Chasing Fate (Dark Love 5)

“Don’t diss my dad skill. I can change a diaper like a boss.”

“Dude, you’ve never changed a diaper,” Tom chuckles.

“Nope, but I cleaned up your shit, Tom… when you sharted in my car.” Benny howls, then walks over to hug me. “I miss you, man.”

“I miss you, too, bro,” I respond, patting his back.

“Geez, boys, don’t get all Brokeback Mountain on me,” Tom complains, scowling at our display of affection.

“Aww, someone’s jealous. Come here,” I tell him.

Tom runs over and throws himself on top of us, just like back in college. He has some weight on him—it’s those damn steroids he takes all the time.

“So, Noah boy is in love, huh?” Tom pushes my chest, forcing me to use all my strength not to fall over.

“It sucks,” I finally admit out loud.

“It ain’t so bad.” Benny smiles, making his way back to Rose. Argh, the two of them are too cute for my liking. It only makes me miss Morgan more. And I hate that I miss her. It’s a sick carousel of emotions.

“Well, can’t wait to meet her,” Rose says.

“We’re not together… it’s complicated.”

She chuckles softly, grazing Benny’s arm as she speaks, “Someone once told me that love can do crazy things to a person. I’m sure you’re acting pretty crazy right now. Take a moment to stop and think long and hard about what you want before it’s too late.”

I still remember the moment when I told her that. And now, the shoe is on the other foot.

I hang out with them for a little while longer before saying goodbye. We promise to catch up in the near future, but for now, I have only one thing on my mind.

NOAH

It’s my final destination before life as I know it will change forever.

New York City.

The last time I was here, it was a boys’ weekend, which almost resulted in Tom being mugged for his shoes. One wrong turn, the three of us drunk, and our carefree attitude of thinking we owned the s

treets while running our mouths at random strangers.

We were lucky to come out alive.

Lex notified the receptionist of my attendance, keeping my visit between us for now.

With a friendly welcome, she offers me a refreshment before guiding me to Kate’s office. I kindly decline, waiting for her to open the door.

After a polite knock, the door opens into a large office. The room is almost three times the size of Haden’s office back in LA with sweeping views of the city and a large table positioned in the middle toward the back of the room.

The walls are bland, lacking a personal touch. Behind the table, Kate raises her eyes with an incredulous stare.

“Noah,” she mouths, clearing her throat of a rasp. “Why are you here?”

“Can we talk, please?” I eye the receptionist, wondering how long she’ll fucking stand beside me. “In private, perhaps?”

Finally, she gets the hint, but not before Kate nods for her to leave us alone. Kate motions for me to sit down across from her. The setting is rather formal, and although Kate looks incredibly sexy in her gray skirt and white blouse, there’s a certain distance she keeps from me. No kiss hello or friendly hug to welcome me here. I narrowed down her stand-off behavior to being in work mode. She’s told me several times that who she is in the office isn’t the same person I know.

“How have you been?”

“Good,” I lie, keeping my gaze fixated in her. “And you?”