Page 112 of When Fate Breaks
That all leads us to now.
My body, seriously lacking in sleep, caffeine, and the overall will to live, feels as if it is going to collapse by the time we make our way into the grand ballroom for the conference’s 4 p.m. keynote session. Although I’d love nothing more than to pass out on the carpeted hotel flooring right here, I manage to use whatever stores of energy and adrenaline I have left to robotically make myself look professional and eager.
I have to. This is the final test.
Margaret is the keynote speaker, and we’re sitting in the front row.
I let out a light sigh of relief as I settle down into my chair, followed by Matthew and Evelyn who are animatedly chatting away. Though Evelyn might be the worst human I’ve ever met, and it strongly makes me question Matthew’s state of mind for enjoying her company, I’m relieved they are able to act as a distraction for one another; it keeps Evelyn from harassing me and Matthew from making any further advances that I simply can’t handle today.
I open my binder, using it as a shield as I check my cell phone for the first time the entire day. I see right away that I have several new messages from Blake. I open up our conversation and scan them quickly, seeing they are all updates of him being on his way here, checking in to his hotel, and, lastly, wishing me luck. I feel awful not having texted him once today to let him know I’m alive, but there literally has not been one spare minute until now.
Right as I start to type out a message, a notification banner appears at the top of my screen from my photo app– one of the memory reminders my phone sends every day, showing photos that I had taken on that same day in previous years. Because this happens every day, I don’t think anything of the notification. I move to swipe it away and continue typing my message but then pause when I see the small photo preview. My breath gets stuck in my lungs as I click the banner, letting my eyes fall closed for a moment before I look at the photo.
When I peel my eyes back open, they instantly start to burn. My top teeth dig into my bottom lip to halt the tears from welling. My heart feels like it’s in my throat as I stare down at my phone screen.
Steph is holding my phone in selfie mode, throwing up a peace sign with her tongue out in the forefront of the picture while me and my parents sit on logs on the ground behind her, Mom in Dad’s lap and Dad’s arm thrown over my shoulder as we huddle towards the fire. This was from an impulsive camping trip we took five years ago, on our last Labor Day weekend as a full family before I left for college. The way I suddenly feel can only be described in exactly the way Blake phrased it less than twenty-four hours ago.
Drowning.
I squeeze my eyes shut and turn my head to the side, blowing out a deep breath to try to get myself under control. I hear the click of high heels and a voice approaching. It’s not until I hear my name for the second time that it registers and I look up.
“Sorry, what?” My jaw goes slack when I realize it was Margaret speaking to me.
“Well?” Margaret dramatically throws her arms in the air, looking to me for some sort of answer.
My brows pull together. “I’m sorry, what, ma’am?”
“She was asking where the recorder is and I told her that was your job,” Evelyn pipes in, a smug grin on her face.
That most definitely was not my job as this is the first time I am ever hearing of it.
“I–I’m sorry, Ms. Brooks,” I sputter. “I don’t have a recorder. I didn’t know–”
“We must have a transcription of the keynote presentation, Ms. Jacks,” Margaret cuts me off, glaring daggers straight into my face before her gaze falls to my lap. “Well, since you already have your cell phone out, that will have to do.” She turns on her heel to head for the stage.
I glance down to my phone, seeing I only have 9% battery life. “Um, Ms. Brooks,” I call after her, “I’m sorry, but I don’t think–”
Margaret spins on her heel. “Isthere a problem Ms. Jacks?”
I shrink back into my seat. “No, ma’am. I’ll record.”
“Fantastic.”
I close every application on my phone and turn my brightness down all the way as Margaret reaches the stage, an entirely pleasant and frankly unrecognizable expression suddenly on her face. I watch my battery tick down to 8% and sigh, tapping my foot anxiously as I hit record. I need my phone for maps to get to Angelo’s after the keynote speech ends. And to text Blake to let him know I’m on my way–
Shit.
I never texted Blake.
* * *
I’m notable to see the time on my phone as I’m recording, but I know Margaret has exceeded her one hour time limit. As applause fills the room, I stop recording and quickly stand to gather my things. Angelo’s isn’t too far from the conference hotel, but I want some time to freshen up in my room before I head that way. I turn to sneak out of the room before Margaret makes it through the crowd of conference attendees waiting to speak to her at the bottom of the stage. I don’t even make it two steps before I feel a hand on my arm. I spin around to see Matthew staring at me with a confused expression on his face.
“Where are you running off to?” he asks.
“I–uh,” I stammer. “I have plans. And we’re done for the day…right?”
Matthew’s brows raise. “You have plans? In New York City?”
