Page 9

I roll my eyes as I jump onto my bed, burying my face in the pillows. “Do you have plans tonight?”

Kassian makes a humming noise but it sounds different than usual. He almost sounds nervous.

“Do you want to go out for ice cream?”

“Dude. Of course I want to go get ice cream with you. You don’t even have to ask.”

I turn on my side, looking over at Kassian. He’s looking anywhere but at me.

“Cool,” he finally says. “Get dressed and we’ll head out.”

Kassian dresses in a pair of skinny jeans and a cute, light purple cardigan. He’s put his hair up into a half-do, some of the long hair down against his back. It’s really pretty like that. It makes me wanna run my fingers through it.

I throw on a pair of jeans and a black shirt that says ‘what’s up dude’ on the front. Before we leave, I grab my hat, sliding it on my head backwards. We make our way out of the hotel and through the streets of the city.

The two of us chat about everything and nothing. The weather is gorgeous with a light breeze that keeps us cool. Just as we’re about to head into the ice cream shop, Kassian pauses.

“What’s up?”

“Nothing,” he says right away. “Just umm, have to tie my shoe. You go inside. I’ll wait for you out here.”

I look down at his shoes with a frown. “Kassian,” I say slowly, pointing down. “Your shoes don’t have laces.”

“Fuck,” he hisses out, covering his face. “Right. I just need a moment. Go on.”

I cross my arms over my chest. “If you’re upset about something, I’m not going to just leave you. What the fuck, bro?”

“It’s nothing! I promise!”

“Then tell me what’s going on.”

Kassian looks over my shoulder into the ice cream shop. I turn around and follow his gaze, seeing the guy we met yesterday inside, Dean. Then I look back at Kassian.

“Oh my gods,” I say slowly. “You’re trying to plan a meet-cute with Dean?”

Chapter Four

Dean

I stare up at the ceiling of my bedroom with wide eyes.

Images flash in my mind, replaying all the dreams I had last night. There was flashes of me answering the phone and talking to Hazel about getting ice cream with her tonight. There was the actual ice cream shop. I also saw myself catching a man in my arms who looked suspiciously like Nix from the coffee shop yesterday.

This is so baffling. I’ve grown so used to not remembering my dreams. Now that I can remember them, I feel strange. Like I’ve already lived today.

I turn onto my side and grab my phone just as it starts to ring. Even though I didn’t know the exact time Hazel would be calling, somehow, my body did.

“Good morning, baby girl,” I say, almost on autopilot.

“Dad! Hey, did I catch you at a good time?”

I hum into the phone. “Couldn’t have been better. What’s up?”

“Do you want to come with me to try a new ice cream place today?”

What would happen if I said no? Would I alter what I saw in the dreams? Are these things destined to always come true?

“Sure. Text me the place and time.”