Page 89 of Only Fate

“Circle of friends?” I say, mocking my brother. “Please, as a grown man, never say that again.”

“Yes, it sounds very high school,” Mia adds. “Not a good look if you’re trying to impress Ava, a woman who legit has surgeons begging her for dates.” She grins, knowing that’ll further press River’s jealousy button.

Foster signals back and forth between River and Ava before stopping his finger on River. “When will you start dating her, bro, so you can stop thinking I’m in love with her?”

River knows Ava and Foster aren’t in love.

He just enjoys giving them shit.

Ava dramatically gasps at Foster. “You’re breaking my heart over here, Foster.”

Foster shrugs. “I’d prefer not to have a video game character named after me who’ll most likely get killed.”

River snaps his fingers and points at Foster. “Thanks for the idea.” He taps the side of his head. “I’m mentally noting that now.”

“As you can tell, my friends are very mature,” I tell Adrian.

“They’re fun.” He kisses my forehead. “I enjoy spending time with them. When you told me stories about them and growing up here, I always tried to imagine it. Now, I can, and I enjoy it. Thank you for including me in this, Essie.”

“I like that you’re here. I’m happy you stood your ground and didn’t let me run you out of town.”

There will never be enough words to express to Adrian how grateful I am that he stayed here. When I found out Earl’s case might reopen, I wasn’t sure how deep I’d fall into the hole of sadness. But Adrian being here has kept me standing.

“Trust me, it’d take a lot more than you throwing your attitude—which I find sexy as fuck, by the way—to convince me to mess this up with you again,” he tells me.

I perk up even more. “Does that mean you’re staying?”

“That means, as long as you’re okay with it, consider me Blue Beech’s newest resident.”

He presses a kiss to my lips, and I can feel eyes on us.

The questions will commence inthree … two … one.

Ava walks away from River when he and Foster start having a civilized conversation that doesn’t revolve around arguing about her.

“You can save your questions for girls’ night,” I tell her as she moves in our direction.

She slumps her shoulders. “Geesh, you’re no fun tonight.”

Adrian laughs, looking around. “This place has its owncharacter. I feel like I’m in some modern version of a Barbie Dreamhouse.”

“Your comment definitely shows you never had a sister. This isfarfrom a Barbie Dreamhouse.”

Callie’s Bake Shop is like stepping inside a magical storybook.

The decor is exactly what you’d imagine for happily ever after’s number-one fan. The bake shop’s walls are rose pink, and a few months ago, Easton helped her install floral panels to three of them, bringing an even more romantic setting. Sparkling crystal chandeliers hang from the ceiling, and pink suede sitting couches create entertaining spaces. Rose-gold tablecloths cover the tables, and the chairs are pink.

The space would make even the most anti-love person wish for their Prince—or Princess—Charming.

Well, besides Mia. There’s no changing her mind when it comes to love.

It’d been Callie’s dream to open her own cake shop, and five years ago, she made it happen. I love that my friends are creating their happiness here.

Jax and Amelia have the brewery.

Callie has the bake shop.

I have the law firm.

---