Page 16 of Entwined in Fate

I take a deep breath as I sit next to her, feeling the now-crisp fabric of the couch under my thighs. I put my phone next to me. “Would you like me to get some juice for you?”

“That sounds like a good idea,” Aunt Olive says. “Thank you.”

And so, I take another lap of the stairs, this time with some pouch juices.

But when I get there again, Aunt Olive is scrolling through my phone.

Mortified, I jog the rest of the way and grab my phone from her hand; what if she sees that I’m still checking Larson’s social media accounts or that I still haven’t deleted our photos?

As I take it from her hand with force, a teasing grin appears on her face as she says, “Thank me later.”

Thank her later?Why?

Checking the screen of my phone, I’m even more distressed. She replied to Carter’s text message.

As I stare at the message inviting Carter for dinner, Aunt Olive speaks, “I’m not always the wisest person in the room, but Estelle, have a little fun. Lose yourself a little. Do something a little bit crazy. Then, you’ll move on a little. Trust me.”

Before I can even appreciate her words, a message from Carter appears on my screen:Nikolai’s Roof at 7:00?

Chapter Seven

Ipulldownmywrap dress as I try to stay steady on my stilettos inside the elevator going up toNikolai’s Roof.

Apart from being nervous for a date I didn’t agree to, my mind keeps coming back to my mom and Aunt Olive arguing over the fact that Aunt Oliveforcedme on a date—as my mom says—one week before my supposed wedding.

“I didn’t force her,”Aunt Olive replied then.“I just encouraged her.”

In reality, she didn’t really give me a choice.

By the time the sisters had finished arguing, it was too late to cancel, and I was too ashamed to cancel after inviting him to dinner—at least, that’s what he thinks.

I really have to close off this chapter before things get even more complicated.

The elevator doors open, and the restaurant's floor-to-ceiling windows give us a 180-degree view of Atlanta right at the tip of the starry skies. It’s breathtaking.

Just like Carter—he stands from his chair and waves his hand at me.

This time, he’s wearing a semi-formal outfit. And like every time I see him, he just becomes more handsome.

The real question is: is he getting through to me, or am I just lonely and heartbroken?

Well, I don’t need an answer. I just need to get this dinner over with.

I give him a small smile as I walk toward our table.

I almost visibly flinch as I recall that the last time we saw each other—I acted like a complete asshole to him. So, as I get closer, I decide to be a little more decent and sincere towards him.

“Hi,” I breathe as I let the waiter assist me into my seat.

Carter’s eyes take me in. “You look beautiful.”

I feel myself blushing. Thankfully, the lights are dimmed. “Thank you. You cleaned up real nice, too.”

He lets out a short laugh. “Thanks. I hope you don’t mind, I already ordered for us.”

He lifts a hand, and a waiter immediately joins us to pour us some red wine.

For starters, Carter got us someShaved Brussel Sprouts. Immediately followed byCarbonara Risotto.

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