Page 104 of The Fate Of Us

“How about dinner with him? Why don’t you invite him for dinner tonight? You’ve neverseen the Malibu house, neither has he.” She smiles up at me, like saying no to her would crush that last bit of hope she had inside of her.

Which is too sad to think about.

Goldie was like a birthday wish; a tiny flame that held so much hope. And at her age, sheshouldbe full of hope. She should live off it, not be scrapping the barrel for any remaining morsel of it. I shouldn’t be watching the flames that lived in her eyes die out, become nothing but an ember.

Which is why I confidently say… “I’ll ask him.”

Her hopeful eyes glisten, the beginning minutes of the golden hour brightening them, too.

“But he might be busy, so, don’t get your hopes up.”

She practically buzzes in her seat as she says. “I won’t!” Telling me already that herhopes have surpassed the blue in the sky and are now swimming with the stars.

We sit in silence for a while, basking in each others presence, in the familiarity of beingnear each other, before I whip my phone out under the table, pulling up my text conversation with Nate.

Nate

16:48PM

Hey, have you landed yet?

About an hour ago. Why what’s up?

Nothing’s up.

Just wanted to make sure I didn’t die?

No.

I mean, yes, obviously I want to make sure you never die.

Not that obvious, considering… us.

Shut up :)

But, are you free? Tonight?

Another walk?

It would be like a walk, yes.

If that walk was us walking into the fiery pits of hellmixed with a den of snakes and spiders and more evil things.

????

Dinner. With my parents.

Oh.

How come?

Goldie.

I’ll be there.

And then I smile. A stupid smile that I shouldn’t smile. But I do. Because I rememberthat there probably isn’t a thing that that boy wouldn’t do for my little sister.

Hislittle sister, in a beautifully twisted way.

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