Page 43 of Stolen Fate

“Yes, I can, because there’s no point in dwelling on it. He’s lost to me forever, Ethan.”

“How? How is he lost? I don’t understand.”

“It’s not for you to understand. It’s for you to just accept and let it go, okay?”

“What's going on?” Katie interrupted. I didn’t even hear her come over.

Ethan looked away. “Nothing.”

A tense moment passed before Ethan murmured something about going back to the table, leaving just Katie and me.

“Are you okay?” she asked.

I smiled and nodded. “Yeah. I am.”

“It’s about the nanny job, isn’t it?” she asked softly.

She only knew I went to the interview. She didn’t know I was offered the job, or that I had met my employer before, or even that I had gone to bed with him one night and I couldn’t stop thinking about him since.

I nodded.

“You got it, didn’t you?”

“Yes,” I breathed, so thankful to be able to tell someone about it. Someone who wouldn’t object so strongly to me leaving, even if I was leaving her high and dry.

“When do you leave?”

“Thirteen days.”

She let out a huff that was more like a cross between a laugh and a sigh. “Ah. So, you’re definitely not counting down or anything.”

I let out a small chuckle.

“Oh, you should meet the little boy I’m taking care of,” I told her, smiling a little bit at the mention of Elliot. He was the most adorable little boy I ever had the pleasure of meeting, and he had already stolen my heart. “And don’t worry, if I can’t find anyone to take over my lease, I’ll continue to pay for it.”

If Emilia didn’t agree to take over my lease, I had already decided to continue paying for it. My new salary was more than enough to cover it.

“Pssh. I wasn’t worried about that. It’ll all work out. I just… are you happy with your decision?”

“Yes,” I answered without hesitation.

“I can see that. Well then that’s all there is to it. Promise you’ll call me whenever you have the time. That you won’t just go to New York and forget about your life here?”

I nodded my head, my eyes getting misty as she pulled me into a tight hug.

“What would I do without you?” I asked.

“You’ll never have to find out.”

And that was why she was still my friend. I had always made friends easily, but I was never good at keeping them. Katie was the exception, and I was happy I had her support for so many years.

We pulled away when my name was called for my order and I grabbed both cups, two Americanos, and walked back to our table. Dad looked at me inquisitively, and I gave him a reassuring smile.

It wasn’t long before Emilia’s plane landed and I got a text from her saying she was just getting her bags. I told Dad and watched as his eyes lit up with excitement and happiness, and I tried to ignore the way that look sent a pang of envy through me.

I had always been okay with how close Dad and Emilia were. I supposed just seeing it now reminded me of how close I had been with my mom. She was gone, and there was nothing I could do to bring her back.

I looked down and took a sip of my americano, looking up and meeting Ethan’s gaze, which had softened with understanding. I supposed he always knew what it was like. Since I had been close with my mom, and Emilia was close with my dad, Ethan had been kind of left out. I always assumed that was okay, because my brother always had a bit of an independent streak, but I wondered now if that was ever truly the case.

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