Maybe Fate: A Novel (New Adult Paranormal Romance) Read Online Free PDF

usual. Her cocktail dress
shimmered in bronze and green, clinging to every curve on her body.
    Pointedly,
I stared at her exposed cleavage, wondering if her breasts would
stay inside all night. Only gravity could prove me wrong.
    I
started to talk, then raised my voice as it became clear the sound
of the crowd would wash me out. “Hey! Yeah, uh, about that. I
was thinking of maybe leaving a little—”
    “ Here,
this way!” She blurted, ending my attempt at polite departure.
Frowning, I let her tug me through the swarm, feeling completely out
of place.
    Dressed
in jeans and my jacket, my hair mussed as ever and my face free of
makeup, I was mildly humiliated when Becky shoved me in front of a
group of people at a corner booth.
    Grinning,
her lip gloss catching the lights on the ceiling, she motioned at
me. “Everyone! This is my friend, Gale!”
    Wincing,
I gave a pathetic wave. “Uh. Hey.”
    The
four people, three guys and one girl, looked at me with varying
expressions. They didn't seem impressed, but at least they smiled.
    “ That's
Jim, Kylie, Stewart, and Markel,” Becky said, gesturing to
each of her friends. “Now, sit down, and let's get some
drinks!”
    Her
hands shoved me, roughly, into the booth. Not casually, she squished
me up against one of the boys. I couldn't remember if he was Stewart
or Jim, so I just offered him a nervous smile.
    What
the hell am I doing here?
    Around
me, the group chatted happily. It was like I was invisible, all I
could think about was how much my skull was pounding.
    When
a waitress came to order drinks, I blushed as I asked for water. I
knew no one else would be having dumb regular water, but they all
probably had money to afford something better.
    Beside
me, the young man asked for a beer. Surprised, I shifted over so I
could watch him hand his ID to the waitress. She squinted at it,
nodded, then handed it back before scurrying off.
    Stewart—Jim?—whoever
he was, caught my eye. “What's wrong?”
    “ Oh,”
I mumbled, rubbing the side of my neck, “uh, nothing. I
just... I didn't think you were twenty-one.”
    Laughing,
he winked at me in a way that made me stomach twist. “I'm
not.”
    Oh,
wonderful, now I'm mixed in with some fake ID toting asses. Great.
Mom would be very proud.
    The
man who's name I did not know leaned in close, too close. I could
see the stubble on his cheeks. “So, Becky said your name was
Gale?”
    “ Erm,
right. Yes. And she said you were...”
    He
spared me the humiliation of guessing, his bright green eyes
sparkling as he whispered in my ear. “Stewart, yeah.”
His breath tickled my skin, and that was the breaking point for me.
    Jumping
up, my knees slammed the table solidly. Grimacing, ignoring the
surprised voices and hands grabbing for spilled liquids, I shoved
Becky over.
    “ Hey!”
She gasped, allowing herself to be moved from the booth. “Gale,
what is it, where are you going?”
    “ Outside.”
Shooting a look back at her as I passed, I saw Stewart staring at
me. “Air, I need air.”
    Pushing
through the crowd, I nearly fell onto the sidewalk when I exploded
into the cool outside world.
    Inhaling
slowly in relief, I pushed my hair from my forehead with a groan. Ugh,
was that normal? Dammit, that guy was just... Do I not know how to
flirt? Is it just me?
    Frustrated
with myself, with everything happening to me lately, I shook my head
until my ears rang. I
don't know what to do anymore. Maybe I am a little scared of guys,
and maybe I should thank Mom for that, but... but he freaking
breathed into my EAR and...
    Running
my hand over my face, I peeked up along the sidewalk. It was quiet
outside, everyone quick to escape the cold October weather and hide
with friends inside the bright buildings.
    Dejected,
I walked slowly down the cement, noticing a few people hanging
around a tiny stall across the way. An older man was selling
sparklers, a few kids holding them high in delight.
    Smiling
at the sight, I ignored the pang of jealousy