A Touch of Fate (BWWM)

11 | Decisions

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Garrett

Garrett had walked over to the pier by Monday morning. He had worked nonstop since sunrise, and he had a restless night's sleep because of his inability to settle down his racing thoughts. Things didn't go his way on Sunday. He went back to Imani's house, even more determined than before, only to find that no one was home. After waiting for what felt like decades, he eventually decided that the neighbor was about to take drastic action, either involving the authorities or resorting to violence. And just like that, he left.

Why on Earth had Mani been hanging out in his grandfather's room? And why didn't his grandpa mention anything about her visit?

That question weighed heavily on his mind throughout the day, but he couldn't muster the nerve to ask Eugene. As he nailed the last panel, the sun fell beyond the horizon. Garrett gently wiped away the sweat from his temples using a damp towel. Exhaustion, dirt, and fervent thirst completely overwhelmed him. After returning the towel to the waterfront, he wandered over to the fridge in the boathouse.

He had stocked up the day before and grabbed a water bottle, taking a long pull before heading back out to take a look at his handiwork. The aroma of dirt and newly cut lumber mixed with the undeniable scent of fall filling the air. As he gazed at the lake, he noticed the trees had shifted their hues, hinting at a forthcoming picturesque transformation in the scenery. Instead of green, the colors would burst forth in a vibrant display of reds, oranges, and yellows.

As he took a big sip of his water, Garrett watched an elegant white pelican gracefully skim across the water before disappearing into the forest.

"Pelicans," he murmured. A knot formed in his throat at the sight of more pelicans; he hadn't seen any in years. He missed spending time outdoors like he did as a child because he was too busy working in Washington, D.C. As a grown-up, he had a great fondness for outdoor activities consisting of jogging, skiing, swimming, and hiking. Nevertheless, his life took an unexpected twist. Because of his reliance on gym time for his workout, he had become disconnected from the beauty of the natural world.

As he stood on the port, soaking up the midday sun and observing the gentle sway of the trees, the capital of the United States felt incredibly distant.

After putting in a solid eight hours of work, Garrett finished his water bottle and casually dropped it in the recycling bin. He thought that a nice half-hour dip in the hot tub would work miracles on his sore body.

As he got ready to clean up, he noticed someone heading towards the boathouse. To get a clearer view, Garrett had to strain his eyes.

He said, "Fuckin' hell," as he cautiously stepped around the loose panels. Once he climbed the stairs, he found himself on the upper deck. Without hesitation, he strode over to the man and embraced him tightly. The response was the same—for precisely two seconds—before the newcomer slapped him on the back and shoved him aside, a broad smile spreading across his face.

"Beaumont, Jesus Christ. Please don't get too cozy with me. When did you suddenly start letting your emotions define your actions?"

Garrett couldn't believe what he was hearing and instinctively took a step back. Ramón Ramirez. This man was his closest friend since they were kids, and they kept in touch often, exchanging messages at least once a week, until recently. Then, however, real life interfered. He became completely absorbed in his work after he lost contact with his friend.

He grinned, taking in every detail. Ramón still had bushy locks and a few fresh tattoos, but other than that, he looked pretty much the same. The tall, slender man, who used to play quarterback for Louisiana State University, got released from the team. The fact that he survived long enough to win State was alarming. His unconventional nature and refusal to comply had always set him apart from the rest of their circle of friends. But Ramón was the type of friend you wanted by your side during difficult circumstances.