. We stay silent for the next few minutes, rowing against the current. Once we are out several hundred feet, reaching nearly the middle of the lake, we mutually decide without words to stop, placing our oars at our feet.
I sit up straight, leaning my head back and taking in a deep breath of the cold air, waking up my senses. I stay that way for a few moments, listening to the gentle lapping of the water against the canoe and the distant sounds of birds chirping. When I let my head fall back forward and my eyes open, I see Blake staring at me. His large eyes are reflecting the lake, making them appear more blue than green. His dark brows are pulled together, his head tilting to the side. I feel goosebumps prickling the back of my neck, my light brown hair sweeping across my back in the breeze.
“What are you thinking about?” Blake asks, breaking the silence.
I breathe out. “I’m thinking…that this place is beautiful,” I answer. “And I’m thinking that I’d love to live in New York City. And that I could visit here. Or maybe somewhere else like here. I’m just thinking about…the future, I guess.”
“The future?” he repeats.
I nod.
“And what’s your future, Evangeline?”
“Marketing,” I say without hesitation.
“Marketing?” Blake echoes me.
“Yes.” When Blake just gives me a confused look in response, I continue. “Marketing is fast paced. It’s always changing. It involves people. New people. All the time. I can do it anywhere, so I can see lots of new places.” I pull my knees up, hugging them with my arms. “New York’s just the first place on the list. I’ll have to get a degree first, of course. But it’ll be worth it. Anything that gets me out of Alabama.”
“You really don’t want the store, huh?” Blake asks, no hint of judgment in his tone, only curiosity.
My lips pull to the side. “No, I don’t,” I say. “My parents created a great little empire. And I’m so proud of it. But I want my own empire.”
Blake watches me thoughtfully, his throat bobbing. “Well, it sounds like you’ve got it all figured out,” he says.
“Don’t you?” I ask.
“No,” he replies immediately.
“Well, obviously noteverything,” I say, “but surely you’ve got your basic life plan figured out.”
“No,” Blake says again.
“How can you not? I mean, what do you want to do?”
Blake looks away, his head shaking and a light chuckle escaping him, but he doesn’t respond.
