Page 40 of Inseparable
But now I’m questioning everything.
Especially the future.
And I’m realizing how naïve I’ve been and that maybe it’s time to grow up. Time to understand that I can’t control every single facet of my life. I can only control those aspects that I can directly influence.
Yes, I think it’s time I wised up. Faced facts.
No one can predict the future, because the choices you make, and the choices others make that impact you, can set you on a completely different path at any time, without any prior notice.Andif that’s the case, then what’s the point in knowing what lies ahead?
Because that version of the future can always change.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
“I expected you to be more excited,” Ayden says the next night, when we’re on our way to the show.
I look over at him. “I am, but maybe Cody had a point last night. Maybe it’s time I stopped worrying what the future holds and just be in the moment, ya know?”
“Being in the moment is good, but there’s nothing wrong in having an interest in the paranormal. Millions of people the world over are fascinated with it, and you’ve always gotten a kick out of that stuff.”
“I think I’ve been too fixated with trying to control my future, when it’s not something that can be controlled.”
“True. Your future will be whatyoumake it.” He parks, cutting the engine, and his brow furrows. He looks off into space. “Do you think you can change the course of your life?”
I nod, slipping my arms into my jacket. “I do, there are always choices, and the world’s our oyster, right?”
We get out and walk toward the arena. Ayden pulls the zipper up on my jacket, removing his scarf and wrapping it around my neck. I kiss the inside of his wrist, smiling up at him. “What?” he asks, taking my hand, a look of confusion on his face.
“You’re always looking after me.” I look at him,really lookat him, and it’s almost like I’m seeing him,properly seeing him, for the first time. Ayden is unfailing in his support, loyalty, and protection of me, and I think I’ve taken that too much for granted. Mariah’s words from last night have been circling round my brain all day, and I wonder if the boy I should be with has been right under my nose all this time. Whether I obsessed over the wrong boy next door. “And I want you to know I appreciate it, and”—my cheeks heat—“it’s nice. It’s nice to know I can always count on you.”
He reels me into his arms. “You can. You can count on me for life.”
The auditorium is massive, but we have excellent seats, right in front of the stage. The show starts promptly at eight, and, despite my earlier protests to the contrary, I get sucked in almost instantly, fascinated by the apparent accuracy of the medium’s readings and the joyful, emotional response of the members of the audience. The energy is crackling and the buzz is electric as he roams the aisles, gesturing at various people, validating information to shocked gasps of amazement. “This is what they do folks. Your loved ones want you to have no doubt that the message is coming from them.”
When he halts at the end of our row, I almost stop breathing. “I’ve got a man here,” he says, looking between me and Ayden. “I feel like he’s here for you.” He points at Ayden. “He’s older, and he’s pointing at his heart. He died of a massive coronary. I feel like he could be your grandfather, that’s what he’s telling me. His name was Don or—”
“Ron,” Adyen says. “My grandfather’s name was Ron.”
He points at the signet ring on Ayden’s left hand. “He’s telling me that was his ring.”
Ayden nods, gulping, his eyes wide and dazed. My heart is racing. Never, in all our years of coming to shows, has anyone ever turned up for one of us.
The medium chuckles. “Okay, he’s showing me, like, this kinda funny story now, about a kid that burned his ass on the fire. He had to stand up naked in the center of the crowded living room while a woman with red hair put cream on his butt. Does that make sense to you?”
Ayden nods, his lips twitching. “That happened my dad when he was a kid. Grandpa used to love telling that story.”
The medium’s expression turns more serious. “Your grandpa’s telling me you’re troubled. You’re afraid to take the right path, and he’s worried about you.” Ayden’s face pales, and he goes really still. “Ron says it’s okay to be yourself and to make your own choices in life. Go for it. The people who love you will understand.” The medium’s eyes fall to me, and he smiles, before moving on to the next person.
“Are you okay?” I whisper to Ayden who still looks like he’s seen a ghost. I allow myself a little inner chuckle at that thought, cause he kinda has just seen a ghost. “That was pretty cool.”
He nods absently, still staring, with stark, wide, dazed eyes, off into space.
The rest of the show flies by, and before I know it, we are back in the Jeep and on our way home.
“Wanna grab some food?” Ayden asks a little while later, and it’s the first words he’s spoken since we left.
“I could eat,” I acknowledge, my tummy rumbling in agreement.
Ayden pulls into a diner just off the highway, on the outskirts of town. The place is lit up like the fourth of July, and it’s empty with the exception of an older couple sitting in a rear booth. We plonk our butts in a booth and order burgers and milkshakes. I stretch my hand across the table, lacing my fingers in Ayden’s. “Are you still freaked out?”
