Sadie smirks. "Um, no. But thank you." She fiddles with her hands, staring at her fingers as they roll over themselves. "Some strange things have been happening, and I just… I need to work them out before my leave is over."
"Strange how?" I lean my elbow onto the picnic table and inch my upper body toward her.
Her cheeks warm to a light pink, and she chances a glance at me. "Do you believe in magic? Like the paranormal kind, where things can’t be explained."
A wave of awareness settles into my bones. Maybe Howie wasn’t lying. "If you’d asked me that question six months ago, I would have said no." I spin my hat backward. "But now… I do."
Sadie visibly shifts through a range of emotions: shock, followed by fear, then something close to relief in her features.
"Can I ask what changed? Like, why now?" She chews her bottom lip, her eyes trained on me.
"My sister-in-law was cursed last fall." I scan the park, making sure Benny is still good before continuing. "She went to a tarot shop uptown—"
"When did we get one of those?"
I laugh at her interruption. "We didn’t. Irina sought Olive out at the Hollow Hearts Festival. She asked to wear her heart on her sleeve, or so I’m told. I wasn’t there." Sadie leans in closer, enraptured by the story. "She ended up with a tattoo on her arm that changed with her thoughts and feelings. It was pretty crazy and definitely threw Sam for a loop."
Sadie gasps, covering her pouty lips with her hand. "Is she… how is she now?"
"Ollie is fine. She found the Irina lady on Halloween and asked her to undo it."
"Irina… like Beth’s sister?"
I shrug. "Guess so… although I didn’t know she had any."
"That’s what I’m saying!" Sadie shouts, standing abruptly to pace in front of me. Her emerald dress whips with each step she takes, and her chest heaves above the cinched top. "Sorry, continue." She waves her hand at me.
"There’s not really much else. She reconnected with my brother. It was a whole weird breakup thing… and the tattoo came back, but it’s a permanent picture of their love story."
Sadie takes her seat next to me once more, this time close enough that our thighs touch. "But like, she’s fine… so if someone was in a similar situation, she would probably tell them to roll with it? Hypothetically, of course."
I narrow my eyes at her. "Olive is fine, but I think she’d tell you she only got through it because she has great friends like Howie… and me." I reach out and wrap my hand around hers. "If you need help, Sade, all you need to do is ask."
thirteen
Sadie
Let’s Make A Deal
How can I ask for help when I’m not sure exactly what I’m dealing with? The puzzles themselves aren’t the problem. It’s all the other complications that feel impossible to explain. He said he has experience, though, and that in itself gives me hope.
Max squeezes my hand gently, his gaze encouraging me to spill all my secrets. My skin itches under the intensity, as this isn’t what I do. I don’t ask for help. I’m more of a figure it out myself or die trying kind of girl. Not to mention the way my heart flutters each time he looks at me… like I’m someone he’s starting to adore.
"It’s Beth—"
Max inhales deeply.
"She’s my friend."
"Okay? Didn’t see that coming…" he spins his hat so it’s facing forward again, and I wish he didn’t. Max in a backward hat is a sight to behold.
"Like a best friend, she’s been in my life forever. And when I came home, she gave me this." I reach into my bag, pulling out the leather-bound book.
Max holds his hands out, and I drop it into them. His fingers trace the embossed title before he unties the knot holding it closed. I watch as he flips to the first page, and his eyes widen when he sees the word altruistic in gold lettering. Max flips through a couple more silently. When he reaches the back, his hand runs along the letter tucked there—the onehegave me in the parking lot.
He sucks his teeth. "Is this? Did I give you—"
"Yes, that’s just one of the bizarre things. She gave me the book, but there wasn’t a letter until you handed it to me. I mean, to be honest, the book wasn’t even in my bag until you ran into me."
