I bite my cheek, uncertain what to say.
“I know we have to help her move on. I’m just…”
“Not ready,” I say, and he nods. “I’m letting you call the shots here.”
“Thank you,” he says, and I offer a tight-lipped smile.
“I don’t want you to be angry with me, but she’s ready, Nick. She said so today.”
“Soon.” It’s all he says, so I take it that it’s time to change the subject.
“What do you make of Carl and Joseph Hampson?” I whisper the names, not wanting anyone to overhear.
“I’ll look into them. See if I can find any connections to theOrder of Providence,” Nick offers, glancing down at his phone. “I gotta get going.”
He leans in, pressing a gentle kiss to my lips. He feels distant. Reserved. I can’t help but think it’s because of our conversation about Isla.
It’s completely understandable.
The situation is undoubtedly tough for him to wrap his mind around.
The woman he once loved is lingering, unable to find peace in the afterlife.
If I were in his shoes, I’d be torn between wanting Garrett to stay and knowing that he needs to move on.
The time will come when he’s prepared to let her go again, and until then, I’ll respect his need for space to process everything.
What else can I do?
22
The Hierophant…Reversed-Ish
As we steponto the bustling streets of New Orleans, the air thick with the scent of spices and the sound of music, excitement surges through me. Lanie, Nina, and I have been looking forward to this trip for days, and we’re finally here.
Our primary objective might be to track down Ian, but you don’t come to New Orleans and pass up the opportunity to bask in all the city has to offer.
The colorful façades of buildings embellished with whimsical artwork only add to the city’s enchantment. I find myself craning my neck to take in every detail, unwilling to miss a single square inch of the place. The entire time, I’m thinking about eating, because the food in New Orleans might be my favorite part. I’m going to savor each bite of flavorful gumbo and decadent beignet placed in front of me.
“Are you hungry?” Nina asks, shoulders shaking with jollity.
I lift a brow, caught off guard by the accurate assessment. Did my stomach growl?
“What makes you ask that?”
She smirks, looking down at our intertwined arms.
My eyes widen as the realization sinks in. “You read my mind?”
As soon as I say the words, Nina’s expression morphs into shock. She hadn’t even realized what she’d done.
It wasn’t a bad vision she saw, but my internal thoughts.
“How…” She trails off, her voice barely a whisper, echoing the bewilderment in her eyes.
“I really think we need to prioritize meeting with Corinne’s aunt Bee. She knows we’re in town,” I suggest, recalling how before we left, Corinne had suggested we look up her aunt, who typically sets up shop in Jackson Square, reading tarot for whoever asks.
“You might be right,” she says.
