Twist of Fate by Louise, Tia (free ebook reader for ipad .txt) 📗

gets out, and I put the car in park so I can walk around to help him.

“I guess this is it.”

He catches my hand, and for a second, he seems to be trying to decide what to say. His dark brow furrows over his pretty blue eyes. “Think you’ll ever travel out to the West Coast?”

I shrug, thinking. “I don’t know. Maybe?”

“I bet you could have a great shop in L.A.”

Our eyes meet, and I think I see a hint of sadness in his. Maybe something like regret? It twists the pain in my chest. “Maybe.”

“I’ve heard of jobs where you find antiques for movies, like for period pieces.”

“I’d need pretty good credentials to work in Hollywood.”

“Or know somebody in the business.” He grins, but the light has dimmed.

It hurts my stomach. “I’ll have to look you up if I’m ever out that way.”

“Tell my agent Tinkerbell is calling for me.”

“Right.” Exhaling a laugh, I’m losing my battle against the tears.

He leans down and kisses my cheek, and I’m surrounded by the scent of spicy citrus and warm Scout. “Good luck with your future, Daisy Sales.”

My hand is on his chest, and I can’t meet his eyes. “I can’t wait to see you on the big screen.”

He lightly touches my chin, and I lift my face for our last kiss goodbye. It’s tender and sweet, warm lips pulling mine. My fingers curl in the rough fabric of his shirt, and I never want to let him go.

And I have to let him go.

One last wave, and he takes off, moving gracefully through the doors. He’s magical. He’ll be anything he wants to be. He’s got that “it” quality, and people want to love him.

I stand watching him until he disappears into the crowd, until the first tear lands hot on my cheek, and I slowly walk back to my Bronco.

Tears blur my vision all the way back to Fireside. I tried to be good. I fought what was happening as long as I could. We were only friends—it was never meant for forever.

Until I broke the ultimate rule of friendship.

I fell in love.

“Why didn’t you tell me?” My cousin traces her fingers through my hair as I lie on my bed with my head in her lap.

I touch a stray tear leaking from my eye. “You weren’t here. It all happened so fast…”

“It was not so fast,” Sly laughs. “You two have been dancing around each other since high school. I say, you should’ve tapped it then. You’d be over it now.”

“I don’t know.” I don’t think I’ll ever get over Scout.

“Some things simply can’t be avoided.” She twists a curl around my ear. “Not that I blame you. He’s ridiculously sexy… and funny… a total charmer—”

I sit up frowning. “So how come you never went out with him?”

“We’re too much like siblings.” Her nose scrunches, and she leans forward. “And I had a massive crush on J.R. That broody scowl, those blue eyes, that bod…” She does a little shiver. “He lit up all my lady bits. Then he went and married Evil Becky.”

I can never tell her I actually introduced Becky to J.R. It was one night a long time ago, before I even went to homecoming with Scout. She thought I was good friends with J.R., even though I just barely knew him through Sly.

I thought introducing them would give me a friend, but it didn’t. Becky totally used me. She got her introduction to J.R., landed head cheerleader, and left me in the dirt like I never even existed.

I drop down onto my side again, returning my head to my cousin’s lap. “I wasn’t brave enough for Scout in high school. I’d just lost my mom. I didn’t know anybody but you, and being with him felt like… More than I could handle.”

“Being with a big fish in a small pond is a lot of pressure, especially this small pond.”

“It doesn’t matter. He wants to be a movie star. I want to be an antiques dealer. Same planet, different worlds.”

“Not so different.” She slides her hand up and down my arm. “You have a common home, similar roots. You never know what might grow from that. Even if nothing does, you made some great memories, right?”

“I guess.” Exhaling a sigh, I watch as two actors on Netflix walk quickly down the hall of an office. That’s me now. I’m finished with Aunt Regina’s house. I got the offer I’d been dreaming of, and I’m starting my career. “Sly, tell me something…”

“Shoot.”

“Do you think we only get one great love in our lives?”

“You mean like a soulmate?”

“I guess.” Picking at the tiny flowers on the bedspread, a fresh tear trickles from my eye.

“No.”

“You don’t?”

“Of course not.” She waves her hand. “I mean, if that’s the case, what happens if your one great love comes along when you’re twenty and then dies? Then what? You’re supposed to live the next sixty years alone? Or worse, you meet someone, but you never give him a chance because you believe you’ve already had one great love. How would you ever know? You could have another great love. Or two.”

Chewing my lip, I touch away the tear. “But what if he doesn’t die?”

“If he doesn’t die, and he’s your one great love, why would you assume it’s over?”

I can’t answer that.

My ever-strong cousin shakes her auburn head. “I still don’t like it. It’s too limiting, and it’s just silly. Live your life and be open to whatever comes. You’ll be happier that way.”

“Different people have different experiences.”

“You said a mouthful there.”

Sitting up, I kiss her cheek. “I’d better get some rest if I’m heading to Columbia tomorrow.”

“You’re going to slay, and I’ll be ready to give you a full-body massage and hear all about it.”

That makes me laugh, which helps with the cement block in my chest. “Love you.”

Sly is my best friend and the most encouraging person I know. I think about her advice, Be open to what comes.

I also