Fates' Destiny (15 page)

“How do you know all this?” She finally asked.

Destiny didn’t answer as an old wound
reopened just enough for her to feel it. When she didn’t respond Ali guessed.

“It happened to you didn’t it?”

Destiny swallowed the anger and hurt that accompanied the memories of the heartbreak she endured when she was Ali’s age.

“Yes.”

Ali turned to her, giving Destiny her full attention. “What happened?”

At first Destiny didn’t want to talk about it but after a second of thinking she came to the conclusion that it may help Ali understand.

“I was your age and he was my brother’s best friend. I had been in love with him forever and then one day he asked me to a movie. After that we started dating. We had been dating for about 4 months when one night he showed up at my house. My parents were out with a group of friends and Ryan was off doing some extracurricular activity so I was home alone. At some point we ended up in my room, fooling around, and then he told me he loved me and wanted to prove it. The next day he wouldn’t answer my phone calls or emails. I was… devastated.”

“What did you do?” Ali asked completely engrossed in Destiny’s tragic story.

“Only thing I could do. I cried. But,” She glanced over at Ali. “Don’t think he got away with it. It was about a week later when Ryan asked me what was going on and I broke down and told him everything. Next thing I knew Ryan had beat the hell out of him.”

“Served him right.”
Ali huffed as she folded her arms over her chest. “The bastard.”

Destiny couldn’t help but laugh. “Thanks. Now, with that said. I just want you to know that I know exactly what teenage boys are capable of and I don’t want you to get hurt.”

A soft smile lifted her lips. “Thanks Destiny. I’ll be careful.”

“And never sneak out again?” Destiny asked.

“Never. I promise.”

“Ok.” She nodded. “Now I have to figure out how to tell your father about this.” He was going to be furious for sure.

“Oh god Destiny.” Her voice full of panic. “You can’t tell him. He’ll kill me. Please,” She took both her hands and grabbed Destiny’s arm that was closest to her. “Please, you can’t. I’m begging. I’ll do whatever you want. Please, please.”

The girl’s panicked pleas reached Destiny’s heart but her head told her that keeping this from him was bad…
Very bad.

“I have to Ali. If he finds out some other way he’ll kill us both.”

“He won’t find out. Only you, me, and your brother know. Please,” Tears sprang free and flowed down her cheeks. “You can’t tell him.”

Oh god. What was she to do? She was determined to tell him but when she glanced over and seen the fear in Ali’s tearful eyes she just couldn’t do it.

Damn it! “You have to promise you won’t do it again Ali.” She couldn’t believe she was doing this.

“I won’t. I promise.” Hope lit up her tear stained face.

“Ok.” Destiny sighed, knowing this was wrong. “We’ll keep it between us.”

“Thank you!” Excitement burst out of the girl as she jumped out of her seat and wrapped her arms around Destiny’s neck. The car jerked from the sudden action but Destiny was able to keep control.

“Ok.” She laughed. “You’re going to make me crash my car.”

“Oh.” Ali snapped back into her seat. “I’m sorry.”

“It’s fine. When we get home I need you to stay on the porch until I send Dela home. Ok?”

Ali nodded. “Ok.
Got it.”

Destiny turned back to the road, hoping like hell this wouldn’t come back to bite her in the ass.

Tuesday went by equally as boring. The kids went to school. Destiny helped Dela. Luke had called early to check on everything. But she had to yet hear from Adam. When she asked Luke how he was doing he told her that he was trying to sort through a few issues.

Issues?
Pertaining to her? Oh, that couldn’t be good. She might as well go ahead and start packing.

But she didn’t. She still didn’t know for sure if what was wrong with him had anything to do with her even though she was almost convinced it did. A
fter all, actions speak louder than words.

After the kids got home they followed their usual routine of homework and dinner.
Kenna joined them for dinner at Destiny’s request. She was so hoping Kenna would get her mind off Adam but honestly she didn’t. It seemed nothing she did got rid of him.

When everyone was gone and the children settled Destiny grabbed her book and stretched out on the couch. She wasn’t ready for bed. Sadly, she still held hope that he may call her tonight.

She was barely two pages in when she heard movement above her. She looked to see Jason coming down the stairs.

“You ok?” She asked.

He stopped about midway. “Can I talk to you for a second?”

“Of course.”
She sat up and laid her book on the table as he descended the stairs.

Once he was settled on the cushion next to her she asked, “What’s up?”

“Well,” He ran his hand across the back of his neck. “I have a problem and I need a little help.”

Problem?
What kind of problem? Is he having trouble at school or something?

“Ok.” She prompted him with a subtle nod.

“Well…” He paused. It was hard to miss his nervousness and she wondered what in the world would make him like that.

“You’re a girl right?” He finally spoke.

“Last time I checked.” She snorted a laugh at the obvious question.

“Yes… Of course you are.” He
went silent again and looked everywhere but at her. That only increased Destiny’s curiosity.

“Come on Jason. You’re killing me.”

“Ok, ok.” He took a deep breath and asked, “What do girls like?”

“Huh?” Ok, Destiny was lost.
“Why don’t you just tell me what’s going on? Is there a girl you like or something?”

Jason nodded, his eyes lowering to the table. “Her name is Jasmine and she’s so cool. She likes video games and scary movies and baseball. All the things I like. There’s a dance coming up next week and I want to ask her
to it but I don’t know how.” His dark eyes were pleading as he looked at her. “Can you help me?”

Ok, now he was making sense. “Well, you just ask her Jason.”

“I can’t. I tried today and almost choked on my tongue.” He let out a frustrated sigh as he collapsed against the back of the couch. “She probably thinks I’m such a loser.” He propped his elbow up on the arm and dropped his head onto his hand.

Destiny wanted to laugh. He was just too cute. But she
wouldn’t. He asked for her help and so she would help him.

“Ok Jason. Let’s do this.” She scooted to the edge of the couch and turned her body to face him. “Let’s pretend that I’m Jasmine and you’re going to ask me.”

“Awe Destiny.” He whined. “That’s not going to help.”

“Yes it will.” Sh
e grabbed his arm and tugged his limp body up. “Come on.”

“Ok.” He agreed on a sigh and moved to the edge of the couch.

“Ok,” She took a deep breath, reading herself. “let’s go.” Then she smiled childlike and said, “Hey Jason.” In a high pitch voice. “How you doing?” She batted her eyes.

Laughter erupted out of him as he doubled over.

“That’s not how she talks.”

“Oh. Ok.” Destiny would try again. “How’s this?” She cleared her throat an
d repeated her lines in a deep, baritone voice.

“
Ohmygod.” He laughed. “You’re not funny.”

“Then why are you laughing?”

“I’m not.” He straightened and schooled his features. “Ok, this is serious.”

“Alright, alright.”
Playtime was over. Now it was time to be serious. “Ok, I’m Jasmine. Now, ask me to the dance.”

He took a deep breath and locked her eyes.

“Jasmine, I was just wondering… if maybe… you would like to go to the spring formal with me?”

Destiny just couldn’t help herself.

“Oh Jason.” She gasped laying her hand over her heart. “Really? I’d love to go.” Then she threw her arms around his neck. “I’d love to go to the dance with you. And I’d love to marry you and move into a big house and raise llamas.”

“Llamas Destiny?”
Jason asked ridiculously over her shoulder. “Really?”

She laughed as she
unwrapped her arms and sat back.

“Ok Jason. Seriously, you should just ask her. The worst she can do is say no and if she does well,” Destiny shrugged. “
that’s her loss in my opinion.”

He smiled even though it was obvious he was still nervous.

“Ok. I’ll try.”

“Good. Now, go to bed. You don’t want to be tired when you ask her.”

He rose off the couch and was about half way up the stairs when he turned back to her.

“Thanks Destiny.”

“Hey, that’s what I’m here for.”

~              ~              ~

“Hey Beautiful. I was thinking about calling you but I thought maybe you were asleep.”

After
Kenna left Destiny she was troubled. She didn’t like that Destiny was beating herself up like she was. So even though it was none of her business she decided she needed to find out what Destiny had done to piss Adam off and she knew Luke would know.

“No, I’m awake
. Are you busy?” She asked as she folded her legs under her. She was sitting on her couch, glass of wine on the table in front of her, TV off. She didn’t want any distraction while she talked to Luke.

“Nope.
Just lying in bed, watching TV, wishing my beautiful lady was next to me so I could curl up with her.”

She giggled and wanted to tell him how much she wished she was with him too but stopped herself. She needed to stay focused and not let him distract her from her mission.

“I need to ask you something.”

“Ok.” He said curiously
. “Is everything ok?”

“Not really. I want to know what your brother’s problem is.” She couldn’t believe how bold she was being but she needed to know. She needed to ease her friend’s misery.

“What do you mean Kenna?”

“Why’s he mad at Destiny?”

He was silent for a moment.

“She thinks he’s mad at her?”

“Well, yeah.” Now she wasn’t so certain Luke would know what was going on. “He barely spoke to her the other day and then yesterday when he left she said he was short with her and he’s been having you call her. It’s making her crazy because she can’t figure out what she did wrong and I don’t like it.”

“Damn.” He sighed and instantly she perked up. He does know what’s going on.

“He’s not mad at her Kenna. He’s having… issues.”

“Issues?”

“Yes. I’ll tell you but you have to promise not to tell Destiny. Adam’s really fucked up right now and if she knew what was going through his mind it might make things worse.”

What?
Kenna didn’t want to promise but she had no choice. She had to know what was going on. More now than earlier.

“I promise.”

“Ok.” She heard him take a deep breath. “Adam’s attracted to her and he doesn’t know how to handle it.”

Kenna
gasped. Of all the things she expected to hear that wasn’t even on the list. “Are you serious?” She suspected there was an attraction on Destiny’s side but she didn’t suspect for a second that Adam returned the attraction.

“
Yep. And he feels like if he acts on it he’d be betraying his wife. It’s making him miserable. He wants her so bad I can feel his tension but he just can’t let go of Liz.”

“That’s horrible.” Kenna couldn’t even imagine how he felt.

“I’ve been talking to him about it and telling him that he needs to move on but he’s being stubborn. Her last words to him were ‘Be happy Adam. That’s all I want is for you to move on and be happy.’ But he won’t let himself.”

“Poor Adam.”
Her heart ached for him.

“Yeah.”
Luke sighed, clearly worried about his brother. “He’s going to have to sort it out on his own. No one can help him. But I will tell him that Destiny thinks he’s mad at her.”

“Ok.” She felt a little better now that she knew what was going on but she was bummed that she had to keep it from someone she
considered her sister. “I guess I’ll let you go so you can get a little sleep.”

“Alright.”
He sighed but a split second later perked back up. “Oh, before I let you go I just want you to know that I should be home around 11 tomorrow.”

“Really?”
Excitement bloomed within her. “I can’t wait.”

“Me neither. I’m ready for our date.”

“Me too.” Very ready.

“Ok. I’ll see you tomorrow. Goodnight.”

She giggled. “Goodnight Luke.”

~              ~              ~

Luke didn’t lower his phone until he heard the beep telling him she’d hung up.

He didn’t want to let her go but he had something that needed his attention right now
.

He sat up, slipped his shoes on, and a 10 floor elevator ride later he was walking through the hotel lobby. He found Adam exactly where he left him an hour ago.
Sitting at the bar of the hotel lounge. He had switched from beer to liquor as he sipped on the brown liquid in a small glass.

“Looking for the answers to your problems at the bottom of a whisky bot
tle now?” Luke asked as he claimed the empty stool next to him.

“I thought y
ou went to bed.” Adam lowered his glass to the shiny surface of the bar.

“I did but I got a phone call I thought you should know about.” He motioned to the male bartender for a beer.

“What?” Adam asked impassively.

“
Kenna called to find out why you’re mad at Destiny.” He explained.

“I’m not.” Adam’s tone didn’t change as he lifted his glass back to his lips.

“Well Destiny thinks you are and according to Kenna she’s upset.”

~              ~              ~

Adam turned to his brother. He’s upset her? His heart sank at the thought. That was the last thing he ever wanted to do.

“Why does she think I’m angry with her?”

“Uh, obvious reasons.” Luke replied sarcastically. “Hell, you won’t even call her. If I didn’t know better I’d think you were mad at her too.”

Oh god. He’s right. Panic sparked within him as he dug his phone out of his pocket. He needed to call her and assure her that he wasn’t mad at her. Aw, hell. Who was he kidding? He needed to hear her voice.

The battle over calling her had been raging in his mind all day. He wanted to talk to her but he was afraid if he did it would just make things harder on him. Right now he didn’t care. Right now he needed to let her know everything was ok with them.

“Hello?” She answered softly, hard to miss annoyance in her voice.

“Hey. Are you busy?” He asked her thinking that maybe she was doing something and his call interrupted.

“No. The kids are in bed so I’m having a little ‘me’ time.”

‘Me’ time. Probably painting her nails or messing with her hair. “Oh. Well, I can call you tomorrow.”

“No.” She rushed out.
“Now’s fine. I’m just reading.”

“Oh, ok.
How’s the kids?” He asked the expected question, hoping it may ease her agitation.

“Fine.
Jason’s having girl problems.”

Adam’s eyes widened.
Jason having girl problems? Isn’t he a little young for girl problems. “What’s going on?”

“Oh there’s a girl he has a crush on and he wants to ask her to a school dance next week and he’s scared.”

“Did you talk to him?”

“Of course.”
She snorted a laugh. “We did a little role playing and I think he may be able to do it.”

“That’s good.
Anything else?”

She hesitated for a moment and then said, “Nope. Everything’s been fine. What about you? How’s everything going there?”

“Fine.
We turned everything over to the lawyers and hired a contractor to do the renovations. Luke is personally seeing over the project until we hire a new manager. The police got a lead on Wilson. Idiot used his debit card somewhere in South Dakota. They’re looking into it. Again the detective has assured us that he will be found. I should be home around 11 tomorrow.”