Page 135 of Only Fate

Essie snorts. “Not happening. You just want to do that to mess with River. We know you’re not in love with her.”

“Oh, come on,” he groans. “Of course I’m notin lovewith her, but I do enjoy hanging out with her.”

“You know she and River havesomethinggoing on.”

“Yes, but she deserves more than a hookup every now and then,” Foster argues.

Essie snaps her mouth shut for a moment, as if she can’t dispute that.

Foster taps the booth, drags a hundred from his pocket, andlays it down before taking an assorted bag of pastries. “Tell your grandmother these are delicious.” His gaze cuts to Essie. “And tell your brother to stop being an idiot, or I’m asking Ava out.”

“Damn,” Essie says as Foster walks away. “I had no idea he was so bossy.”

“When …” I stop to correct myself, holding up a finger. “Ifmy abuela comes back, want to walk around here for a bit … hang out?”

“Yes,” she whispers. “But only on one condition.”

“Yeah?”

“Let’s pretend everything is okay between us. Tomorrow, we’ll go back to figuring out real-life problems.”

“All right.” I slide my hands together. “I can work with that.”

We can’t pretend forever. Eventually, we will have to revisit the Earl problem.

I cock my waist against the booth, hiding her from the crowd, and then press my lips to hers.

She steps back for a moment, as if in shock, before kissing me back.

“Everything being okay means I get to kiss you,” I say, more confident than I should be. I don’t know what level ofpretendingwe’re at.

“Fine,” she says, faking annoyance before smacking a quick peck to my lips. “We can consider kissing normal.”

“Oh, look at you two,” my abuela says.

I swear, she does this shit to mess with me.

She had to choosethis momentto make her return known.

Terrance is now next to her, smiling as his gaze pings between Essie and me, and they’re both holding a bag of cookies. A cup of hot chocolate is in my abuela’s free hand.

“Terrance came over to take your job,” my abuela explains while Essie stares at her, wide-eyed. “You two go have your fun.”

I grab Essie’s hand and walk her away from the booth. I swear, I hear a squeal coming from my abuela as she watches us.

Essie laces her fingers through mine. “Have you ever attended a fall festival?”

“I haven’t,” I say as we pass the hot chocolate stand.

“What do you think about it?”

“It’ssomething.”

“Is that a good or bad something?”

“It’s a something that tells me I’d love to stay here in Blue Beech for as long as I’m welcome.”

“What made you ever feel unwelcome?”

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