Page 41 of Only Fate

Honestly, I know she is.

Their love is truly beautiful with everything they’ve gone through.

I sigh, dreaming of having a love like that someday.

They kiss, and when they finally pull apart, their parents shuffle toward them. Joining my uncle Maliki and aunt Sierra are Amelia’s parents, Lola and Silas.

“I can’t wait to help plan her wedding,” Callie gushes.

“I can’t wait to help plan her bachelorette party,” Mia says with a smirk.

Aunt Sierra and Lola are in tears when I get a better view of them. Amelia’s eyes are red and watery, but she’s holding herself back from fully releasing all her emotions. Like me, she likes to keep them in check publicly. We’re the cool kids who cope with our emotions privately.

“Why didn’t you tell me you were proposing?” I playfully push Jax’s shoulder when it’s my turn to congratulate them.

Jax clears the sweat off his forehead. “I kept it from everyone but my father and Silas—since I had to ask for his permission.”

I perform azip-itgesture across my lips. “Uh, I’m great at keeping secrets.”

“I wanted it to be a surprise, and as much as I trust you all, anyone could’ve easily slipped up. Hell, I almost slipped up, and so did Silas.”

Amelia laughs and shakes her head. “Leave it to my father to almost leak my boyfriend’s proposal.”

I snatch her hand and admire the gorgeous oval solitaire diamond ring. “It’s perfect. Congratulations! I’ll be at the condo sometime this week with wine and snacks to celebrate, girls’ night–style.”

After hugging them both, I move away to make room for the next person waiting to congratulate them. Jax and Amelia’s story proves that love can be rediscovered, even by broken people. The difference between Amelia and me is that the man who fixed her wasn’t the one who’d caused the damage.

Can the same person who broke your heart be the one to fix it?

Or do they just inflict more harm and create additional scar tissue?

Instead of returning to the table, I stroll outside the patio to the side of the building, needing fresh air and a mental break.

The sky is black and star-filled.

My favorite kind of night.

Leaning against the building, I close my eyes and sigh.

“What kind of wedding do you think you’ll have?”

I jump, and my eyes shoot open. If I didn’t recognize the smooth voice that asked the question, I’d be more freaked out.

I spot Adrian under the streetlight as he comes toward me.

“What kind of wedding do you think you’ll have?” he repeats, stopping in front of me.

I wince at not only his question but also his nearness.

It takes me a moment to reply. “Huh?”

I comprehended what he’d asked perfectly, but the response isn’t simple.

It’s personal. Too personal to share with a man who hurt me. I should’ve known venturing off alone would lead to him following me.

He rests his palm near my head against the building. “Do you have a dream wedding?”

Honestly, I’ve thought about what kind of wedding I’d want if I had one, but I’ve never been the girl who had adream weddingin mind.

---