Page 13 of Fade (Fighting Fate)

Chapter 7

Amy

“What the hell was that all about?” Amber shot at me the second Daniel was out of hearing range.

I scrunched my brows. “What?”

She gave me a deadpan look. “Amy, I’ve seen people eye fucking before, and what you two were doing was beyond eye fucking.”

I gaped at her. “We were not!”

“Oh, you were definitely eye fucking, babe. What gives? You like him?”

I opened my mouth to deny it, but her statement had switched something on inside me. “I don’t know, it’s weird. When I was with Ryan, there was always something in the back of my mind telling me it wasn’t right. I mean, I liked the way he made me feel . . . kind of . . . but when things got serious, it just felt wrong—like a wall popping up.”

I sighed. “But during the mistaken-identity incident with Daniel, there was no wall. All the little thrills I used to get when I was with Ryan were practically meaningless compared to what I felt when Daniel touched me. I didn’t know it could be like that.”

“Hmmm . . . ”

I looked up at the sound of Amber’s contemplation.

“I think this needs further investigation,” she said thoughtfully.

It took me a while to decipher her calculating expression. “You think I should get with Daniel?”

“Uh . . . after witnessing that? Absolutely.”

I turned to watch Daniel across the park as he sank down onto the grass. “I can’t go out with Daniel. He’s Ryan’s brother.”

She looked at me like I’d gone mad. “So what?”

Shit. Why did the thought give me such a thrill? “It’s just . . . wrong. Everyone would think I was trying to replace Ryan or something.”

“Who gives a fuck what anyone else thinks? And no one who matters is going to think that, anyway. The rest can go fuck themselves. Seriously, Amy,” she said, her gaze turning somber and honest. “That look I just saw pass between you two . . . ” She shook her head. “Trust me . . . that’s an opportunity you don’t want to pass up, babe.”

Her words made my pulse quicken. “But you heard him. He going back to San Diego soon.”

She stepped forward and took my hand. “Just do me a favor and at least be open to the idea and talk to him. Please?”

I looked back across the park at Daniel’s solid form leaning back against a tree. “Okay,” I said, almost involuntarily.

“Good. I’ll leave you to it, then,” she said, giving me a quick hug.

Her words sank in slowly. “Wait, what? You want me to talk to him now?!”

“There’s no time like the present, babe.”

With that, she winked and left me standing there.

Glancing over to where Daniel was still lazing under the tree, panic quickly started rising in my chest, but I was also painfully aware that I was now standing in the middle of the park on my own. I needed to make a decision before I looked like a total idiot.

Pushing back my insecurities, I pulled up my big girl panties and started toward him. The closer I got, the faster my heart seemed to beat, but it surprised me to find it wasn’t actually nerves. I was excited.

Could Amber be right? Could there be that little something between us that hadn’t been there with Ryan? I bit my lip at the thought, a sliver of worry creeping in. What would Ryan say if something did happen between Daniel and me? Would he think I was trying to replace him?

Daniel looked up as I approached, his eyes sparking with what looked to me to be happiness. It made me feel like I was making the right choice.

“Hey,” he said, adding that little grin that kept melting my insides.

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