by Keelan Storm
Finding Fate
Finding Fate
FIRST IN THE TIED BY FATE SERIES
KEELAN STORM
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
Copyright © 2020 by Jaiten Press
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or used in any manner without written permission of the copyright owner except for the use of quotations in a book review. For more information, address: [email protected]
First paperback edition June 2020
ISBN 978-1-7349695-1-1 (paperback)
ISBN 978-1-7349695-0-4 (ebook)
www.keelanstorm.com
This book contains adult/mature young adult situations.
To my dear friends, Kristan and Julie, for all of your time, feedback, and patience during my obsession of building my dear characters and their journey.
Table of Contents
Prologue
Chapter 1: Unexpected Interest
Chapter 2: The Promise
Chapter 3: First Date
Chapter 4: Afternoon Out
Chapter 5: Confessions
Chapter 6: Ruined Intentions
Chapter 7: Overreaction
Chapter 8: Reaching Izzy
Chapter 9: Boundaries Be Damned
Chapter 10: Just the Way You Are
Chapter 11: Reunion
Chapter 12: Drawing Attention
Chapter 13: Nacho Betrayal
Chapter 14: Confirmation
Chapter 15: The Talk
Chapter 16: Calling Him Out
Chapter 17: Interrupted
Chapter 18: Flutter
Chapter 19: Confrontations
Chapter 20: Communicating
Chapter 21: Birthday
Chapter 22: Decisions
Chapter 23: Heart to Heart
Chapter 24: Loophole
Chapter 25: Circle of Trust
Chapter 26: Homecoming
Chapter 27: The End of It
Chapter 28: Pressure
Chapter 29: Breaking
Chapter 30: A Father’s Gift
Chapter 31: Finding Izzy
He grabbed her shoulders, his strong fingers gripping her tightly, but not actually causing pain. “Don’t you think I regret that?!” His face was pained, his voice filled with ferocity. Not at Isabel, but at himself. Even with that recognition, his severity still caused her to cringe.
Prologue
“Maybe I just prefer not to listen to guys who make things up because they’re jealous!” she retorted and stomped off to find her date.
He scrubbed a hand up into his hair, gripping with a tight pull, and stormed in the opposite direction. How had he screwed that up so badly? He’d be lucky if she spoke to him within a month at this rate.
“But by then it’ll be too late,” he realized, knowing he had to do something.
He turned, hoping to still catch her as he scanned the room, but she was already gone. Running outside, he saw her date’s Mustang pulling out onto the main road.
“Damn it,” he growled, both hands going up to grip his hair as he paced back and forth. Determined, he tried texting her, but stubborn as ever, she ignored him. He growled in frustration, smacking his hand against the wall. “I have to fix this!”
His best friend then joined him at his side, shoving his keys into his hand. “Then go.”
He nodded and raced for the car. Doubt gnawed at him as he rushed across town, not sure if she’d let him explain, but he couldn’t let it go, not after what that jerk had said tonight.
Finally, slowing down and trying to gather his thoughts, he pulled up to the sound of her scream. With fear clutching him, and all thoughts out the window, he sprinted and burst through the door.
1
Unexpected Interest
Earbuds in and music blaring in her ears, Isabel danced as she swept the back patio, working on moves she wanted to have prepared for dance camp that summer. The sun was warm, but not yet too hot for late May in Texas, and the slight breeze was just enough to keep the sweat from rolling down her skin. She caught movement from the corner of her eye and turned, pulling her earbuds from her ears as her sister opened the back door.
“Hey,” Annie leaned out in her solid red lifeguard one piece. “Mom took Tyler to the store, and I’m headed to work. You need the truck for anything today?”
Isabel shook her head. “No, but if you’ll hang on a minute, I’ll ride down there with you.” She’d been aching for some time at the beach.
Annie nodded. “Alright, but you’ve seriously got to be ready in like five minutes, or I’ll be late.”
“As if I’m ever late,” Isabel grinned as she propped the broom by the door and ran upstairs.
Annie rolled her bright, green eyes. “You’re the definition of late!” she yelled up after her. “Seriously, Izzy! Five minutes!”
Ten minutes later, Annie was tapping her foot, her arms crossed, as Izzy finally dashed back down the stairs.
“I know! I know! Sorry!” Isabel supplied at her sister’s glare.
* * *
Tucker watched from his lifeguard chair, careful to keep an eye on the water full of people as the twins’ old, faded blue Ford pickup swung in and sputtered to a quick halt. Annie jumped out and immediately dashed for the chair next to his, her ponytail flopping as she ran.
Normally, Tucker would have turned to greet his friend as she climbed into the chair, but his gaze fixated on the long, pale legs that swung out from the other side. He swallowed, transfixed as Izzy stepped out of the truck, the ocean breeze blowing her dark brown hair back from her shoulders to reveal creamy white, un-tanned skin. An unexplainable chill ran up his spine.
“Hey, Tucker,” Annie smiled, “Has there been any action today?”
Tucker jumped a little, praying she hadn’t realized what action he’d been nearly thinking about. “Huh?” he mumbled as he ran his fingers through his sandy, blonde hair, pulling the wind-blown strands away from his face.
“Has there been any action today? You know, someone drifting out too far, a surfer wiping out on a wave, someone drowning…” Annie elaborated as she slapped on sunscreen and sunglasses.
Tucker scrambled to gather his thoughts as he turned his eyes away from the parking lot, his suntanned forehead creasing in concentration as he searched for the correct response. “Uh…no, no action today.”
Annie looked at him with curiosity as she set the sunscreen aside. “What’s with you? You seem kinda out of it.”
“Nothing. I, uh, I guess I’ve been out in the heat a little too long. My shift’s up soon, though. I’ll make sure to get some water.”
“Okay…,” Annie replied, giving him an ‘I’m not sure if I believe you’ look. “Who’s on duty when you get off?”
Trying to remove the awkwardness from the conversation, Tucker casually stretched his nicely toned muscles before he responded. “I think that new guy Wesley has the next shift. He should be here any minute.”
Annie sighed. “Hmmm… it sucks that we don’t have the same shift more often. The other lifeguards are always too busy scoping out people for possible dates on the beach to have much of an interesting conversation with…except for Emma. She’s okay. Anyway, it gets kind of annoying.”
“You only think it’s annoying because you’re with Jet. If you were single like the rest of us, you would probably pay a little more attention to who’s looking fine out on the beach. The view’s actually pretty nice.”
“Like Izzy.” The thought slipp
ed in without warning. He shook his head, shocked, and wondered where it came from. Izzy had been one of his best friends for years. He didn’t see her like that. “Don’t go looking for trouble,” he told himself.
Annie rolled her eyes. “Maybe so, but at least it’s not all you talk about.”
Tucker laughed, forcing his brain back to a safer conversation. “That’s just because I know better. I’ve known you long enough to know what annoys the crap out of you.”
“Hey, Annie. Hey, Tucker,” Wesley called from below. “Sorry I’m a few minutes late, man. I ran into this really hot chick on my way over. She had a very nice personality...” he stressed to Tucker.
“Yeah,” Tucker said as he climbed down from the towering chair. “Saw quite a few nice personalities myself today.” Once on the ground, he turned to Annie and took a few steps backward, ready to head out after a long shift. “I’m gonna run over to Waves for a drink. I’ll see you later.”
“Alright,” Annie replied as she waved him a goodbye, her eyes searching the beach. “Hey, no throwing the sand!” she screamed down at some children near the water.
* * *
Isabel grabbed her bright pink folding chair and colorful, flip flop print, beach tote from the bed of the old Ford. She turned to look at the beach, her eyes skimming the light, golden colored sand for an open space away from flying volleyballs.
“Hey, Izzy, are you lost?! Haven’t seen you around here in a while,” a familiar tenor voice called out from behind her.
She turned around, rolling her eyes at her friend as she grinned. “Ha, ha, very funny, Jet,” Isabel remarked as her sister’s boyfriend strolled up next to her at a casual pace, wearing his usual khaki shorts, Hawaiian print shirt, and flip flops ensemble. She’d been dying to update his wardrobe for years.
He had just popped a piece of spearmint gum into his mouth and held out the pack to offer her one. She smiled a thank you and folded it into her mouth, throwing the wrapper in her bag. “Just thought I’d get in some beach time when I don’t have to babysit,” she told him.
“Jeez, Izzy… don’t complain. Your job is lying around all day playing with little kids every summer while the rest of us slave away at real jobs. If you resent babysitting so much, maybe I should tell my mom to check into daycare prices…” Jet said as he winked one of his ocean blue eyes at her to let her know he was teasing.
“Annie’s at work, I take it?” he then asked. She nodded. “Right. Maybe I’ll get to see her tomorrow then. I had a split shift today.” Isabel looked up at her sister’s boyfriend. His short, black waves disheveled with the breeze, and his dark Grecian skin made darker from his time in the sun. He was cute, but she and Annie definitely had different tastes.
Isabel shook her head. “Why don’t we go out tonight? It’s teen night at Benton Hall, remember?”
“Ah, dancing,” Jet grinned mischievously, “My girlfriend’s biggest foe. Sounds like a plan.”
“Awesome,” she grinned in return.
“Yeah, I’ve gotta run, though, or I’ll be late for work. See if you can convince Annie to wear something nice!”
She gave him a look at his odd request, but Jet just winked and took off. “Interesting…” she thought as she stepped onto the beach, letting her toes sink into the sand. She pondered what it might entail as she found a safe spot to relax, spotting Tucker already talking to what had to be a couple of tourist girls not too far away. She gave him a quick wave, ignoring the weird twinge in her gut, and unfolded her chair to settle into her latest paranormal romance novel.
* * *
“Anyway, here’s my number,” the curvy redhead said flirtatiously as she typed the digits into Tucker’s phone. “I’m here through the weekend.” He nodded, his attention diverted as Izzy waved, and shoved the phone back in his pocket.
“I’ll give you a call,” he said with his practiced ladies’ man smile. Her friend started to drag the girl away. Feeling strangely grateful, Tucker headed towards Izzy.
She was completely absorbed in her book by the time he reached her. He stood back a few feet at first, not wanting to disturb her, his mind wandering to consider the twins.
Striking features with emerald eyes and long brunette hair, they had the same short tempers, and both were crazy smart, stubborn as hell, and loyal to a fault. You couldn’t deny that they were identical, but he’d never be able to mistake them. It was crazy how different the girls could be if you knew them.
Annie was a tomboy, athletic, tan, and raring to go. She could talk to anyone and wasn’t afraid to tell you exactly what she thought. Izzy, however, was a girly girl with creamy white skin that you’d almost never catch without makeup. She could stand her ground, but was mostly reserved unless you got her on the dance floor.
Tucker grinned inwardly at the thought. She definitely wasn’t a party girl, but she could out-dance every person he knew. She could also out-burn all the redheads in his family if she wasn’t careful.
Noticing the slight pink tinge already forming on her shoulders, Tucker finally got her attention. “Hey, Izzy, I think you forgot your sunscreen.”
Startled, she jumped to find Tucker’s cocky grin staring down at her from well over six feet above. Her heart skittered, at the surprise of course. She refused to entertain any other reasons. She loved her friend to death, but she was pretty sure he’d always be a ladies man. That was trouble she did not need.
“Not funny, Tucker,” she scolded. “Don’t sneak up on me like that.”
He just grinned wider. “No, seriously, you’re starting to burn.”
“Crap,” she muttered, looking down at her shoulders. She reached for her sunscreen and swung her legs off the chair and onto the hot but comforting sand so he could sit next to her.
Tucker took the offered seat, hoping she wouldn’t notice his body’s reaction to watching her silky, white legs. “What is with me today? It’s just Izzy. I see her all the time. Maybe I am a little overheated,” he thought.
She started rubbing the lotion into those legs, and he swallowed… hard. “Got any water?” he asked roughly.
She glanced at him, “Yeah, there’s a couple in the bag.” He grabbed one and was halfway through sucking it down when Izzy turned, pulling her hair aside to reveal creamy, lightly freckled shoulders and asked, “Hey, could you get my back? I’ll probably burn just walking back to the truck later if I don’t get it.” It took all Tucker had not to choke on his water.
“Um, yeah,” he cleared his throat and grabbed the lotion. For all his skills and practice with girls, he’d never felt more awkward. This was Izzy, yet every bit of male inside him was keenly aware of her skin under his touch. He shook his head, trying to regain focus as he realized Izzy had been talking.
“But hey, I talked to Jet a few minutes ago. We agreed on Benton Hall for tonight. You need to be there in case there’s no good dance partners.”
Tucker grinned, “Yes, ma’am, but you know you could train a few other guys to dance well, too.”
She shrugged. “I’ve tried. You’re the best.”
Strangely, his chest swelled at that, along with a certain part of his anatomy as his mind flipped to an image of her dancing against him.
He shot up, tossing the sunscreen down. Izzy looked up at him, startled. “You should be good,” he said, his eyes quickly scanning the beach for an escape. He spotted a few of the guys from school starting a volleyball game nearby. “Catch you later, Izzy,” he said, taking off.
She waved and laid back with her book, choosing not to dwell on Tucker’s odd behavior. He’d be sure to have a girl on his arm by tonight anyway.
2
The Promise
“You’ve got to be kidding me,” Annie protested when she saw the dress laid across her bright orange comforter.
“No, I’m not kidding,” Izzy replied as she continued sifting through her closet. “Jet told me to convince you to dress up a little.”
“B
ut why?” Annie asked, exasperated. “He knows I hate wearing dresses.”
“I don’t know why,” Izzy said as she pulled three dresses out, holding them up in front of the mirror as she contemplated her own ensemble. “I can give you a skirt instead, but honestly, sis, that’s the most Annie dress I have. It’s even got sunflowers! I probably bought it subconsciously just for an occasion like this. I can’t even remember wearing it before.”
“Just because it has sunflowers doesn’t mean I like it.”
“I can give you one like this instead then…”
Annie glanced over to see a short, sparkly number and scowled, scooping up the less ostentatious sundress instead. “Fine, but you’re not touching my hair, and I’m wearing flip flops,” she declared as she yanked it over her head.
Isabel smirked, pleased with the small victory, and started working on an over the shoulder braid before doing her makeup. She’d only just finished when the doorbell rang.
“Crap, I didn’t want to be late today,” she frowned, too curious about what Jet was up to.
Annie shook her head, slipping into her favorite pair of flip flops. “Not unexpected,” she replied. “I’m gonna go let the guys in.”
* * *
Jet leaned against the railing as Tucker took a seat on the Dearly’s porch swing. “How long do you think we’ll be waiting this time?” he asked.
Jet shrugged. “The usual.”
“Got it!” he heard his girlfriend call from inside.
“Maybe less,” he smirked.
The door yanked open seconds later, and Annie sprung into Jet’s arms. “Hey, babe!”
He hugged her back. “You look pretty.”
“Yeah, don’t get used to this,” she poked his chest, pretending to frown.
He grinned. “Noted. Come on, it’s just you and me for a bit. You mind waiting for Izzy, man?” he looked back at his friend.
“Uh no, it’s fine,” Tucker said, surprised. They usually rode together. He watched them walk next door to Jet’s old Mustang when the door opened again.
