Mar shakes her head. “I swear the licensing department in this city is a scam. The steps required are so convoluted even Logan gets a headache puzzling it out.”
“Bastards,” I say. “What happens if you can’t get it before the restaurant opens?”
She holds a charm midair. “Why would you say such a thing?”
“What!”
Mar looks around frantically until she spots a wood tray and knocks on it. “Don’t say that! An oyster bar without booze might as well be a fish market.”
“Sorry!” I say, looking around for more wood to knock on, too, finding a nearby chair. We move on to another stall selling old movie posters.
“So, what do you think you’re going to do?” Mar asks. “About Daniel, I mean.”
The question that’s been turning in my mind since dinner last night. I’ve been avoiding the Park women, who have been equallyconcerned and optimistically dismissive. Emoni threatened to have a talk with him but I convinced her not to, luckily.
“I don’t know,” I say. “I mean, if he’s my fated, shouldn’t we be on the same page about this?”
“Hm, that’s what I would think,” Mar says.
There’s something in her tone that makes me stare at her. “What?” I ask.
“Nothing.”
“Mar.”
She pauses and looks up at me behind her cat-eyed sunnies. “Maybe you need to…ignore the fated thing while you deal with this.”
“What?” I shake my head. “What do you mean?”
“That maybe, maybe the fated thing is putting too much pressure on you. That maybe you need to take a beat, and make sure you’re really sure about this guy before freaking out about your future children and your bloodline and all that.”
“But…the fated thing. That’s thewhole thing.” And even as I say it, I realize how wrong that sounds. To think of Daniel, this wonderful man, asone thing.
Mar hears it, too. “Maybe you need a little break from the nonstop Daniel dating.”
“Well, tomorrow’s his park opening so I can’t avoid him forever,” I say, feeling the morning sun get hotter. Or maybe I’m just sweating because of, oh, generallife panic.
“Oh shit, right,” Mar says. “Well, just think about it, Cass. That’s all I ask.”
And for the rest of that morning as we buy vintage bits and bobs, and later as we lug our goods home on our bikes, I do. I hope that by tomorrow, my head will feel more cleared. That I’ll have more assurance in what I need to do next.
38
I want to fly into space and forget about Daniel and Ellis, fateds, and men in general. But I absolutely can’t miss the opening of Daniel’s biggest project. The mayor, city council members, and press will be attending to cover the event. Also, my family and Marcella’s will be attending as well. It’s sweet, this show of support for Daniel.
I wear a grass-green linen maxi skirt with a white tube top, a chunky black beaded necklace, and delicate black leather sandals. My hair is pulled back into a messy braid and I opt for a rare bold lip in coral red.
“You look ready for a vacation,” Daniel says when he sees me. “Let’s book one to Greece this fall.”
It’s already August and nothing sounds better than the idea of a for-real vacation that requires a passport. “Drown me in olive oil, please,” I say. But a small voice in the back of my head is asking,Will we be together long enough for a vacation?We haven’t had time to talk since the big “uncle for now” bomb, and I’ve decided to wait until after the event for the breakdown since it’s sure to be a doozy. I just need to get through today.
We arrive at the park at four, a little earlier than the other guestsso that Daniel can make sure everything is set up correctly. I walk around and take in the completed park. It’s beautiful. Tall native grasses, majestic sycamores, and flowering sage are all planted alongside a paved gravel path that winds through the gentle slopes along the river. There are benches and water features seamlessly integrated throughout, creating an inviting space that dares you not to be relaxed. And the river is bordered by boulders and plants, restoring it back to its former glory when it ran naturally through Los Angeles, before it was rerouted in cement.
“Do you like it?” Daniel asks when he finds me wandering one of the small paths along the river’s edge.
“It’s so beautiful,” I say with a happy sigh. “You should be over-the-top proud.”
He hugs me from behind, burying his face into my neck. “Thank you. I’m so glad I can share it with you.” I close my eyes and take it in.This feels steadying. This feels nice.
