Page 38 of Only Fate

I’d describe Callie ascutesy. She wears flowy dresses, lives by positivity quotes, and is the sweetest of everyone in the group. She was literally votedSweetest Classmatein the school yearbook.

Mia dresses in high fashion and always matches her outfit to her mood. She was votedMost Likely To Move Away From Blue Beech, which she did, but then returned.

Her hair is black, while Callie’s is a strawberry blonde.

Callie is a hopeless romantic, but Mia would rather have her inheritance drained than trust a man with her heart, per herwords. And her inheritance is massive since her mom is one of the biggest stars in the world. She literally has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

River halts mid-text and lowers his phone to smirk at me. “Look at that. It’s as if speaking of the attorney summoned the devil.”

I wrinkle my nose in confusion. “Huh?”

River returns to his texting. “Your least favorite attorney is here.”

I turn in my seat, and my heart skips a beat when I see Adrian. I narrow my eyes as he introduces himself to Amelia’s parents while standing beside Foster.

Jesus, will this man ever give me a break?

He’s going to end up runningmeout of Blue Beech.

“How does he know Foster?” Callie asks.

“Foster is Terrance’s grandson,” Ava replies. “I had no idea he was back in town.”

“Why do you care if he’s back in town?” River raises his gaze to glare at Ava. “Do you plan on hooking up with Foster again?”

Ava rolls her eyes. “Better him than you.”

My brother is so dumb.

Ava never hooked up with Foster.

They went to prom together one year, and River is still butthurt about it.

“Definitely, because that means he’s the one who has to deal with your attitude,” River argues. “I’d much rather hook up with Daisy fucking Duck than deal with you.”

Ava rolls her eyes again, more dramatically this time. “Such a well-spoken man. I’m sure you would because Daisy fucking Duck won’t quack out that you’re a poor lay.” She glares and swats her hand toward River’s phone. “How about you shush and go back to texting whatever random girl you met online?”

There’s been plenty of talk about Ava and River hooking up, but I’ve never asked either of them if it’s true. Nor do I plan to.It’s their business, and hard pass on hearing about my brother’s sex life.

“Jesus,” Mia groans. “This is why I only hook up with randoms out of this damn state.” She exhales a long breath through her cherry-red lips. “And you need to get over yourself right now because the man Essie wants to murder just walked in. I think that takes priority over two people who randomly hook up when they’re bored.”

Mia’s comment is so Mia.

She is both the meanest and most understanding person in our group.

Whenever we’re in a tough situation and we don’t want to be judged, we turn to her.

Ava and River continue their arguing. I tune them out to focus on Adrian. He’s dressed in khaki pants and a white button-up. He pushes his glasses up his nose while easily talking with people.

A part of me hates that I love he wore his glasses instead of contacts.

It reminds me of our old days.

The longer I stare, the harder my heart races, like it’s pleading for him to come over and heal it. I want to reach inside my chest and smack at that stupid organ of mine. My heart needs to hold a grudge against him. Years ago, I was ready to share mine with him, but he left before I even fully had the chance.

I refuse to put myself in that situation again.

This heart of mine is locked up and waiting for a deserving man.

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