Finding My Tattooed Soulmate

Close Encounters

*Nettie's POV*

"Get me a Snapple and Baked Lays!" Ky yells after me as I head into the Racetrac.

I make my way around the store, grabbing Ky's drink and my slushy first. I stare at the chips before me and reach out for the Baked Lays when another hand meets me.

"My bad sweetheart," the man says in a familiar sultry tone.

I look up, prepared to dismiss him before I realize.

"Darren?"

"Well if it isn't miss goody two shoes all grown up. And damn did you grow," he replies eyeing me.

I roll my eyes. "I see you haven't changed much, huh. What are you even doing here?" I question.

Before he could respond, another familiar voice comes from behind me. "Aye, you got everything?"

I turn around to be blessed by the man himself, Phillip Hayes.

"Nettie? Holy shit! Hey, how are you," he asks in surprise, immediately hugging me.

I swoon slightly in his arms, "I'm doing great. How are you?"

"Hell, I'm pretty damn good. Wow, I haven't seen you since graduation! You look amazing!"

"Thank you! You don't look too bad yourself," I reply, trying to keep my butterflies at bay.

"And what about me," Darren attempts to butt in again.

"We should totally catch up sometime. I'll be busy the next few weeks with wedding stuff, but definitely after that!" Phillip points out, ignoring Darren

Immediately, every butterfly in my stomach wilts. "Married? Wow. Congratulations!"

"Yeah, you should come! A bunch of our high school friends will be there, even Isaac. He's outside right now!"

The wilted butterflies turn into angry bats at the name. "I'd love to come, just send me the information."

As we began to exchange numbers, the door chimes as another person comes in. I look past Phillip to see Isaac holding the door as a little girl and her mom exits and he enters.

"It was great catching up with you two," I rushed, grabbing the bag of chips and heading towards checkout passing Isaac.

He doesn't recognize me as I duck past him and pay for the snacks. I slowly jog towards Ky as he places the nozzle back on its holder. As we settle into his car, I pass him his snacks and stare into the sideview mirror as Isaac, Darren, and Phillip leave too. Ky pulls off and I sigh deeply.

"What's wrong?"

"Just saw Darren, Phillip and Isaac"

"Really? DID ANY OF THEM HAVE YOUR TATTOO?"

"Pfft. As if. Darren was his usual flirtatious self, Phillip is getting married, and I just ran past Isaac so he wouldn't see me."

"Ha. Wouldn't it be funny if Isaac had your tattoo?"

"No, no it would not."

Ky continues to poke fun at me as I drift off into my own thoughts.

Universe, please do not make Isaac my soulmate.

*Phillip's POV*

Darren and I exit the car while Isaac pumps his gas. We both go in separate directions once we enter the store. I grab some cookies and chips before turning around to start filling some boxes with doughnuts while Darren grabs a case of beer and a couple waters. We place everything on the counter before Darren turns around to grab another bag of chips. As the cashier begins scanning, I hear Darren talking to what sounded like a female voice.

"One second," I tell the cashier.

I head towards the now confirmed sound of Darren talking to a woman. "Aye, you got everything?"

The woman turns around to reveal someone I haven't seen in years, Annette Hart.

"Nettie? Holy shit! Hey, how are you," I ask in surprise, immediately hugging her.

She beams brightly as she recognizes me. "I'm doing great. How are you?"

"Hell, I'm pretty damn good. Wow, I haven't seen you since graduation! You look amazing!"

"Thank you! You don't look too bad yourself," she replied.

"And what about me," Darren attempts to butt in again.

"We should totally catch up sometime. I'll be busy the next few weeks with wedding stuff, but definitely after that!" I point out, ignoring Darren.

I see her mood shift slightly, though still keeping some excitement. "Married? Wow. Congratulations!"

"Yeah, you should come! A bunch of our high school friends will be there, even Isaac. He's outside right now!"

"I'd love to come, just send me the information," she remarked.

As we began to exchange numbers, the door chimes as another person comes in. I see Nettie look behind me and immediately her mood drops even more.

"It was great catching up with you two," she rushed, grabbing the bag of chips and heading towards checkout.

Though she was quick, I took notice of the tattoo on her arm. It complimented her well but I couldn't help but feel like it looked familiar.

"We don't have all day slow pokes," Isaac complained.

We all head back up to checkout and head for the car. We make our way back to Isaac's.

"Nettie looked pretty fucking good," Darren mused, uncapping his beer.

"Nettie? As in Annette-Marie from high school Nettie?" Isaac questioned.

"Yeah, we see her at the Racetrac. She literally walked past you," I chipped in.

"That was Nettie? Damn...," Isaac trailed off in thought.

Suddenly, Darren began snickering which turned into a huge laughing fit.

"Care to share the joke?"

"Wha-wha-what if Nettie was your-your," he began laughing hysterically again, not even completing his sentence.

It became apparent to me what he was getting at and soon enough, I was laughing too while Isaac glared at us menacingly.

"Nettie is not my soulmate," Isaac growled.

"Dude, you were such an asshole to her. The universe is 100% gonna do that to you," I sneered.

"Universe, please do not make Nettie my soulmate."