Read Just Like Fate for Free Online

can he defend
me after what I’ve done?
Chris grows restless and begins to tap his thumb on his
thigh like a fidgety child. “Did you think the weather was
weird today?” he asks. “I totally dorked out with a few friends
and we”—finger quotes—“ borrowed a telescope from the science building to watch the cloud patterns. It was pretty cool.”
When I don’t respond, Chris begins to adjust the passenger seat, sliding and reclining it until he’s almost in the backseat. He looks like he’s settling in for the night. “You’re not
laughing at any of my jokes,” he says. “I’m debating whether
or not you want me to shut up, but I feel wholly compelled to
impress you.”
When I look over, he smiles broadly, and I think that he’s
the exact kind of cute that I could fall for—if my heart wasn’t
already broken. I turn away. We reach the stoplight of an intersection, and Chris reaches to turn down the music.
“I know it’s none of my business,” he says in a quiet voice,
“but why were you crying earlier?”
The light turns green, but I don’t move. I’m frozen by the
emotions flooding me, threatening to rip me to shreds in front
of him. I can’t say it out loud. Finally I compose myself and
drive a few blocks.
“You’ll need to make a right here,” he says, sounding
defeated. I ease my foot on the gas, making the turn.
“My grandmother died,” I whisper. It feels like saying it
can make it happen all over again.
“I’m so sorry,” Chris says. “When?”
“Tonight.”
“Oh.” It’s a stunned word, a sad one. Chris looks out the
window. And now I’m the one who can’t handle the silence.
“We’re not leaving the state, are we?” I ask him, filling the
void. “Because I’m pretty sure I’ve crossed four county lines
already.”
“Why? You want to make a run for it, Thelma.”
Despite all that’s weighing me down, I choke out a small
laugh.
“That was a laugh,” he says, pointing at me. “Sure, it was
a pathetic one, but it means all is not lost. I’m still impressive.”
I fight back my smile. “Which way, Christopher?” He
starts giving directions, and I turn left down a residential
street.
“It’s around here somewhere,” he says under his breath.
I look over at him. “Are you telling me that you don’t know where your friend lives?”
“Of course I know,” he says. “It’s just that at night, all the
streets look the same. But it’s definitely in this neighborhood.
I remember that old church on the corner.”
I groan and slow down to ten miles per hour as he studies
the houses on one side, then the other. He snaps his fingers,
startling me.
“I just realized that you never told me your name,” he
says. “What is it?”
“Caroline.”
“That’s pretty.”
“Thanks.”
“And sweet.” He’s quiet, but the minute he opens his
mouth, I interrupt.
“You’re not going to break into Sweet Caroline , are you?”
He abruptly closes his mouth and shakes his head no.
When I see that it’s nearly eleven and Simone still hasn’t
returned my calls, I feel abandoned. And then I wonder if this
is how Gram felt in her last moments.
“Wait, there it is,” Chris says, motioning to the left side.
“The one with the truck in the driveway.” He scoffs. “See. I
knew exactly where it was.”
I pull to the curb, letting the engine idle as Chris checks
for his wallet and keys. When he’s done—taking way longer
than necessary—he clears his throat. “Do you think I can call
you sometime?” he asks.
There’s a weird twist of excitement and sadness mixed
together as I look at him. “Are you hitting on me five minutes
after I told you that my grandmother died?” I ask.
He winces. “Wow, I’m a douche, huh?” He says it so
innocently that I have to smile, even though I feel like a traitor for the gesture. Chris runs his hand through his hair,
embarrassment painting his cheeks pink in the light of the
streetlights.
“You’re