Page 99 of Date with Destiny

When he finally pulls away, both of us now breathless, I take him in properly. ‘Your hands are cold.’

He laughs. ‘Sorry.’ He smiles that devastating smile. ‘I ran out of the house without my coat.’

I feel like my feet are no longer touching the floor as I ask in a faraway voice, ‘What took you so long?’

He shakes his head. ‘Flo.’ He rolls his eyes. ‘She onlyjusttold me you weren’t dating anyone. I saw her for lunch today. We’ve both been working like fiends, and then—’

‘Why did you think I was dating someone?’ I ask, shaking my head in puzzlement.

‘Well, I wasn’t sure,’ he admits, cocking his head. ‘But I saw you hugging your ex, Daniel, at the funeral. Then you were wearing a wedding ring and someone told me you went on your honeymoon?!’ Then it seemed like you were dating that guy Mikey, but Daniel was also still around?’ He pauses. ‘Basically, you had a guy with you pretty much every time I saw you! Honestly, I thought you had a situation going on like your Aunt Diane.’

I burst out laughing at this. Then look down at my hands, covered in a variety of rings. ‘I work in a jewellery store, Zach!’ I laugh. ‘And OK, technically I went on myhoneymoon, but with Myfanwy and Toni, not Daniel.’ I nod. ‘Mikey was just some idiot distraction, and Daniel and I had some unresolved stuff to sort out.’

Zach studies my face. ‘Is it resolved now?’

I smile. ‘Big time.’

He smiles back, ‘OK, good, because—’ This time I can’t stop myself and I cut him off with another kiss. He tastes so good and somehow exactly like I thought he would. When we come up for air, he smiles again, dopily. ‘God, I’ve thought about doing that for ages.’ He pauses, looking sad. ‘When Flo told me you were single, she mentioned it so casually. Like I wouldn’t even care.’ He hesitates again. ‘But I really do care, Ginny.’ He swallows hard, tracing a cold finger along my jawline as he studies my face. ‘I haven’t been able to stop thinking about you.’

‘Same,’ I admit, my skin tingling where he’s touched it. ‘But I’m not saying you’re my soulmate,’ I add with importance. ‘Ihavea soulmate, and it’s me, OK?’

He raises an eyebrow. ‘Er, good?’ He bites his lip. ‘Can I kiss your soulmate?’

‘Yes,’ I tell him and he pulls me close again.

And it’s the most amazing thing.

EPILOGUE

Two Months Later

I can’t believe we’re really here.

The lights dim and a sign over our heads instructs us to applaud. We oblige – enthusiastically.

It’s my thirty-third birthday tomorrow and as part of my gift, Celeste has arranged for the whole lot of us to be in the audience for Crystal Ball’s show. Sonali and Myfanwy are on one side of me, while Celeste, Toni and Zach sit on the other. Plus… Emily. Our old uni friend. A couple of months ago, I decided to reach out to her separately on WhatsApp. We had a big, honest chat – one I never would’ve dared have a year ago – about the distance between us. She admitted she’d felt pushed out over the years, and gradually involved herself less and less in our group. It made me sad that she’d held so much inside for so long. Since then, she’s starting messaging us all more on the Uni Dicks Whatsapp group, and we’ve met up a few times. It’s been so brilliant to reconnect andwe’re all so happy to have her back in our lives. We’ve been pretty much inseparable ever since. In fact, I’m pretty sure she was actually prediction number five – the person I thought lost forever. I’d assumed it was Flo, but, amazing as it was to resolve that awfulness between us, we only really see her when Zach and I are at family events.

The lanyard guy we met during our last visit was in reception to greet us, leading us to our special seats in the middle of the packed audience. It’s apparently the perfect spot –acoustically– according to my mother.

Zach gives my hand a little squeeze and I glance at him appreciatively. He gives me a flash of his smile, his teeth lit up by the studio lights.

God he’s gorgeous.

This is his first experience of Crystal Ball and I know he’s going to love her. Even though, as he keeps reminding me, he’s not really into this stuff. But neither was I, I remind him, and now I love it. I’ve become much more open this last year. I’ve downloaded an astrology app, and I’ve been learning about rising signs, moons, houses – all of that stuff. I’m letting a bit of magic and mysticism into my life and I like it. Oh!AndI went wild swimming with Myfanwy and Sonali at the summer solstice the other day. I’m not saying I believe in everything, but I think it’s good to try new things. And it’s fun!

I did end up telling Zach about the six predictions, and he was intrigued, but he didn’t really buy into it. To be honest, open as I am to my spiritual side these days, I’m still not totally convinced.

So many odd things have happened in this last year. I had so many inexplicable experiences, but does that mean there really are bigger things out there? Does the moon actually have any say in how I feel? Do the lines on my palm tell me my destiny? Does the day I was born mean something for what I choose to do with my life tomorrow?

I glance over at Zach. Is he my soulmate?

Sure, it might feel like he is right now, but that’s chemicals, orgasms and hormones, not my nakshatras, surely?

Either way, I think I’ve come to the conclusion that… I don’t know. I don’t know anything, that’s what I’ve realized. And that’s probably a good thing. It’s hard knowing what’s coming. I was on high alert for so much of this past year, waiting and fearing; trying to second-guess the choices I didn’t feel that I had much choice in.

‘You OK?’ Zach asks in a whisper and I nod, excitedly.

This is just one of the things I’m into when it comes to Zach: he checks in with me a lot. When we’re out together as a group, he isn’t glued to my side. He chats to everyone but he will always return to see how I’m doing. It sounds like such a small thing, but it’s these little acts showing he cares that make me happy.

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