The elevator doors slid open with a soft chime, revealing a rooftop paradise that screamed "expensive first date." I stepped out onto terracotta tiles, my heels clicking against them as I took in the scene, city lights glittering below like fallen stars, ambient music floating from hidden speakers, and enough greenery to make a botanical garden jealous. Even the air felt expensive, warm and perfumed with night-blooming flowers. I pressed my phone closer to my ear. "Ziggy, I think I've just walked into a rom-com setup. There are actual fairy lights."
"Good," Ziggy's voice crackled through the speaker, confident as always. "You deserve the fairy lights, babe. Now, shoulders back. Tits out. Fate is watching, don't embarrass me."
I rolled my eyes but still straightened my posture. "How exactly does one embarrass Fate? Pretty sure they've seen it all."
"By chickening out after I spent three weeks convincing you to go see those weird sisters in the first place." His voice softened slightly. "You look hot, right? Tell me you wore the blue dress."
"Yes, I wore the blue dress." I smoothed my hand over the fabric that hugged my curves in all the right places. "And the good underwear, even though there's like a ninety percent chance no one's seeing it tonight."
"That's my girl. Always prepared." He made a kissing sound into the phone. "Babe, if anyone can find you a monster who'll eat you up properly and praise you for it, it's those three weird aunties."
I moved to the edge of the rooftop where a glass barrier provided safety without blocking the view. The city sprawled out beneath me, alive with light and movement. Somewhere down there, people were living their normal Tuesday lives, not standing on fancy rooftops waiting to meet their supposedly fated mate.
"Why haven'tyouused them?" I asked, genuinely curious. Ziggy was always the one pushing boundaries, trying new experiences. "The sisters, I mean. If they're so magical and effective."
His laugh burst through the speaker. "Because I like getting my back blown out by different monsters whenever I want, no mate for me. Some of us are built for variety, sweetheart."
"That's...actually fair." I stepped back towards the elevator. My stomach did a weird flippy thing. "You know, I should probably hang up and—"
"Nope, not until you're ready and I've done my job as your emotional support gay. You're stalling."
He knew me too well. "I'm not stalling. I'm...acclimating."
"Acclimating to what? The possibility of actually getting dicked down properly for once in your life?"
"Jesus, Ziggy!" I laughed despite myself, then quickly covered my mouth, glancing around to make sure I was still alone. "You can't just say things like that."
"Why not? It's true. That asshole Trevor—"
"We don't say his name," I interrupted, my voice going flat automatically.
"Right, sorry. He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named left you with such bullshit hang-ups about your body and worth. And now the universe is literally serving you up a fated mate. On a silver platter. With candles."
I sighed. "What if he's awful? What if the Moirai got it wrong?"
"Then you call me, and I'll come get you, and we'll go get drunk and talk shit about them. But they're not wrong." His voice dropped to that rare serious tone he reserved for when he really meant something. "You saw how that thread thing yanked on you the moment you left their shop. I was there, remember? You looked like someone had hooked you through the chest."
The memory of that sensation, the warm, insistent pull just below my sternum, made my breath catch. It had been three days of that gentle but persistent tugging, leading me southeast across the city. Three days of wondering who was on the other end.
"I'm just..." I swallowed hard.
"Scared. I know. After what you've been through, you're allowed to be."
I took a deep breath, filling my lungs with the warm night air. From where I stood, I could see the edge of table clearly, but not who might already be sitting there. My heart thumped so loudly I was sure Ziggy could hear it through the phone.
"Last check-in," Ziggy said softly. "You can bail if you want. I'll come get you right now and we can go get tacos. No judgment."
The fact that he offered made my decision easier.
"Nope," I said firmly. "I'm done letting fear pick for me."
"That's my girl!" His voice rose with pride. "Now go get your monster. And I want all the filthy details tomorrow. Especially if he has tentacles."
I snorted. "Pretty sure he doesn't have tentacles, Zig."
"A boy can dream. Get it, babe. You deserve every inch—and I hope there are many inches."
"Goodbye, Ziggy," I laughed, my nervousness transforming into something lighter, more manageable.
