“Alright, what are they telling you?”
She shuffles the tarot cards in her hand, pulling three out. “Oh, yes. Yes.”
My jaw cracks as she mutters to herself, tapping a finger on the center card.
The Loverscard.
Great. Just what I needed.
“Have you detached from anyone lately, Presley?”
“Why?” My spine stiffens at her question.
“There’s a coldness surrounding this card. Your life is out of balance and there are some issues standing in your way before it resolves itself.”
“Right.”
“It’s nothing to be ashamed about. It allows you to look inside before rediscovering yourself.”
“Thanks, Serena. Can I get you your usual?” I grab the pen from my pocket and scribble down her eggs and coffee order that I know by heart.
“Yes.” She nods. “I’ll have more for you when you come back.”
I don’t say anything, but stalk off to the kitchen and rip the check from my pad and stuff it onto the turnstile for Betty to start on her order.
It’s hard to focus on her words.
“What’d you get?” Rylee asks, pouring a mug of coffee.
“The Lovers.”
She winces. “Does she not know you’re going through a divorce?”
“Apparently not. Neither does Paul because he won’t sign the damn papers.”
“Hey.” She squeezes my shoulder. “It’ll get figured out.”
“I hope so.” The chime above the door rings out, a new group of people coming in. “Back to work.”
The afternoon rush swarms the small diner. With the fall weather in full swing, Pinecrest is the destination of choice for hikers.
The changing leaves bring everyone to our small town. We have the best trails on the mountains.
Our cozy town is charming, and after a hard day’s exercise, everyone comes to the Hash ’N Hop.
Pink leather booths sit under the windows that face the main road. Neon pink lights line the ceiling. High-top stoolsline the bar with the smell of grease hanging heavy in the air.
“Hi, Arlene!” Chase shouts to the portrait hanging just inside the glass doors.
“There’s my favorite customer.”
Rylee bounds over to her boyfriend, wrapping her arms around his neck, kissing him hard on the lips.
I sigh. I love that my best friend found love, but sometimes, it stings. With my life in tatters, it’s hard to focus on anything but me and my little girl.
Without so much as two pennies to my name—everything is still tied up in my father’s estate—I’m working at the town diner.
I enjoy it; I do. It’s the longing for stability for the two of us that gets me the most on the hard days.
