Page 101 of Dream (Fighting Fate)

Sam sighed, her shoulders slumping with defeat. “Toss them. I’ll get some new ones.”

Mom’s lips twitched. She and Dad loved Sam. She, too, had passed the test of having my best interests at heart.

“How much space is left in the truck?” Dad asked, coming out of my room with a huge box.

At the same time, the front door opened and Corey led the way inside with the guys. “Heaps,” he said, as cheery as usual. “We just need to put these bookcases in and that’s all the big stuff.”

My head whipped back and forth, trying to follow this weird conversation that was directed at me, but not including me. I was struggling to keep up.

Dad winked at me. “That’s your room packed up, kiddo. Good thing we’re gypsies or I wouldn’t have agreed to come help.”

Mom pointed the spatula at him. “Oh, yes you would have.”

Dad’s eyes widened on me dramatically. “Oh, yes I would have.”

I laughed. “You two are dorks. Dad, go drag Mom out of the kitchen. You guys have only got an hour before you have to be at the shelter.”

Placing the box near the door, he gave me a salute before rushing to scoop Mom up into his arms. I shook my head, giving them both a kiss as Dad swung her out the door. “Bye, honey. I’ll talk to you tomorrow!” Mom’s voice echoed, already sounding as though she was halfway down the stairs.

“Your parents are awesome,” Corey said, grinning. “I imagine your house would’ve been like the go-to house in high school if you’d stayed here.”

I smirked. “Oh my God, it really would have. They love having people around.”

Sam frowned at the guys as they swooped in and picked the bookcases up. “Be careful with my babies. They’re my most loved possessions.”

Gardner rolled his eyes. “That’s what you said about the books.”

“They go hand in hand, Gardner!” Sam said, throwing her hands up. “They’re a team. Without each other, they’re nothing.”

“Chill, tiny,” he said, winking. “I got this.”

Heading to the bathroom, I shook my head at them and wondered how long it would be before something happened there. It was obvious there was some serious attraction going on. Under normal circumstances, I would’ve said soon, but Gardner seemed to take his job pretty freaking seriously, so it just might not happen at all.

Taking a basket off the bathroom shelf, I started stowing all the little bottles and sprays we had stored in the drawers, and cleared out the shower stall. When I was done, I had another quick look around before making my way back out to the living room.

It was weird coming out to find the entire area completely empty. If I was to be honest, it felt a little daunting to be packed up so quickly. Life was moving so fast. I was having trouble keeping up with it all, and I was sure Sam was feeling slightly the same.

As if my thoughts had summoned her, she wandered out from the kitchen, Corey trailing behind her. When he saw me, he rushed forward and took the basket from me. “Everyone’s downstairs already, loading the last of the boxes. Have you two got everything else?”

We both looked at each other and nodded. Sam sighed. “Well,” she said, “this is it, Liv. We’re all grown up now. Off to bigger and greener pastures.”

I laughed, making my way to the door. “I think we should co-write a novel, Sam. I can see it now. It’ll be epic.”

Sam’s eyes lit up, following me eagerly. “Oh my God! Can we? That would be so awesome.”

Corey rolled his eyes at us. “You two are crazy.”

“Crazy’s good, though, right?” Sam asked, moving down the stairs.

I was halfway down before I halted my steps. “Crap,” I said, slapping my palm against my forehead. “I left the security pass Josh gave me on my windowsill. I’ll be back in a sec.”

“All right, we’ll wait right here,” Corey called as I rushed back to the apartment.

Unlocking the door, I dashed into my room and swiped the card off the sill. I couldn’t believe I nearly left it here. Josh would never have let me live that down.

The sound of the door closing behind me had me spinning with confusion, but before I could take a step, a body with long brown hair came flying at me, tackling me to the ground, hands grabbing, fingernails raking.

I screamed as I hit the floor, my knee striking something hard on the way down. I cried out in pain, pushing at the figure, grabbing whatever I could get my hands on and pulling, trying to ge

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