Misinterpreting Fate (Book 2)

Bonus Chapter

Hey everyone! It's been so many years since I finished writing this book, but Sam had one more thing he wanted to share with everybody as a Christmas surprise. I hope everyone has a happy holiday and a good 2025!

This takes place when Sam is 26.

Enjoy!

I gripped the car door with one hand and my seat with the other as Ryan drove far too quickly down the snow-covered street. We were either going to die trying to get to my sister's or be late. I wasn't sure which would be worse.

"We should have left earlier," I said over the Christmas music playing on the radio.

"Are you saying I shouldn't have wanted to have sex with my fiancé on Christmas morning?" Ryan asked with a laugh.

Fiancé. Even though we got engaged almost two years ago, I still couldn't believe we were actually going to get married soon. He was my best friend and the love of my life. There was no one else I'd rather be with.

"We didn't have time!" I countered.

"That's not what you were saying an hour ago when you were begging for more."

I rolled my eyes. "I didn't know it was snowing already."

"We're fine, hun," he said, resting his hand on my knee. "We'll be there in a few minutes."

As much as I liked having his hand on me, he needed both hands on the wheel, so I pushed it away. Thankfully, he didn't comment and just returned his hand to its rightful spot. I was not going to let us die on Christmas morning.

Just like he promised, we were pulling up to Amy's house a few minutes later. Exactly on time, even though we were the last ones here. So, basically still late. I already knew everyone was waiting on us to start opening the presents and the kids were probably getting impatient.

I all but jumped out of the car the moment Ryan parked, running around to the trunk to grab our presents. Ryan and I may have gone a little overboard on the gifts this year... Why did we get so many?

Between the two of us, we managed to carry them all inside in one trip, which was good. The snow was getting worse and I didn't want either of us to have to come back outside.

I followed Ryan into the house, immediately hearing my family's excited chatter coming from the living room upstairs. We hadn't all been together since Thanksgiving and I missed them. Family gatherings were always so much fun.

But, as I passed by the downstairs bathroom, I heard a muffled sob. I stopped next to the door, which was slightly ajar, and heard another one. I immediately knew exactly who it was.

Ryan was already heading up the stairs with his two large bags of gifts, but I didn't follow. I couldn't just keep walking and let my little sister cry alone in the bathroom. So I set down the box of gifts I'd been carrying and softly knocked on the door.

"Hey, Ree?"I called gently. "It's me. You okay in there?"

She sniffled and muttered something I couldn't hear. For a second, I thought she might tell me to go away, but then she pulled open the door and I gasped.

Covering the entire sink were chunks of what had been her long, blonde hair. It used to fall halfway down her back, but now, it was cut nearly to her scalp. I didn't care if she decided to cut her hair or not, what shocked me the most was the fact that her eyes were red and puffy from crying. She was clearly in so much pain; it hurt to see her that way.

I stepped into the bathroom with her and shut the door behind me as I pulled her into a hug. At fifteen years old, she was almost the same height as me and I wondered not for the first time how she was so grown up already. Although she'd never stop being my little sister.