This Wasn't My Plan Novels & Stories

The tune is catchy. "Good, today's plan can begin." He walks to my door like he lives here. I perk up. "Today has a plan?" I've been under the impression the plan was survival until my boot comes off in a few weeks. Possibly for the next sixteen years until Emma moves out. Nate smiles back before opening the door. "There's always a plan." I agree, there's always a plan, but the problem arises when I don't know the plan. The last few surprises I received were nothing but horrible. I'm okay if I go my entire life without another one.

And this time… I had no plan. Just the ghost of a memory that used to keep me sane.

The thought sent my heart racing, and I flopped back against the couch, staring at the ceiling. This was not part of the plan. Not even close.

But if did, then it wouldn’t be Donovan leaning over me now! “I made a promise for yesterday, today was never part of the plan” ‘Curses!’

To all the mess I was trying to escape from. And suddenly… My plan didn’t feel as simple as it did before.

I didn't want to believe what my instinct was telling me. "What the hell is done?" I snapped. "I've got a damn Council–" "Plan B," he drawled. "You haven't forgotten about it yet, have you?" My stomach plummeted. Plan B. Damn. I had shoved it so deep in my mind that I thought it was all over. Plan B was just too terrible. After the last time I saw her, I wanted nothing to do with any form of manipulation or schemes. I resolved to be better, and maybe–just maybe, I'd win her back.

It wasn't something I had planned. “It was a mistake!” I blurted out, facing her. “It was a mistake,” I said it quieter this time. Her gaze softened, and I felt undeserving of it. “What happened?” “The plan was to blow up a few containers, you know? Like a warning, but it got out of hand.” My breathing began to quicken; I could feel my heart about to implode. “I asked my men to make sure no one was on site…” I took a breath, trying so hard not to lose my cool. “They must have missed a couple rooms, because there were two men inside when…” I couldn't even say it.

Including from me. That wasn't a part of the plan.

I didn’t even believe them. Because the truth was simple, if plan A failed, there wouldn’t be much left to decide. There wouldn’t be room to fix anything or think things through. Everything would fall straight into plan B whether I liked it or not. And plan B… I let out a dry laugh, shaking my head lightly. Plan B was practically me walking into a lion’s den and hoping it didn’t bite my head off the moment I stepped in. “Smart,” I added quietly, sarcasm laced in my tone.

Instead, he said something worse. “I didn’t plan for any of it to happen.” That made me pause. Not because I didn’t believe him. But because I wasn’t sure what “any of it” meant. “You didn’t plan it?” I repeated softly. “No.” I stared at him for a moment, trying to process the weight of that single word. “Then why didn’t you tell me?” I asked. Aiden’s jaw tightened slightly. “Because you didn’t remember.” My heart skipped. I opened my mouth, then closed it again.