Twists of Fate

Chances

I finally got home around 4 a.m., my feet aching with every step. I crawled up the stairs to my apartment door, fumbling for my keys. Once inside, I tossed my bag aside, ran straight to my bed, and buried myself under my covers. Before I knew it, I was out cold.

The next thing I felt was sunlight blazing through my window, waking me up. "What time is it?" I thought groggily. I reached for my phone, only to find it dead—I hadn't charged it last night. Rolling over, I plugged it in, then dragged myself into the kitchen. The clock on my oven read 12:30 p.m. Thankfully, I hadn't overslept and still had a bit of time before my next shift.

My part-time job at Nebbiolo, a cozy winery restaurant, didn't start until 6 p.m., so I was in no rush. The place only serves dinner, so I have time during the day to relax and feel somewhat normal. I went back to check my phone and found a few messages from Summer, but nothing from Derek. Weird, I thought.

Curious and feeling a bit restless, I decided to FaceTime Summer, hoping she'd be up for a casual lunch. She answered, still in bed, her voice sleepy. "Hey, girl."

"Hey!" I replied. "Want to grab brunch? We can hit up that diner near your place—no need to get all dressed up, just sweats and a T-shirt."

"Sounds good. Give me 30 minutes," she said, but I knew it'd really be an hour.

I tried not to think too much about Derek and definitely wasn't going to reach out to him, not after last night. Shaking it off, I turned on the hot water and stepped into the shower, letting it soothe my sore muscles. I threw on some black leggings and an oversized college sweatshirt, did a little turn to check out my reflection, and snapped a quick picture to post on Snap.

Just as I finished, I heard a knock on my door.

"Who is it?" I called out.

"It's Jamal," came the reply.

I opened the door to find Jamal leaning casually against the doorframe, a playful smile lighting up his face. His eyes roamed over me, taking in my post-night-out look, from the messy hair to the oversized sweatshirt.

"Rough night?" he asked, a glint of curiosity in his eyes.

I laughed, running a hand through my hair. "Yeah, something like that. But it was worth it—I made $5k last night," I said, flashing him a proud smile.

He whistled, clearly impressed. "Damn, girl! You're killing it out here. What's the plan for today? Treating yourself to something nice?"

I shrugged, leaning against the door. "I was thinking about grabbing brunch with Summer. Just something low-key to unwind a bit before I have to head to my other job later."

He nodded, that approving look on his face that always made me feel seen. "Well, let me know if you need company for anything. I'm off today, so I'm free if you want someone to help you spend that cash," he joked, grinning wider.

I rolled my eyes, laughing. "Oh, so that's why you're here so early—trying to get in on my payday, huh?"

He chuckled, holding up his hands in mock surrender. "Nah, nah! Just trying to hang with my favorite neighbor, that's all."

I raised an eyebrow, still smiling. "Uh-huh. I'll think about it. Maybe I'll catch you after brunch."

He nodded, glancing down the hall like he was already thinking of an excuse to come back. "Alright, I'll hold you to that. Don't be a stranger today," he said with a wink before heading back toward his apartment.

I shut the door with a smile, feeling my mood lift. Jamal always had that effect on me—just enough charm to brighten my day a little more. I grabbed my bag and headed out, ready to meet up with Summer and make the most of this day.