Page 5 of Fated
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“Areya.” Mom’s voice sang through the room.
I blinked against the sunlight slipping in through the blinds and found Mom standing in the doorway, fully dressed, her wild blonde curls tumbling around her face in an untamed halo seeming to catch every glimmer of light.
“Areya, wake up. If you start getting ready now, we might make it to the bookstore before midnight,” she teased.
Remembering today’s plans, I jumped out of bed. “I’ll be quick, I promise.”
Excitement buzzed through me as I rushed to the bathroom to get ready. The bookstore was my sanctuary, a haven filled with enchanting stories of magic, faraway worlds, and epic love, all waiting to be discovered. It was easily one of my favorite places in the entire world, and living in a small town nearly an hour away meant visits were rare.
Having already showered last night, all I needed to do was brush my teeth and wash my face.
Should I put makeup on?
No, I decided against it since it would be just Mom and me. Surely, I wouldn’t run into anyone I knew. I slipped into a pair of comfy gray shorts, purple tank top, and white sneakers. My hair went up in a messy bun and I was ready to go in record time.
Seeing me in the kitchen, Mom raised an eyebrow, clearly impressed by my speed.
Climbing into the passenger seat of the car, I smiled, spotting the purple travel mug waiting for me in the cup holder next to Mom’s matching pink one. They were both steaming.
I lifted it to my nose, savoring the aroma of coffee blended with my favorite coconut creamer. “You’re the best,” I mumbled to Mom, delighting in sipping the sweet coffee.
“Audiobook?” she asked with a smile.
“Of course.” I was already pulling up the next chapter on my phone.
We were in the middle of an amazing fantasy series, one filled with fairies, magic, and all sorts of wonderful things. As the soothing voice of the female narrator filled the car, it felt like being transported into another world. The hour-long trip flew by as we listened and sipped our drinks. Before I knew it, the car slowed and we pulled intoThe Meadow,a charming outdoor shopping center nestled around a lovely park with a sparkling pond and winding paths.
Mom found a place in the lot closest to the giant bookstore and after stepping out of the car, I basked in the warmth of the sun against my skin. The weather couldn’t have been more perfect, a beautiful summer day with a gentle breeze keeping the heat at bay. No wonder The Meadow was so busy! Families bustled around us, some with bags, others laughing and dining at outdoor cafes, all enjoying their day off. It was a good thingMom had called ahead to make reservations at my own favorite restaurant across from the bookstore.
“This is so exciting!” I beamed at Mom, unable to contain my enthusiasm. The day felt perfect already, charged with the anticipation of our vacation just around the corner.
She wrapped an arm around my shoulder, giving it a warm, affectionate squeeze.
“It’s the firstofficialday of our vacation,” she said, a soft smile lighting her face. “Tomorrow, we pack, then we can kick back and relax before heading out the next morning.”
I couldn’t stop smiling, practically skipping to the bookstore.
The walk only took a few minutes and soon, we were standing in front of the massive glass doors of “Books ‘n’ More.” But this wasn’t any ordinary bookstore.
The building itself took up an entire block of The Meadow, rising three stories high. Mom and I could get lost inside for hours and still barely make it through half of the store.
We stepped inside, immediately diving into the rows of new releases displayed near the entrance. I picked up a book here and there, reading the back covers, flipping through the pages.
At some point, I wandered away to find myself in the fantasy section.
My fingers trailed along shelves as I scanned the titles, many of which I had already read. Then something shiny caught my eye, a cover with vibrant purple and silver hues.
I pulled it off the shelf and flipped it to read the description. The story followed a girl who discovered she was a werewolf, becoming a member of a legendary pack and then finding herself in the middle of a love triangle between herself, the Alpha, and a fairy. Perfect! It was the first in a four-part series, so naturally, I grabbed the first two and set off to find Mom.
After a few minutes of wandering, there stood Mom, browsing the romance section. “Find something smutty to read?” I raised a brow.
Her eyes widened, darting around as she checked to make sure no one had heard.
“Areya!” she hissed, her cheeks flushing a deep shade of pink. Once sure no one was nearby, she sheepishly flashed me the cover of a book she had been clutching against her chest.
I couldn’t contain the laughter bursting out of me, taking in the book in her arms.
