Finding Fate by Ariel Ellens Read Free Book Online

also know that all the money she’s taken from the bakery could have paid for everything I want to do. 
    But it’s good to see her sober for today.  It’s like picking your battles wisely. 
    “I just wanted to check on you,” I say.  “You had me scared yesterday.”
    “That’s sweet,” my mother says.  “But I’m fine.  Just a little bug.”
    “A bug,” I whisper.  “Okay.  Well, be careful going to the store.  I have to get home now...”
    My mother nods. 
    Then we stand there, uncomfortably.  What I’m doing is waiting for her to say goodbye or tell me she loves me. 
    But she doesn’t.
    It’s just not in her to say it to me.  And for the longest time I can remember, I don’t say it to her. 

-Chapter 7-
     
    I don’t cry when I drive away from the house, but I haven’t cried in a long time driving away from that house.  I know what my mother is doing, her usual style of damage control.  She probably woke up on the floor and realized how much of a mess she had become.  So she spent the day taking care of herself to put on a face as though nothing was wrong.
    Remember, she had a bug.  A stomach bug and nothing else.
    I grab my cell phone as I sit at a red light and scroll for Stevie’s number.  I tap the button and send him a text.
    Where r u?
    The light turns green and as I drive, Stevie texts me back.  I hate to look at my phone while driving so I have to suffer in pain, wondering what he has said.  Yeah, it’s not that dramatic but I can’t get the image of Colt gripping Stevie’s shoulder out of my mind.  I swear I’m normally not a big snoop but this is driving my wild.  I need to know.
    When I get to my apartment I sit in the parking and look at my phone.
    Miss me?
    Oh Stevie... all of a sudden he thinks he’s a tough guy because of a lip ring.  Then again, maybe that kind of attitude will work for Becca-Ann.
    I text him back, quickly, not thinking, and know my words could have more than one meaning.
    I need to see you, right now.  Come over.
    Yikes.
    Stevie texts back with a winking face and I cringe.  I hope he doesn’t think anything is going to happen.  Between us.  At the bakery, when I was holding his hand, that was just to make Colt jealous.  Right?  Nothing more than that.
    I pull myself from my car and rush up to my apartment.  I need a shower and if Stevie is coming from his house, I have fifteen minutes to take one.  Certainly not long enough to wash the entire day off my body but it’s better than nothing. 
    The second I turn the water off, I hear knocking at my door.
    Shit, he’s here.
    I grab a towel and start to dry off when Stevie texts me.
    I’m outside.  Let me in.
    My fingers are at it again, working before my brain can properly edit.
    Just got out of the shower, give me a second, I’m naked.
    Ah!  The last thing I want is Stevie to be thinking about me naked.  I have to hurry and find clothes.  Sometimes it pays to not be super organized and have a clean room.  I find jeans and shirt, then grab a brush as I walk towards the door.  I brush my hair twice so it doesn’t look like a knotty mess.
    Stevie’s standing there with a grin on his face, still playing with his lip ring.
    “Couldn’t wait for me?” he asks.
    My cheeks turn red.  “Stop it.  I need to talk to you.”
    He steps into the apartment and I feel strange.  I feel guilty almost, like if Becca-Ann knew he was here, she would get mad.
    I continue to brush my hair, hoping Stevie doesn’t take it as a flirty, sexual thing.  I don’t care if he does, I need to brush my hair.
    “Today,” I say.
    Stevie laughs.  “That was interesting.”
    “That guy, Colt...”
    “He’s an interesting one,” Stevie says.  “How did you pick him up?”
    “Excuse me?”
    “Colt.  How did you snag him?  Or did he snag you?  Was he coming to the bakery for an afternoon quickie?”
    My face is eight shades of red now.  Here I thought maybe Stevie was into me but he