Page 5 of Finally Loved

“You believe in fate?”

Alba shrugged. “I believe in a lot of things. I don’t think fate is particularly simple, but, yeah, I think I was where I needed to be today.”

“Why would you think this is where you needed to be? Surely you had other things to do?”

“Nothing more important than this.”

“You don’t even know me.”

“It’s more interesting that way.”

She laughed, the sound a little less bitter than before, and Alba was certain her usual laugh must be beautiful. “You’re so odd.”

“Mm. Yes. Best way to be if you ask me. Running around, supporting women, being mysterious… Sounds like a great day to me.”

She pulled back, sniffling and wiping at her face. “You really don’t have to be nice to me.”

Alba smiled. “I know, but I want to. Even if you want to scream and kick and tear the world down, you deserve to have someone being nice to you.”

“I’m pretty sure such behavior is generally frowned upon and you’re not supposed to be nice to people doing that.”

“Never been much of a fan of what I’msupposedto do. Go your own way, I say.”

She stared for a moment, her blue eyes sparkling through the tears. “Do you think so?”

Alba nodded earnestly. “I really do.”

“You don’t think that just leads to you being…” She took a deep breath that seemed to get stuck in her throat. “All alone?”

Alba stood, watching her carefully. “No, I don’t. I think the road can be messy and lonely at times, but, in the end, I think it gets you to the people you need. The ones who stick with you through the stormy days.”

She looked away, her emotions warring on her face. “I really hope that’s true.”

“It is.”

She laughed but still didn’t look up at Alba. “You seem awfully sure.”

“I am. The universe led me to you today. Everything works out in the end.”

“You say that like me running into you was a good thing.”

“It was.” Alba shrugged. “Today might be a terrible day, but at least you didn’t have to ride this part out alone. And… at least you have a way to get home now.”

Her head snapped up. “Oh, no, I couldn’t possibly.”

“You could possibly, and you will, because I’m offering, I want to, and that seems far safer than you trying to figure out some other way home alone.”

“I can… call a taxi or something.”

Alba bent slightly, to look her directly in the eyes. “If you would feel safer not having me drive you home, that’s totally okay, and you can tell me. No problem.”

“Oh. No… Uh, no, it’s not that. It’s just… I’ve already caused you more than enough trouble today.”

“You’ve been no trouble at all. And I really want to help you get home safely.”

She fidgeted and shuffled along the wall she was still perched on. “Well, I guess, if you’re sure?”

Alba grinned. “Absolutely. Plus, you just get to help me avoid the things I’m supposed to be doing. And you know how I hate those.”

---