Love’s Fate by Tracey Smith

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About the author:

I began my writing career in 2009 with the publication of my first novel Love’s Fate, which quickly grew into a romantic series. Since that first day that I sat down to write I haven’t been able to stop. Writing is my passion and has become a necessary part of my life. Sometimes there are stories that just beg to be told.

What inspired you to write your book?

Three months later I had written a full length novel and had discovered my passion for writing. Three years later Love’s Fate is now the first in a romantic series, each book taking this unique approach of telling a love story from both sides in alternating first person perspectives. By presenting the story this way the reader is given a bird’s eye view and is able to discover the connections between the characters, long before the characters themselves are aware of them.

Here is a short sample from the book:

Chapter 3: Blue Eyes
“Katherine,” my roommate Amy whined from the other side of the bathroom door “Please! I need to get in there.”
I ran the brush through my hair one more time then finally gave up and pulled it into a ponytail. I swore to myself that I would cut it all off soon.
“Sorry,” I apologized relinquishing the bathroom to her.
“I was just trying to do something with my hair.” I explained in a disgusted tone.
“Like you could be anything but drop-dead gorgeous!” she teased “You could shave your head and you’d still look better than me on my best hair day!”
I rolled my eyes. That was the farthest thing from the truth! Amy was a very pretty girl. She was always bubbly and smiling. Everyone loved her. She was the exact opposite of me.
She always wore the latest fashions. Her light blonde hair was always cut into the latest style. Her make-up applied perfectly. I, on the other hand, was a hopeless mess. I could never do anything with my long thick hair besides pull it back into a ponytail, and I had no sense for fashion. I still clung to my favorite pair of jeans, which I was wearing now, although I had added a few new t-shirts to my small collection. I never even bothered with make-up. For some reason I felt like I only made myself look worse when I tried to put it on. It just made my face seem fake.
I knew I wasn’t entirely unattractive. That was obvious from all the guys who had asked me out in the few years I’d been at UCSD. But really, how good of a judge could a bunch of horny college guys be? I wasn’t interested in being somebody’s conquest. Sure I went on a few dates here and there, but no one held any real interest for me.
I was completely convinced that all those sappy movies about love at first sight were purely fiction. Love like that just didn’t exist. At least not for me, of that I was sure. I hadn’t really dated much in high school either, again not from lack of opportunity. At that time I was so focused on planning my exodus that I really just had no interest in dating. I guess that hadn’t changed yet, although everything else had.
I was finally happy. Unequivocally, undeniably happy. I had never really thought it was possible. But being on my own had brought me to life. I loved college! The classes were so much more interesting than the menial high school curriculum that I had suffered through to get here. I was challenged and I loved it.
My job at the coffee shop was a huge contrast to the bland diner I had worked at before. There were always live bands playing and the atmosphere was fun and energetic. I even loved my tiny little dorm room. Although the irony of the small square room with bare walls was not lost on me, I still loved it because I chose to be here. I even decorated it, with the help of Amy of course. I had made it my home.
“You coming to the coffee shop tonight?” I asked Amy as she emerged from our small, shared bathroom. “I heard the band they have playing tonight is supposed to be really good!”
“Sure” she replied excitedly “Maybe Dan can bring his friend Jared along. You really ought to meet him.”
“Don’t even think about it!” I threatened “If I even think you’ve brought some guy along for me to meet I swear I will go home sick and I’ll leave out the back door!”
“Okay, Okay” she laughed holding her hands up like a criminal under arrest “Can’t blame a girl for trying. Really Katherine you should think about dating…”
“I’m going to be late for work” I interrupted walking to the door “I’ll save you a good table” I smiled and slipped out before she could get in another word.
I had never seen the coffee shop so busy. There had to be at least a hundred people crowded into a room that was designed to comfortably seat 50. All the couches had been pushed against the walls and all the tables scooted into corners to allow more standing room for the burgeoning crowd.
The band had started playing and they were very good. I looked around the room and thought tonight would definitely be a good tip night. I quickly tied my apron around my waist and began making my rounds taking drink orders. It was a little confusing without the familiar grid of tables I was used to.
The usually comfortable cozy atmosphere of the coffee shop has transformed into a frenzied mob swaying and pulsing to the loud music. I slipped a “Reserved” card on one of the few remaining tables close to the stage and hoped that Amy and Dan wouldn’t be too long, because with all the people rolling in that table wouldn’t remain empty for long, reserved or not.
“Hey sweet cheeks,” some obnoxious frat guy called from behind me.
“What can I do for you?” I automatically replied turning in his direction.
I was used to putting up with his type, they were usually harmless, all bark and no bite. But before I knew it, he had grabbed one of my apron strings and pulled me down onto his lap. I struggled to get up, but his large arms were crushing me against him. Pinning my arms to my sides.
“I can think of a few things you can do for me” he crudely implied.
His breath reeked of alcohol as he leaned in to whisper something disgusting into my ear.
“Let her go.” I had never been so relieved to hear Dan’s voice in my life!
The obnoxious, drunk frat guy didn’t let go, but he turned in Dan’s direction and in doing so loosened the hold he had on me. It was just enough that I was able to slip out from under his grip and in one quick movement I spun out of his lap and swung around catching him with a left hook. I heard his nose crack as my fist made contact with his face. His chair toppled backwards and he fell to the floor with a loud thud. Dan looked almost as surprised as the jerk on the floor. My hand throbbed uncomfortably.
“I think you broke my nose!” the idiot whined as blood began to run down his face.
“Get the hell out of here or that won’t be the only thing broken tonight!” Dan threatened as he stood over the guy glaring down at him.
As quickly as he could the guy stumbled to his feet and practically ran for the door without another word barreling into people as he passed them.
I just stood there for a minute staring at Amy and Dan. I was shaking a little bit and my hand ached. I could tell by the looks on their faces that they were just as shocked as I was. I had never hit anyone before in my life. I didn’t even know I knew how. It just kind of happened, instinct I guess. It was Amy who spoke first.
“Wow Katherine, you’re a bad-ass!” she said, clearly impressed. I just smiled weakly, still kind of in shock.
“I, uh, saved you a table” I stammered, still trying to get a grip on everything that had just happened.
They followed me to the table by the stage and sat down. Both were still watching me, Amy looking a little concerned now. Dan still had a weird smile on his face.
“I’m going to go get you guys some drinks” I said and quickly left them to retreat into the kitchen.
I walked straight to the employee bathroom in the back and splashed some cold water on my face, and then I let the sink fill with cold water and submerged my hand. I looked in the mirror still trembling a little and wondered what had come over me. What was I thinking? It felt kind of good actually, to put that jerk in his place. That realization made me feel a little bit better. I took a few deep breaths and felt composed again.
I carried some iced coffees over to the table where Amy and Dan were sitting. I laughed to myself at how identical they looked sitting together; a real-life Ken and Barbie. They could have been twins. They had the same shade of light blue eyes, same shade of blonde hair, Dan was only a few inches taller than Amy and they usually inadvertently wore matching clothes. They matched tonight.
I often teased them that they had been separated at birth. As they sat together now with mirrored expressions that joke seemed almost possible. They were both paying attention to the band now and I hoped my little episode could pass without further mention.
“So, I, uh, kinda told Jared he could meet us here tonight” Dan stuttered, then he pretended to flinch away from me “Please don’t hit me!” he teased.
Suddenly I was laughing hysterically. I was definitely in shock. Dan laughed too. Amy smiled but there was still a small crease of concern between her eyebrows. She knew me well enough to know that I was not acting at all like myself. I glanced around the room, avoiding her eyes, as I once again tried to compose myself. Then a different pair of eyes caught my attention.
On the other side of the coffee shop a dark haired man was staring at me. Instantly my eyes locked on his as if invisible strings somehow connected us. I forgot everything else that was happening around me as I stared into the deepest blue eyes I had ever seen. They were so strangely familiar, yet I knew I had never seen him before. He was gorgeous! I would have remembered that face! But where had I seen those eyes?
They weren’t typical blue eyes. Not like Amy’s or anyone else’s for that matter. They were deep, like looking into the depths of a deep blue ocean. I stared at him for what seemed like forever, trying to understand why his eyes were so familiar when his face was entirely new.
And oh what a face! He had strong features with a chiseled jaw line that had just a shadow of stubble and a small scar cutting across his chin. He had high cheekbones and a strong brooding brow line with a straight nose except for a small little crook in it that made me wonder if it had ever been broken. His lips were full and even from this far away they looked soft, a shocking contrast to the rugged features of his face. Staring at his mouth I felt a strange stirring in my stomach that I couldn’t identify. But none of that compared to the depths of his blue eyes. I was lost in them. It took me a minute to recover from the shock of how captivating this man was and to start wondering why he was looking at me.
He seemed to have the same strange expression that I must have had. Curious fascination, I guess you could call it. His eyes were probing. It felt like he was trying to remember where he’d seen me before. Studying my face, just like I was studying his. I smiled a little, wondering what he could possibly be thinking. Should I go say something to him? I was a waitress here after all. I had a perfectly good excuse to walk to his table.
I was just starting to work up the courage to walk over there when I noticed somebody say something to him. He began crossing the room toward the counter but never took his eyes off me. I watched intently.
He reached the counter and took a phone that was being handed to him. Immediately his expression changed.
He looked away from me and I saw a wave of pain wash across his face as he put the phone down and turned for the door. I wanted to run after him, I felt a need to comfort him. I didn’t know what had been said from his mysterious caller to make him look so sad. But I didn’t like it. I didn’t want him to be sad.
I realized how absolutely ridiculous this way, considering I didn’t even know this man, but I wanted to cry as I watched him walk out the door. Would I ever see him again? The possibility that I wouldn’t was almost unbearable.
“Have you heard a word I said?” Amy’s voice brought me back to the coffee shop, the roar of the crowd and the music filled my ears again. I looked over at her feeling lost. I didn’t know what to say.
“Katherine? What’s wrong?” She was clearly concerned now.
“I’m not feeling well,” I practically whispered. “I think I need to go home”
“Are you mad that Dan invited Jared?” She asked looking guilty.
“What? Oh… no” I’d already forgotten about Dan’s attempt at setting me up with his friend.
Had that just happened? I seemed to have no sense of time. I felt like I had been staring at that mysterious man for hours, and now that he was gone I was completely disoriented.
“I just need to go home”
“I’ll come with you.” She offered
“No, stay. Watch the band, have fun. I’ll be fine.” I promised.
I forced a smile to convince her that I wasn’t mad.
“I just really need to be alone right now.” I explained.
I knew that wouldn’t be enough explanation for my weird behavior, but it would have to do for now. Hesitantly she sat back down at the table and watched me as I headed back toward the kitchen.
I told my boss I was feeling sick, which wasn’t entirely untrue, and left out the back door. I hurried home trying to make sense out of the strange evening I’d had. As soon as I got inside my room I turned the radio on. It was just after midnight and my favorite DJ should be coming on the air. I don’t know what it was about his voice that was so soothing to me, but ever since I’d moved here I had listened to him every night when I got home from work until I fell asleep. He always played music that seemed to fit my mood perfectly and there was something comforting in the sound of his voice. I needed that comfort now. I needed to hear him to calm my nerves after the bizarre night I’d just had.
I nearly panicked as I turned my radio on and heard a foreign voice. One that did not belong on this station. I checked the radio dial to make sure I had the right station. It hadn’t been changed since that first night when I’d turned it on and heard his voice, but I checked anyway. I had the station right, but the voice was all wrong. I sat staring at my radio, confused. Of all nights for him to not be on the air, when I needed him the most! I knew how ridiculous I was being but I didn’t care. Angrily I turned the radio off, feeling betrayed. What was wrong with me? Why was I so worked up?
Even before I asked the question I knew the answer. It was him. He had shaken me to my core. But why? What was it about him that had me so unnerved?
I thought about his eyes, how strangely familiar they seemed. I was thinking about his eyes as I drifted off to sleep. And for the first time since I’d moved here I had the dream again. But this time the far-away boy with the blue eyes had a face. It was the face of the mystery man from the coffee shop tonight, it all came together in an instant. His strangely familiar blue eyes were the eyes from my dream.