Fated: Karma Series, Book Three by Donna Augustine Read Free Book Online Page A

would be my new signature scent for my hair; it reminded me of the peach pies my mother made.
    “What are you doing?”
    “Uh, buying items to cleanse myself so that I don’t become offensive?” It had seemed like a pretty obvious action in my opinion. Was I missing something here? I looked down at the cart, his tone making me wonder if I’d grabbed Rogaine, or men’s shaving cream, by accident.
    He roughly grabbed both the shampoo and conditioner bottles hastily, and shoved them on the first open shelf spot, as if he disliked having to touch them too long. He turned and scanned the other bottles, dismissing my choices as he said. “Wrong ones. I don’t like those.”
    I wasn’t sure what he was looking for until he grabbed my old brand.
    “What was wrong with the ones I just had? It was new. I want new.”
    I reached down to grab the shampoo he’d replaced it with but before I could, he started dragging the cart forward, effectively cart-jacking my groceries.
    “Hey!” I said, having no choice but to move into something close to a jog to follow him if I ever wanted to see my cart again. “You can’t cart-jack me.”
    He ignored me as he built up more distance between him and the shampoos.
    “You don’t wash your hair with it,” I shouted after him.
    He didn’t stop, just yelled back, “I’m with you all the time. I’m the one who smells you more than anyone. I should have a say. Plus, you’ve been using this one for years. Why do you want to change now?” He took a sharp corner down the frozen food’s aisle.
    It took about three seconds, or the length of time for me to catch up to him in the ice cream section, for what he said to hit home. “I think we should stock up on some cookie dough too, just to be safe,” he said, reaching in and grabbing a gallon of my favorite brand.
    “The shampoo you put in the cart, I haven’t bought that brand since I died.” I’d stopped using it a week after my death, from the first time I’d gone shopping for myself. I took a quick look around, belatedly realizing what I’d said in the middle of the supermarket and making sure no one was too close before I continued. “How did you know what I used before I joined you guys?” I asked in a much more subdued tone. The humans might be getting riled up lately but that didn’t mean they’d become deaf and stupid.
    I’d guessed he had some knowledge of my previous lives; he’d alluded to it with a couple of comments but my shampoo? How could he have known such an intimate detail such as that?
    “I don’t. I meant months.”
    I looked at him and part of me didn’t know if I believed him. I just had the strangest feeling he was lying. But why? Because that meant he’d known me? Had he watched me, and if so, how closely?
    I remembered seeing my brand stocked in the condo when I’d taken my very first shower there. I’d thought it had been a coincidence. It was a popular brand. Now I wasn’t so sure anymore. And if he had known me that well, how come he never really talked about it?
    “Did you ever come around me when I was human? Did you know what my fate was then? Was I meant to end up here?” The implications of it all started churning in my mind, and I was sure I’d end with a bellyache once it was done. “Did you?”
    “Do you really think I had nothing else to do but follow you around all day? Nothing personal, but there were much more interesting lives to watch than yours.”
    He wasn’t looking at me but walking away, and I grabbed my now discarded cart and followed after him.
    “For your information, I hadn’t been going for burn down the walls, non-stop adventure. I was building a career and looking to start a family with Charlie—”
    “I have to meet the guys. I’ll pick you up at seven.”
    Looking as cold as ever, flirty smirk long gone, he moved past me and started heading out of the store.
    “If I ever live again, I’ll try to live life more recklessly for your amusement! Maybe