FATE - can a person in one lifetime fall in love with the same person twice?

Chapter 37

I met people from all over the country, and I wasn’t expecting such a large crowd. But there they were, filling the venue for my very first book signing event. It was a bit overwhelming, but in a good way. I think that’s why the turnout surprised me—it felt surreal to see so many faces eager to meet me.

By the time the event was over and I had said my goodbyes and promised to hold another one soon, it was already past midnight. After grabbing a quick dinner, I finally made my way home.

The house was quiet when I got there. My parents had already gone to bed, and the entire place was dark, save for the soft glow of streetlights streaming in from outside. I made my way upstairs to my room. It was pitch black, but I didn’t feel like switching on the main light. Instead, I turned on the light inside my closet, just enough to grab my favorite pajamas—well, not exactly pajamas, but an oversized t-shirt, the comfiest one I owned. After a quick shower, I slipped into the shirt, leaving out the bottoms.

I didn’t bother drying my hair—I was far too exhausted for that. All I wanted was the comfort of my bed. I collapsed onto it, but instead of the soft embrace of my quilt, I landed on something hard. It was so unexpected that I froze for a second, confused.

Before I could react, whatever was under the quilt shifted and twisted around me, pulling me down onto the bed as the quilt flew into the air. My heart raced as I tried to process what was happening. Was it a ghost? My mind screamed to yell for help, but before I could make a sound, a hand clamped over my mouth.

It was so dark, I couldn’t see who—or what—had me pinned. My body tensed, and my breath caught in my throat as I struggled to make sense of what, or who, was under the quilt with me.

I was almost certain it had to be a thief. Why didn’t I just turn on the lights? Summoning all the courage I had, I thrust my knee into the figure pressing down on me.

“OUCH!” a voice cried out, followed by the release of the hand over my mouth. The voice sounded familiar. I quickly pulled the quilt off us, squinting to make out the face of my unexpected intruder. The faint light coming in from my window helped me finally recognize him.

“What the hell?” I demanded, pushing him off and sitting up on my bed.

“It’s me,” he said, now sitting across from me on the bed.

“I know it’s you, Mr. Eden Miller,” I replied, irritation mixing with confusion. “What are you doing here?”

He sighed, looking at me with a hint of exasperation. “You weren’t answering my calls or texts, so I came over,” he explained.

“And that gives you the right to sneak into my room?” I asked, looking away, still half-annoyed and half-relieved.

“Your parents asked me to stay the night,” he replied with a smirk, “and I couldn’t exactly say no to them.”

“Oh,” I said, my annoyance ebbing slightly.

“Yes,” he replied, clearly amused by my reaction.

"Go to the guest room!" I snapped.

"They told me to stay here-in your room," he replied, a hint of defiance in his tone.

"Fine," I said, getting up. "Then I'll go to another room."

But before I could stand, he grabbed my wrist and pulled me closer. "Let go," I protested, trying to twist my hand free with my other one. But it was no use. He tightened his grip, catching my other wrist and pushing me back onto the bed. My back hit the mattress, my hands pinned on either side of my head, and he hovered over me, his knees braced by my thighs, keeping him balanced above me.