Ivy peeked over my shoulder and giggled. “Perfect! Now, let’s decide on our pizza toppings. How about their Four Cheese Special, and a Classic Pepperoni?”
“With pineapple?” I suggested.
Ivy’s eyes widened in horror. “Vinnie, that’s blasphemy!”
I laughed, holding up my hands in defense, and Ivy shook her head as she held the phone to her ear.
“Hey Caleb, it’s Ivy! Can we get a Four Cheese Special with extra cheese, and a Classic Pepperoni with . . . pineapple? Yeah, I know. I did tell Vinnie that.” Ivy’s smile widened to whatever he said back before. “Oh, and make it quick, we’re starving!”
I couldn’t hear Caleb’s response, but Ivy’s face turned a shade pinker, and she giggled. “Knock it off, Caleb. Just get usthe pizzas, okay?”
Ivy hung up and plopped back down beside me. “He said it’ll be about twenty minutes.”
“Do you and he . . .” I wiggled my eyebrows suggestively.
Ivy laughed, a blush creeping up her cheeks. “No, no, it’s not like that with Caleb. He’s just a friend.”
“Sure. You’re blushing, though.” I raised an eyebrow.
Ivy shrugged, still smiling. “He’s a nice guy, but we are just not compatible. Anyway, pick out another movie while we wait for the food.”
I took the remote, scrolling through the options but not finding anything that caught my eye. Ivy handed me a soda and grinned. “Actually, I have a better idea. How about a tarot reading?”
“Sure, why not?” I laughed, the idea sounding both absurd and intriguing.
As Ivy dashed off to her room to grab her tarot cards, I thought about how strange it was, that pieces of cardboard could supposedly tell you about your life. Despite finding it silly, I was still interested.
My phone buzzed with a new message from Ethan, pulling my attention away from my thoughts.
A warm flush spread through me, and I smiled at his words. I was about to type a response when another message from him popped up.
Without hesitation, Iquickly typed back.
Ivy ran back into the room, nearly tripping over the rug in her haste, catching herself on the arm of the sofa as she stumbled. “Whoops! I’m just so excited!” she exclaimed, breathless and grinning as she flopped down next to me.
I laughed. “Careful! We don’t need any accidents tonight.”
Ivy waved it off, her face glowing with enthusiasm. “Okay, let’s do a three-card reading. Past, present, and future. But first, we need to cleanse the space,” she declared, standing up dramatically.
I couldn’t help but laugh as Ivy waved a bundle of sage around the room, her blue hair messy. “You look absolutely ridiculous,” I teased, giggling.
She stuck out her tongue playfully. “Hey, this is serious business! We need to make sure we’re in a good-vibe zone. Have you ever had your cards read before?”
“Nope, this is a first,” I admitted, still chuckling at her.
“Well, let me give you a quick rundown. Tarot cards are like a mirror reflecting your subconscious. Each card has different meanings and, when you draw them in a spread, it’s like a snapshot of your life.”
“Got it,” I said, leaning in, curious despite myself.
“Perfect! Now, let’s do this,” Ivy said, shuffling the deck with expert precision. She spread the cards out on the coffee table and selected three. With a dramatic flourish, she flipped over the first card.
“This is your past: The Tower,” Ivy announced, trying to sound ominous but failing to keep a straight face. The card depicted a tower being struck by lightning, figures falling from its heights. “The Tower represents upheaval, sudden change, and things falling apart. Basically, a hot mess.”
I stared at the card. “Well, that’s . . . accurate,” I said.
Ivy’s eyes widened in surprise when she saw the second card. “Death,” she said, sounding intrigued rather than worried. “This is definitely interesting. Don’t worry,” she quickly added, seeing my tensedexpression. “It’s not a bad card. In tarot, Death signifies transformation, endings, and new beginnings. It’s about letting go of what no longer serves you to make space for something better. Something in your life will come to an end, but it’s necessary for your growth. I’m curious to see what this one’s all about.”
I chewed on my lip, trying to make sense of the card, before shaking my head. I reminded myself that this was just some silly fun. “That’s . . . intense,” I finally said, pushing the thought away.
