Meant To Miss, Destined To Meet

Chapter 4

Gina’s POV

By the time I reached Kira’s apartment, my arms ached from dragging my worn-out suitcase, and my heart was even heavier.

She opened the door in her oversized hoodie, face lit up like the sun. “G! Thank God. I was starting to worry.”

I tried to smile. “Sorry I took long.”

“Don’t even apologize. Come in.” She pulled me into a tight hug, one of the warmest things I’ve felt in days. It almost broke me.

Her place smelled like vanilla candles and safety—two things I’d forgotten I needed.

She didn’t ask questions right away. Kira knew me well enough to wait.

“Guest room’s yours for as long as you need it,” she said, pulling my bag inside. “I even changed the sheets.”

I nodded and forced another smile. “You’re the best.”

I collapsed on the bed the moment I was alone. The moment I let go.

It wasn’t until an hour later—after a shower and a few deep breaths—that the memory of him crept back in.

Jack.

The man with coffee on his shirt and stars in his eyes. The one who offered to buy me another drink and pulled out my chair like we were on some old-fashioned date. The one who looked at me like I was something worth staying for.

Why did he care so much?

Why did he look at me like he already knew me?

I sat on the bed, wrapped in one of Kira’s fluffy towels, staring at my phone screen. Fully charged now. No missed calls. Just one unread message from her and a thousand thoughts buzzing in my head.

“Maybe fate is trying to set you up,” Kira said from the doorway, holding two mugs of tea. “Hot chamomile. Take it before your brain combusts.”

I smiled weakly and took the cup. “Fate doesn’t even know I exist.”

“Gina…” she sat beside me. “You walked into a coffee shop and literally ran into a hot stranger who looks like he’s in love already. If that’s not fate flirting with you, I don’t know what is.”

I sipped the tea slowly. “He’s probably just a nice guy.”

Kira raised a brow. “With CEO money, cheekbones for days, and puppy eyes? That one’s dangerous.”

I laughed quietly. “He was… sweet. But I barely know him.”

“Yet you’re thinking about him.”

I looked down at the cup, watching the steam rise.

“Because it felt good,” I admitted. “To have someone look at me like I wasn’t... broken.”

Kira said nothing. Just placed her hand gently over mine.

Later that night, alone in the dark, I lay on my side scrolling through my messages.

I hovered over his charger still plugged into the wall. Should’ve returned it, but I didn’t. Why?

Because part of me wanted a reason to see him again?

I hated that.

I hated how easily he slipped into my mind. How kind he’d been. How real it all felt—if only for ten minutes.

My phone buzzed again. A new message.

Unknown Number:

Hi, it’s Jack. I hope I’m not crossing any lines. I just wanted to say… I’m really glad you came in today.

I froze. My fingers hovered over the screen, heart skipping like it had somewhere to be.

I didn’t know what to say.

I didn’t know if I wanted to say anything at all.

But one thought wouldn’t leave me alone.

What if fate wasn’t done yet?