The Definition of Fate

Chapter 32

"Love me slowly,"

she whispered,

like the love I had

for her, had limits.

Like it could run out
as easily as a grain
of time.
I could tell, by the
sound of fear in her lungs,
that she had a terrible past.
The kind that no one talks
about, the kind that remains
bottled up inside of you,
slowly and quietly,
killing everything
in your bones.

- Christopher Poindexter

"Is that everything?" Jordan calls as I throw a few sleeping bags into the back of Josh's truck, recruited from retirement to haul all of our crap into the woods for the weekend.

"I think so," I say, trying to remember if I packed toilet paper. Leaves do not do the job very efficiently as I learned the hard way.

Chloe approaches the two of us, her hands on her hips. "I still don't think you should go."

We haven't talked since she exploded on me after I got faint last week; I've been trying to steer clear of her, not wanting to make her any angrier, and she hasn't apologized for being so aggressive.

"Good thing I can make decisions for myself," I grumble. "I'm fine, Chlo. I swear."

Maybe not fine, but I am better. I took it easy this week at work and tried to get more sleep, and I do feel better. I think I was just tired and overwhelmed. It won't happen again, and if anything, a weekend with my closest friends will help, not hurt.

Chloe rolls her eyes at me. "I think you're making a mistake."

"So you've said."

"I'm sure arguing about it doesn't help," Jordan says. "Both of you, shut up. We're going camping, and it's going to be a blast. And even though this is our first weekend without the kids and Luis and I could have had our own tent, we invited you numbskulls along, so don't complain."

Josh and Luis approach the three of us after loading the firewood and packing the food and tents. I am way too excited about eating a mountain pie right now.

"We ready, babe?" Luis asks, kissing Jordan on the temple.

"Yep. Rach, are you riding with Josh in the truck?"

"Sure. Chloe, are you coming with us, or..."

Chloe rolls her eyes again. "That truck isn't made for more than two people. I'll ride with the old married couple."

I can't say I'll miss her company; I want to actually enjoy the ride to the campground. Josh and I go to either side of his old truck and climb in, the smell of pine already filling the cab.

"You ready?" Josh asks, smiling at me.

I don't respond for a moment, taking him in. A faded navy baseball cap rests on his head, his dark hair escaping beneath it and curling around his ears, and he wears a heavy flannel and a pair of holey jeans. His eyes, clear, crystalline blue, still pull me in just as much as they did the day we met.

I lean across the center console and catch Josh's face with my hand, his beard scratching my soft palm. I kiss him softly, letting the tingle of our touch wash through me. "I'm ready."

Josh grins at me, but before we can start making out, Luis pulls beside us in his minivan and honks, yelling, "Knock it off, kids. Let's go."

Josh pulls the truck behind Luis and we head for the interstate. The old truck doesn't have much life in it and struggles to gain speed before settling into a rumbling 55 MPH.