Reliving Fate

by Natasha Preston

  I laugh.

  "Are you sure you're ready for this?" Harry says.

  Ten cans are stacked up on a shelf at the far end of the tent.

  Bella leans against the stand where the guns are lying. "I want a Minion, baby."

  "It's not coming home with us."

  Her smile takes my breath away. I love the look she has whenever I refer to my place as ours.

  Fucking hell, she is beautiful.

  FORTY

  * * *

  BELLA

  Harry goes after Dad's pitiful attempt of shooting down four. Harry gets five cans and grins triumphantly. I turn to Rocco, and the face I'm pulling is what I'm hoping looks like Puss in Boots from Shrek. Rocco rolls his eyes and holds up the gun.

  Hello.

  I never thought watching a man shoot a pretend gun would be so sexy.

  FYI, it is.

  He pulls the trigger in quick succession and knocks down eight.

  "Yes!" I cheer, jumping up and down.

  He hasn't won me a Minion because you have to get all ten down to get the big one.

  "Well done, Rocco," Dad says, giving him a nod and smiling at me.

  "You beat Dad!" Livvy sounds genuinely impressed.

  I don't know what to make of that.

  "Shall we move on to the ghost train?" I ask.

  "I'll be sitting that one out," Mum says, walking off with Livvy.

  Dad and Harry follow them.

  I link arms with Rocco, and we make sure we're a little bit behind.

  "Only eight, huh?"

  He raises his eyebrow and smirks like I'm missing something.

  "What?"

  Chuckling, he pulls his arm away and wraps it around my waist. "I didn't really miss the last two."

  "Huh? Yes, you did."

  "No, I aimed to the side. I could have easily gotten them all, but I knew you would try and bring that fucking yellow teddy to my flat."

  "Oh my God, you dickhead!"

  Rocco full-on laughs and catches my arm as I swing my fist toward his chest.

  "I'm offended you thought I missed two stationary cans."

  I think Mum can hear our conversation because she looks behind and smiles.

  See? He's not that bad.

  Lowering my voice, I say to Rocco, "I think you're winning my mum over."

  "It's hard not to fall for me eventually."

  Cocky twat.

  True though. We were inevitable.

  "Oh, obviously."

  "You don't really think I'm going on a ghost train, do you?"

  "It's more manly than the Ferris wheel."

  "I'm not biting, Bella."

  Mum turns, slowing down so that she falls in line with me and Rocco.

  Great.

  We're so close to the ghost train. She had better be nice.

  "I'm in no way telling you to ignore my daughter, but with Isabella, selective hearing is often required," she jokes.

  Rocco chuckles. "Yeah, tell me about it."

  Well, fabulous.

  "You're so getting on that train," I say to him, narrowing my eyes.

  I don't hear his reply because I see someone in the distance, watching me, staring like they're trying to kill me with a look. He or she is wearing a grey hoodie and dark jeans. My blood turns cold. When I turn to Rocco to get him to look, I see a flash as the person--probably more likely a male since the build is tall and broad--dashes off behind a stall, and then he is gone.

  My heart is in my throat. I think I've seen this person before at the river, but I can't be sure. He was looking at me like we'd crossed paths before.

  Who is he?

  Rocco pulls me closer. "Bella? Hey, are you okay?"

  I snap out of it and look around. Mum is concerned, and Rocco looks like he's about to kill someone. My lungs have deflated, but I force myself to look up.

  "Sorry, I was in a complete daze there."

  I add a smile for Mum's benefit, but when she looks away, satisfied that I'm okay, I widen my eyes at Rocco. He immediately knows I lied to Mum and that something is wrong.

  Something is so wrong. I don't feel safe.

  "Do you want to get something to eat instead of going on the ride?" he asks.

  "Yeah, sounds good. Want anything, anyone?"

  They decline, and Rocco and I walk off.

  "What was that?" he asks as soon as we're out of earshot.

  "Okay, the other day when I was out with Mum and Liv, I thought I saw someone watching me, but I figured I was just being paranoid. I saw him just now. I think at least. He was definitely wearing the same dark hoodie. I think I've seen him around the river."

  Rocco tenses and stands taller. "What did he look like? Did you recognise him?"

  "He was too far away. I don't even know if it's a he."

  "What was he wearing?"

  "Or she. Dark hoodie pulled up over his head. It's probably a guy, as he was tall and stocky."

  "Where did he go?"

  I point back toward the direction. "Behind the hot dog stall. He's probably long gone now." Grabbing Rocco's wrist to ground myself, I step closer. "I'm kinda scared here."

  "Hey," he says, lifting my chin and smiling. "Nothing is going to happen to you. Not ever."

  "Why are you happy?"

  "Because you're worried."

  What the fuck?

  "Okay, dick! Uncool."

  He shakes his head and does a sweep of the area. "No, I just mean that you're concerned about your safety. I like that."

  Of course he does.

  I never thought I'd be scared, and I don't know if that's just because there is no turning back now or because Rocco has given me something good to focus on.

  Perhaps a little of both.

  "Glad you're happy. What are we going to do about Greg Portman?"

  "Who? You said you didn't know him," he asks.

  Closing my eyes, I shake my head at myself. "Stalker in The Bodyguard. I really don't know why I thought you'd get it."

  "I'll take you to your family, and then I'll do a quick sweep."

  "But I want to come with you."

  "Isabella," he says, sighing in exasperation.

  "Fine, I'll stay with them. But we need to get doughnuts, or it'll look suspicious."

  Rocco takes his wallet out of his pocket and grabs a five-pound note. "We'll take ten, please," he says, handing the guy behind the stall the money. "Anything else you want to do to waste time, so this guy can get away?"

  "Um..." I purse my lips and pretend to think.

  Rocco's eyes narrow.

  "I think I'm good with the doughnuts, thanks." I give him my best smile, pretending I'm okay.

  Rocco practically snatches the bag of doughnuts from the guy and grabs my hand. Before I can tell him to calm down, we're power walking back to my parents.

  "I'm just going to find a toilet," Rocco says, giving me a look and handing over the bag.

  Mum takes a doughnut I offer, even after she said no.

  Rocco leaves, and she waits a few seconds before saying, "I'm glad you both came tonight."

  "Me, too. I think Rocco is having a good time as well, despite this really not being his thing."

  "I think he likes it because you do."

  "Yeah, he has to; it's in the contract."

  She laughs, and her eyes warm.

  "So, you don't think he's too bad anymore?"

  "We just don't know him, Isabella. Let's join your dad," she says.

  We walk toward him at the other end of the ghost train. He's just hung up his phone.

  We're almost there when someone bumps into me. I'm thrown a step and turn to confront the person.

  I swear to God, if you try to run off without apologising...

  "I'm so sorry. I didn't see you," the guy says. He holds his hands out and grimaces. His hair is blond and shaved close to his head, and he's really, really tall. No wonder he didn't see me from all the way up there. "I wasn't looking. Are you okay?"

  "Yeah
, I'm fine. I'm sorry, too."

  "Hey, you didn't run into me. No need for you to apologise."

  "I'm British, so..."

  He laughs, nodding his head. "Well, again, sorry, and maybe I'll see you around..."

  "Oh. Bella."

  "Bella." He grins without telling me his name, and then he backs off.

  I don't find it cute and mysterious that he didn't give me his name; it's rude and annoying. But he apologised.

  "Okay?" Mum asks.

  "Yep, I'm good."

  Where is Rocco?

  He's been gone ages. Or what feels like ages.

  FORTY-ONE

  * * *

  ROCCO

  The fair yesterday ended up being exactly what I thought it would be--a big fucking mistake. When I left to try and find the guy Bella thought was watching her, it all kicked off. I was gone fifteen minutes, scouring the whole damn field the fair was on, and her parents seemed to think that was me messing around.

  We couldn't tell them why I was gone, but fifteen minutes was too long for a piss, so an accusation of cheating was thrown around. I don't know if I was more insulted that they thought I would ever look at another woman or that I could be done in fifteen minutes.

  I couldn't find the guy she'd described, and she eventually calmed down and admitted that she had just felt spooked and that it could have been random. He might have been looking at someone else entirely. Fucking perfect.

  She folds her arms. "I don't know what to do now. Mum apologised, but--"

  "Your parents are unbelievable, Isabella!" I snap, slamming the kitchen cupboard.

  Erin has just tried to call Bella again, but she cancelled the call and switched her phone to silent. It's currently lighting up with another phone call.

  How fucking dare they assume shit just because I was longer than expected.

  She sighs. "I know. I'm not exactly jumping for joy here either. Hey, do you think you could stop slamming things and pacing, so we can talk?"

  "No," I growl.

  I'm pissed off, and I want to fucking punch something.

  Why can't I have a fight today? I would win big.

  "Rocco," she pleads.

  I close my eyes and take a breath and then another. "I'm sorry, Bella."

  When I open them again, I see her eyes are filled with tears.

  Jesus.

  "You don't need to be sorry. They do. I don't want to go home."

  "I don't want you to go home either, but you don't have much here, so you should pack a bag. I can make some space, not that my stuff is taking much room."

  Her mouth stretches into a big smile. "Are you asking me to move in?"

  "I don't see where else you're going to go."

  "My grandparents'."

  "Would you rather live with your grandparents?" I ask, calling her bluff.

  "Maybe. They have Sky TV."

  I roll my eyes. Damn telly addict.

  "We can get Sky TV."

  "Ah, you want me to live with you."

  My God, she really thinks she's being cute when she's doing this shit. Never did I think I would have a relationship, but I always figured, if I did, it would be with someone easy. Isabella is the definition of difficult.

  "Yes," I spit through my teeth, glowering at her.

  "Aw. Well, since your proposition was so beautiful and heartfelt, how can I resist? I'll go to my parents' place tomorrow and pick up a few things. For tonight, I'll need to borrow a T-shirt for bed."

  "You're not wearing anything in bed, and when you get up, you steal my clothes anyway."

  "Yeah, and I kinda hate myself for that. I never wanted to be one of those women, you know?"

  Shaking my head, I reply, "No, I really don't know."

  I wonder what it's like to be her, to be inside her head twenty-four/seven. How fucking exhausting.

  To think, in the beginning, I wanted to know her mind better. How naive was I back then?

  "Well, it's dumb, and now, I'm one of them."

  "Then, don't wear my T-shirts!" Why is this even an issue?

  She pouts and bats her eyelids. "But I want to."

  Don't kick her out. You love her. You love her, and you want her here.

  Maybe as time passes, I'll get more used to the constant flow of crap that comes out of her mouth. Or I'll just learn to switch off to it.

  Either of them will do.

  "Isabella, I'm going to have a shower."

  "Want a hand?" she asks mischievously, wiggling her eyebrows.

  I walk off, but my body responds to an offer that I'm almost sure wasn't a joke, and I start to get hard. Stopping in my tracks, I shout over my shoulder, "Get your clothes off, Bella!"

  * * *

  Three months. That is how long I've known Bella for.

  Shouldn't you take your first relationship slowly?

  In three months, we've met and fallen in love, and today, she's moving in. That's fast, potentially too fast, but I have no experience of what an appropriate time line is. And I don't think she does either. So, fuck it.

  We'll figure it all out as we go, or we'll kill each other. But dying together is considered romantic now, based on some of the shit Bella watches.

  I'm going to have to put up with a lot more TV as well as the unstoppable talking of whatever random crap she's thinking at the time.

  I can't bring myself to dread it. I want her with me permanently. In three months, she's become everything, and I love her so fucking much that, sometimes, I feel like I'm suffocating.

  God, I've been watching too much of her shitty TV programmes, too.

  Before I can go get a beer, because I need to do something manly, my doorbell rings.

  "It's me, dickhead. Open up!" Ellis shouts.

  I open the door. "What do you want?"

  "She's moving in?"

  "What? How do you know that?" I ask, moving aside, as he decides he's coming in.

  I follow him into the kitchen where he opens my fridge and grabs two beers.

  You read my mind, man.

  "She called me."

  He hands the beer over, and I almost drop it.

  "She did what?"

  "Don't have a heart attack," he replies. "You know she's only got eyes for you."

  "Why are you two talking on the phone?"

  "We're not allowed to be friends?"

  I frown. "No."

  Ellis laughs and drains about a quarter of the bottle. "Suck it up, buddy. You can't have her to yourself all the time. She told me her parents are dumb fucks, and now, she's living with you. What happened?"

  "First time I met them, they made it clear that I wasn't good enough," I say.

  "We know that. What else?"

  I give him the middle finger and continue, "We all decided to give it another go, and long story short, they accused me of cheating on her. They want her to be with someone like her sister's boyfriend."

  Ellis smirks. "Is he better than you?"

  "I'm close to wrapping this bottle around your fucking head."

  "No, you're not. Did you think meeting parents of a girl like Bella was going to go well?"

  "Nope. Bella's not like her parents though--lucky for me. I don't know what's going to happen now. She can't cut them out of her life, despite how angry she is and what she says, but they're never going to approve."

  "If they want a relationship with their daughter, they're going to have to learn how to back off."

  "Her mum will, I'm sure, but I'm not convinced about her dad. He really doesn't like me."

  "You are sleeping with his daughter."

  "And that preppy prick is sleeping with his other one, but he's accepted him with open arms."

  Ellis raises his eyebrow. "Ah, but you said it yourself, he's preppy. If you're really worried, you could pick up a few knit vests and--"

  "Not happening!"

  "Thought not. You're going to have to live with your bad boy rep and accept that her mummy and daddy will always think you're not good e
nough."

  "I don't give a shit what they think of me."

  "Well," he says, putting his beer down, "mark this date on the calendar. Rocco's in love, and he can only think of his girl. I'm proud of you, bro. It's a beautiful thing to see."

  "You should go now."

  "I don't think so." He picks his beer up and downs another quarter. "I want to talk about my problem now."

  "Put cream on it."

  He rolls his eyes. "Izzy wants us to be exclusive."

  "So do you. Where's the problem?"

  "Am I too young?"

  "You're almost a year older than me. You've been fucking around with Izzy for years, and the girl I've known for three months is moving in with me. Fuck off."

  "When you put it like that...hey, do you think maybe you and Bella are moving too fast?"

  "Yes, but I don't care."

  Putting the bottle down again, he runs his hands over his head and grips the back of his neck. "I thought it would be a long time before we had women troubles."

  "Yeah, I thought it would be never."

  "I thought you would be never. If it wasn't for the shagging around, I would've thought you were gay," he says.

  "Whatever. Are you done yet?"

  "I can't go, man. You only have a few hours of freedom left before you're living with your girlfriend."

  I wonder how she's getting on at her parents' house. If they're in, they're going to freak out. They will try to convince her to stay. I don't think she will. She's committed to this as much as I am.

  "And what do you think we're going to be doing? I'm not really gay, you know."

  "Funny, dickhead. I thought we could go out of town a bit to Bleu."

  "I'm not getting married, and I don't want to go to a strip club." And, since Bella, I've not wanted to look at another woman in that way.

  "What're you saying? Everyone wants to go to a strip club."

  Why won't he just leave?

  "Ellis, I'm not going anywhere. If I want to see someone dancing around naked, I'll give Bella a drink." One, because that's all it takes.

  "I don't think it's cute anymore--how loved up you are. Who's going to go there with me now? I love it at Bleu."

  "There are plenty of single guys around here. And attached or married guys with little to no morals. You'll find someone, I promise."

  "But I don't like any of them."

  "You should stop talking to Bella. You're starting to sound like her."

  "So...strip club?"

  "Fucking hell, Ellis!"

  Chuckling, he holds his hands up. "All right, I got it, you miserable fucker."

  Good.

  Hurry up, Bella.

  "Besides, Izzy would have your balls if she found out."

  Ellis frowns and takes a swig of beer. He's clearly struggling with his obvious feelings for her. Honestly, I never thought I would be happy to be with someone, but there is no comparison. The prick just needs to go for it.