Page 77 of When Fate Breaks
“Caramel?” I repeat.
“Mhmm.”
“I don’t think that’s a flavor.”
“What? It totally is!” Blake insists through another mouthful of ice cream.
“No, I think that’s definitely a topping.”
“Mmmm… ” Blake murmurs, noncommittal. The line goes comfortably silent for a few moments as the breeze rustles the fallen leaves and discarded beer cans on the ground around me. I move to sit on top of the picnic table when Blake’s voice comes through again, making me freeze.
“Your hair’s kinda like caramel.”
My heart stutters in my chest, my lips parting.
“I love it,” Blake says, clear as day.
I don’t respond, still processing and not sure what to say to a statement like that. I hear a rustling sound through the phone, Blake’s voice momentarily sounding further away.
“You know what else I love?” he asks.
Without waiting for a response from me, Blake continues. “That little freckle just below your left eye. And the way you scrunch your nose when you’re caught off guard.”
I feel my brows pinch, bringing my hand up to my nose. “Those are really specific details… Like…you’re looking right at me–Wait.” Even though I can’t see him, I know Blake is smirking. “Blake, are you looking at that awful Polaroid?”
“Maybe.”
“I told you to burn that thing.”
“Never.”
I hear a shout from inside the bar. “Last call!” Pulling the phone away from my ear, I see the time is 1:50 a.m.
“Jesus, Blake, it’s almost 2 a.m. We shut the bar down.”
“Wiiildchild,” Blake croons.
I pull my bottom lip into my mouth, my cheeks starting to hurt from smiling so much. “Totally,” I affirm. “But, unfortunately, you’re just achild, sweetie,” I tease. “If it’s 2 a.m. for me it’s 3 a.m. for you. Way past your bedtime.”
“You're barely a year older than me. Calm down,sweetie,” Blake shoots back.
“Regardless,” I chuckle, “I need to go find Leah, so I gotta go. Finish your ice cream and get your ass to bed.”
The line is quiet for a moment and then I hear Blake click his tonguebefore he whispers something gruffly, not sounding remotely like a child.“I’ll getyourass to bed.”
My mouth flies open, heat flooding my entire body. “Blake Alexander Di Fazio!”
“Evangeline Marie Jacks.”
I shake my head, letting out a nervous chuckle. When my laughter fades into a sigh, Blake speaks again.
“Can I ask you something?”
I blow out a breath, bracing myself. Questions that need permission to be asked usually aren’t good ones. “Sure.”
“Have you…dated anybody? Since going to college?”
My brows pull together. “No, Blake.”
