Page 71 of Ravaged From Fate

I stand there in stunned silence for a moment. Sure, even I with my dumb meathead brain could still spot the casual flirting between the two, but Cyrus is actually being serious about this? His very dour expression confirms that suspicion.

What?

I want to laugh – to let out the relief I’m feeling that this isn’t about me or my secret past - but this is clearly no laughing matter to the man standing opposite me.

“You like her?”

Cyrus’ expression remains unchanged. “Yes.”

“She’s a tough girl, Cyrus. I can imagine she’s hard to crack.”

He begins to look really nervous now. It’s funny seeing such a massive guy look this way over a girl.

“I really like her, Caspian,” he says softly. “And I don’t know what to do about it. I think about her all the time… when I go to bed… when I’m awake. Seeing her here every day is the highlight of my day. God, I sound so pathetic.”

I shake my head. “You sound like you’ve got a serious case of the fancies here, Cyprus. You really should ask her out.”

He hangs his head in shame. “Elsa told me to talk to you about it.”

I raise my eyebrow. “Did she now?”

“She’s been very… insistent.”

“Sounds like her,” I say. “So, you really want my advice?”

“Please.”

This is certainly the first time I’ve been put in this position. The other boys in the band are usually more of the ladies’ men, and even then they’re usually not the ones asking a girl on the date. That sort of thing doesn’t happen when you’re in a world-famous band that women of every country froth over.

“You just got to do it,” I advise. “Simply ask her out. Confidence. That’s all you need. Forget about all that other playboy pickup artist bullshit. Just have the balls to go up and ask her out.”

“Really?”

“Girls like that. Be straight with her, that’s all they want. You’re a winner, Cyrus. Go and win her. Be the strong and confident man you are and she will like it.”

“Yeah?”

“Yeah.”

Pumped up by my impromptu motivational speech that even I am surprised by, Cyrus marches out of the office and straight towards Juniper standing by herself by the squat rack. He flashes me a quick enthusiastic thumbs up on the way over. I watch apprehensively through the gym office window as Cyrus approaches her.

I see them chat. I can’t hear what they’re saying, but it looks positive. Cyrus digs his hangs into his gym short pockets, clearly nervous. Juniper smiles up at him.

They look cute together.

And, to whatever he’s saying to her, she nods.

She laughs. She touches his shoulder. He’s smiling.

And I know it’s a yes. The man’s done it.

I’ve got to tell Elsa about this. She would love it.

I pull out my phone to message her.

Let’s meet up. I’ve got some incredible news for you.

She gets back to me immediately.