Page 32 of Only Fate

Ava: Oh, it happened! Ugh, I should’ve taken a picture. I apologize for my negligence. I’ll do betternext time.

Me: Ava, you’re officially last in line for top friend.

Ava: The line has 4 other people. That’s, like, one whole Kit Kat. I think I’ll be fine.

They’re still texting each other as I slide my phone into my purse. I grab the two birthday cards from the passenger seat, shove them inside my purse, and step out of my car.

I went simple with the gifts for their twins, Wes and Jes. Gift cards to the local bookstore.

A DJ is playing music in the backyard. I’m pretty sure it’s some Kidz Bop version because it just saiddoorwhen the real lyrics saywhore. A woman is dressed up as the Little Mermaid and another as Buzz Lightyear.

Kids are running everywhere, climbing in the bounce house and cannonballing into the pool.

The party is definitely divided.

Brielle’s family is on one side, and Rhett’s is on the other. Although Brielle’s side is smaller than Rhett’s. Rhett is drinking beers with a group of guys we went to high school with. I spot the nanny—Brielle has shown me pictures—next to Rhett’s mother, talking.

I drop the cards on the present table and head in the direction of Brielle and her mom.

“Thank you for coming, Essie,” Rita says with a smile when I join them at their table.

I wasn’t that close with Brielle growing up. She was a cheerleader and sporty, while I was a nerdy gamer. But we did attend a lot of the same birthday parties and girl outings.

Brielle is on one knee, talking to a hysterically crying kid and pointing toward the jump house.

She glances at her mom. “Can I get your help for a minute?”

Rita pulls herself up from the chair. “Of course.”

She and Brielle scurry off, and not knowing what else to do, I sit.

There’s an eerie sense of someone watching me.

I glance around the yard, and my gaze collides with Adrian’s. He’s at a table with an older couple. He nods, listening as they speak, but his attention is half focused on me.

Goose bumps crawl up my arms, and I run my hand over my jacket sleeves.

Has he been watching me since I got here?

He says something to the couple, and they burst into laughter. The woman taps his hand in a kind gesture, and he stands. Adrian waves to them and grabs two drinks—one with a princess theme and the otherToy Story—and a knot forms in my stomach when he starts walking in my direction.

He sets the drinks down on the table and grips the back of the chair beside me. “Is this seat taken?”

“No,” I say, keeping my voice low. “But I’m enjoying a moment of silence and not accepting chair neighbors.”

“What if I want to talk about our clients?”

Eyeing him suspiciously, I motion for him to go ahead. He pulls out the chair, sits, and directs all his attention on me.

“Sooo …” I drag out the word. “What about our clients?”

Other than the fact that they’re a hot-mess express.

“I forgot.” He fights back a smile, and I narrow my eyes at him. “Plus, I’ve also heard it’s unprofessional to speak legalities at parties. Serious conversations are for boardrooms. Parties are for fun.”

I stare at him in annoyance. “Since you lied about your reasoning for sitting and you’re not going to speak legalities with me, shouldn’t you be on the other side of the party? We’re the Anti-Rhett Club over here.”

“I think you know I’m not a Rhett fan.” He slides the princess cup closer to me.

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