Free Maybe Fate: A Novel (New Adult Paranormal Romance) by Cynthia Brint Page A

silver mini-dress
that made mine look like a nun's habit, pulled away.
    Blinking,
I saw her hug someone tight, giggling against his neck. It wasn't
until she planted a fat wet kissed on his sculpted cheek that I got
a good look at him.
    Like
every guy I saw Becky with, this one belonged in some sort of
fashion magazine. The bones on his face were set high, giving him an
exotic look that matched what I thought was richly tanned skin.
    Lean,
his body displayed in skinny jeans and a form fitting V-neck, I
wondered if he was from another country.
    He
saw me staring, met my boring grey eyes with his own burning orbs of
rich gold. Taken aback by the intensity of his gaze, I just stood
there, full on deer in headlights mode.
    Smiling
so wide her gums showed, Becky wrapped an arm around his thin waist
and looked my way. “Gale, this is Ethan.”
    Is
my mouth hanging open?
    Clearing
my throat, ignoring the odd flutter in my belly, I stepped closer.
Instantly, I regretted my heels. My ankle shifted, sending me
stumbling on a one way trip to the hard floor.
    Wincing,
I threw my arms out, ready to hit. Instead, something caught me
around my shoulders, stopping my descent.
    Even
with that, I crumbled slightly to the floor. Lifting my head,
half-kneeling, I found my nose almost touching Ethan's.
    Oh,
shit.
    Staring
into the hot centers of his eyes, I couldn't breathe. “That
was close,” he chuckled, lifting me up until I found my
balance.
    Looking
over his shoulder, I saw Becky was watching me with an expression
I'd never seen her aim at me.
    Is
that... jealousy?
    “ You
okay?” he asked, leaning in to get my attention. An awkward
laugh exploded from me, my hands pushing him away as I retreated to
create space.
    “ Uh,
yes! Totally fine. Not—not even a thing. Haha.” My tiny
laugh faded, but my humiliation lingered firmly.
    Becky
stepped between us, her hand going possessively to the chest of the
chestnut haired boy. “Well then, glad you guys met. Let's go
get a drink Gale, hmn?”
    “ I...
yes. Sure. Let's do that.” Deliberately, I made myself look at
her face instead of Ethan's. Letting her grip my wrist, we pushed
back into the writhing crowd.
    We
hadn't gone far before she turned back to me, hurt boiling in her
big blue eyes. “Gale, what was that about?”
    “ Sorry?”
I asked, knowing what she meant, but not sure how to address it.
“What are you—”
    “ Back
there, with Ethan! I've never seen you flirt before, but that guy is
off limits for practice.”
    Clenching
my hands at my sides, I gave my head a wild shake. Becky had tamed
my ginger locks somewhat, weaving them into a tight braid. Now,
those heavy tresses slapped against my shoulders. “I wasn't
flirting!”
    “ That
was definitely flirting!”
    “ I—no!
No no no! Ugh, Becky,” I growled, my hands slicing the air in
anger. “I wasn't, and wouldn't, flirt with the guy you're
seeing.”
    Glowering
at me, she surveyed the set of my eyebrows, seemed to find it
convincing. “Alright. Just... stay out of his arms, that's my
place. I live there, okay?”
    I
went to tuck my hair behind my ears out of habit, finding I
couldn't. “Of course. You got it, don't worry.”
    “ Besides,”
she mused, returning to her normal teasing mood, “I thought
you had a guy you were interested in.”
    Staring
at her blankly, I realized what she was talking about. “Nethiun?
Oh, no, it isn't—”
    Waving
her hand, she cut me off and pushed towards the bar. “I'm
going to try and get them to serve me an actual drink, wish me luck!”
    Left
alone in a sea of people, the lights flashing over my head, I
watched my roommate vanish among all the bodies.
    The
music pumped through the air, but I hardly heard it. I was stuck in
my thoughts, thoughts that kept repeating the same words through my
head. A
guy I'm interested in...
    Breathing
in till my belly hurt, I let the air whoosh past my lips. The inside
of my eyelids were a calming darkness. All together, taking a moment
to