Twisted Fate by Laura Dunaway Page B

sex life. Too open. I’d tried to tell her that so many times but had given up because she just didn’t care. If someone didn’t want to hear about it, they could leave, was her argument.  

    We reached my car and I tossed my stuff onto the passenger seat, then turned to face her. “I’m so glad you’re coming tomorrow. She’s invited a lot of people from her sorority, which will make it even crazier.”

    Trish rolled her eyes and shifted her feet. “Do you realize how lame her sorority is?”

    I nodded. “Trust me, yes. Out of all the ones she had the option of joining, I have no idea why she chose the one she did.”

    We said good-bye, and I hopped in my cute red Volkswagen Jetta that my father bought for me for my eighteenth birthday. When I had turned twenty-one a few months ago, he told me to choose a new car, but I didn’t want to part with my Jetta. I loved it too much. Daddy had been surprised but just smiled and got me round-trip tickets to Tahiti for when the semester was finished—with Kimberly, of course.

    I drove along the city streets and relished the freedom driving gave me. I loved being in fashion design school, pursuing my dream. I loved being old enough to live in my own apartment, free of my parents’ house and rules.

    I came from a big family, and while I adored them, I also needed my own space. My mother wasn’t thrilled when I announced I’d found an apartment a few miles away, but she knew not to argue. I was good about still going home for Sunday dinners and on some nights just to say hi. My younger sister Ava and I were very close, so more often than not, she’d be the main reason for me to visit.

    Taylor Swift was singing “Shake It Off” on the radio, and I turned it up, singing as loud as I could since nobody could hear me.   The light changed to red, forcing me to slam on my brakes a little harder than normal, which had me laughing in surprise. I looked over at the car next to me and felt a small jolt at the very cute guy in the passenger seat of a black Corvette. He gave me a wink and a smile, making me blush and turn my head. Just as the light turned green, I looked back over and saw he was still staring at me. I pushed hard on the gas, making my tires squeal a little as I accelerated out of there.

    I pulled into the Starbucks parking lot, getting ready to settle in for a few hours of studying with my favorite latte. I grabbed my bag and headed in, loving the scent of hazelnut and coffee that surrounded me. The girl at the register smiled, recognizing me as a regular.  

    Once I had my mocha latte, I found a place in the corner and set my stuff down. I fell into one of the chairs and sat back for a few minutes, looking around. A couple was sitting at the table next to me, obviously studying, but holding hands over the table as they read their textbooks.  

    I’d just set my cup down and bent over to get my laptop out of my bag when a weird sensation trickled down the back of my neck. Staying bent over but looking up, I looked around, but nothing seemed out of the ordinary. Telling myself it was just my imagination, I set my laptop on the table and powered it up.  

    When the screen lit up, I clicked on my school’s website and signed in, sighing at the fact I had so much studying to do. Taking another sip of my latte, I clicked on one of my classes and re-read the assignment that was due the next day.  

    Just as I was finishing reading, the weird sensation of being watched came over me again. Jerking my head to the left, a guy wearing all black and a black beanie suddenly turned away from me and walked out the door. Knowing he was the reason for my unease, I watched him through the shop’s window as he climbed into an older-looking car, looking back at me. As the car sped away, I caught a glimpse of striking white hair in the backseat, and couldn’t shake the feeling they had been there for me.

Chapter 3

    I got back to my cabin and shook my head. This was