Chasing Destiny Read Free Page A

cereal,” she replied, looking up from her laptop.
    “That’s like a snack. Come on, get dressed. Or don’t,” I said, looking at her exposed long legs. “I like the short shorts.”
    She glared at me, but cracked a smile. “Give me a minute.”
    I winked and closed the door. I really liked Kristin. When I’d first met her, she was reserved and hardly spoke to me, but it turned out she was in a depressing relationship and her true personality was being smothered. She was actually funny, smart, and beautiful. Even the potent smell of all her flowers was growing on me. If I were in the mood to settle down, I’d pick someone like her, but I wasn’t.
    “She’s coming,” I told Ryder, who had flopped down on the couch. “Make yourself comfortable.”
    “I did, thanks.”
    ***
    The four of us sat down at a table in IHOP thirty minutes later and my stomach growled. Breakfast food was my favorite. “We’ll actually need another chair,” I told the host as I glanced up from my phone.
    “Okay.”
    “Who else is coming?”
    “Hayes,” I replied. “Mackenzie took Harley to meet up with her brother.”
    “I remember Hayes. When I would come to visit, we would team up and kick everyone’s ass at football.”
    “Well, he’s married with a kid now,” I sighed. “I feel sorry for him.”
    “He’s a dad?” Ryder questioned. Ryder had moved to Norman about six months ago and although we hung out some, we had never been the type to sit around and gossip.
    “Yeah. I’d fill you in, but it’s a long story and I doubt you care that much.”
    Megan and Kristin both laughed as they looked over the menu. I tossed mine to the side, already knowing what I wanted, and began drumming my fingers on the table.
    “Why don’t you still play the drums?” Ryder asked.
    I shrugged. “I still do when I go home, but they take up too much space for a small apartment.”
    “You play the drums?” Kristin asked.
    “He can sing, too,” Ryder added. “Don’t let him hide it.”
    I could also play the guitar pretty well, but the waitress arrived, saving me from talking about my musical talents. It wasn’t anything I wanted to pursue in my life, just a hobby I enjoyed by myself.
    After we ordered, Kristin and Megan began talking about school starting up and Hayes showed up. “Hey,” he greeted. “Did you already order?”
    “Yeah.”
    “Damn it,” Hayes said. “Your food will come out before mine and I’ll have to watch you eat while I starve.”
    “I doubt you’ll starve.”
    “Mac left early this morning, I’ve only had a pop tart.” He glanced over at Ryder. “It’s been a long time. How are you, man?”
    “I’m good. Heard you’re married.”
    “Yeah. It’s been great.” Hayes’ face lit up and even though I wanted to gag a little, I was happy for him. I wasn’t opposed to relationships; I was just opposed to me being in one. I’d had my heart stomped on before and I wasn’t going to let it happen again.
    “That’s great. Megan and I still need to set a date.”
    Megan leaned over Ryder to speak to Hayes and myself. “I’m working on it. He says he’d like to get on a plane to Vegas tonight.”
    Hayes laughed. “We got married at the courthouse. My dad married us.”
    “Lucky,” Ryder muttered.
    “What was that?” I asked, knowing he didn’t want Megan to know.
    “Nothing,” he replied, scowling, as Megan said, “Lucky. He said lucky.”
    “I still promised her a big wedding. I’m not off the hook yet,” Hayes added.
    I glanced over at Kristin, who was enjoying the conversation—Megan’s raised voice and Ryder’s obvious frustration he would never admit to.
    The rest of the meal was spent talking about old times and how everyone was dreading the new semester, but all I could think about was getting back to the apartment to take a nap. My head still hurt and the yelling kids sitting beside us were making it worse.
    “I appreciate your help today,” I told Ryder. “I’ve got