“What does it say?” Zelda wants to know, joining me.
“Avoid burritos.”
I wave it in Trevor’s face as he passes by. “Look, it’s a sign. Not even the fates want your burrito bar.”
“Those fortunes are all ass, man.” Trevor flicks the booth. “I got one earlier and it said:You will fall into a swamp while trying to feed a raccoon.”
“Sounds about right,” Luna inserts, slinging an arm around my shoulders. “Remember when we took Ash to the zoo for her birthday and Trevor ate a sardine that was supposed to be for the penguins?”
“I wasdared. I had no choice.”
Luna and Trevor glare at me. I throw up my arms. “I didn’t think he would actually do it!”
“You shouldalwaysassume he’ll actually do it,” Luna scolds. “Puked all over my van on the drive home.”
“I think some of it’s still inside me,” Trevor says, face green.
Zelda slips a quarter into the machine. Then she stares in disbelief at the unrolled paper. “You’re next.”
I burst out laughing. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Is it a threat? Am I being threatened?”
“Maybe you’re supposed to be thenextone to cook dinner,” Luna replies in her sage voice, which has the uncanny ability to convince her sisters.
“Sardines, maybe?” Zelda suggests with a playful glance toward Trevor, who dry-heaves.
For a spell, we all find ourselves admiring the labyrinth of lights and magical trinkets. Tarot, teas, and tapestries. Crystals, diaries, stickers, tote bags. A cauldron bubbling with purple punch. “Can you believe we actually did this?” I murmur.
“Of course I can,” Trevor says. “We’re amazing. Speaking of how amazing I am, I came up with a new way to get rich.”
We all groan.
“I’m for real this time! I’m working on developing an Oregon Trail–style game. It’s calledThe Oregon Entrails. Or maybeThe Organ Trails, I haven’t finalized it. All the pioneers who drop dead on their journey become zombies. So, you’re the player, and you’re a zombie, but other pioneers are trying to shoot you, and your guts fall out. You have to keep running around collecting your guts to stay alive in the game. Might find a spleen over here, a kidney over there, hidden in a cave you can’t access until you’ve fought a group of gunslingers. Hearts and brains are the rarest. The more hearts and brains you collect, the more powers you get. Just wait till I sell this thing, then we’ll berollingin money.”
I smile. We’ve heard many, many similar spiels before.
Teyonna runs over and launches onto Trevor’s back. “Hey, you. I found a fireworks sale and have a great big stash of them in my trunk if you wanna drive out to Coe’s Park and—”
Trevor takes off at a run, carrying a laughing Teyonna along.
“I need to start brainstorming our next project,” Luna says.
Zelda looks at her, bemused. “Maybe relax and enjoy the success ofthisproject for a while?”
Luna purses her lips. “Mm. No, probably not.”
She and Zelda wander off in different directions, leaving me with only my nerves for company. There’s a frenzied charge in the air—new beginnings, magic, community. My dreams are coming true, and I should be mingling with vendors and browsers. Instead, I can’t focus. What tonight represents is more nerve-wracking than a first date. Than meeting the parents.
But beneath the nerves, there is excitement.
I picture the calendar on my fridge with its barrage of sticky notes. Some are inspirational quotes I found on the Internet.You are worthy. Most of the words, though, are Grandma Dottie’s. I mentally coast over the note that reads:Moving forward is how this whole Being Alive Thing works.The people you loved in your past loved you back, and they would want you to be happy. So bring their love with you, and keep it moving.
I’m ordinarily a mellow creature, with an easy, soft little life. And I prefer it that way—or at least, I thought I did. What I didn’t know I needed was for Alex to sweep in and light a fire beneath me. All it takes is one sideways glance from that man, and my nerves twitch like crossed wires. I didn’t like it, at first. Struggling as he invaded my home and place of work, witnessing my life, forming opinions I wanted to be impervious to. I didn’t want Alex to be capable of making me feel anything. I didn’t want tofeel, if it wasn’t easy, and especially not if it was scary. The unknown holds no guarantee of safety.
But I’m eating up the unknown now, and every layer that I peel back is a brand-new favorite flavor. I’m rapidly wanting more.
I swallow, checking the time on my phone. Alex will be here to pick me up any minute, and this isn’t just any ordinary date.
