Page 57

Stop, I thought, the words ringing in my mind. Remember why you’re here.

We slowed near a handmade jewelry shop, its window display filled with intricate rings, bracelets, and necklaces from artisans around the globe.

I turned to Ethan, brimming with curiosity. “So, you said you worked in…real estate law?” I asked, forcing myself to focus on getting more information rather than on how much I was enjoying myself.

Ethan stiffened slightly, clearly wary after the way our last conversation had gone on the topic.

This time, I'd planned on keeping it light and my emotions in check.

Ethan scratched his head. “Y-yeah, it’s alright. I mean, I just do paralegal work, so nothing that cool.”

“I assume it's pretty intense, though. I mean, the Willows are kind of known around the city. Didn't you say one of them was like a total asshole or something?” I laughed, treading the subject lightly.

Ethan blinked and stared blankly at me, his brow raised. “Did I?” he questioned.

Shit, I thought, trying to keep my face neutral. Play it off.

“Uh, yeah, you mentioned it briefly. You were, uh, kind of…drunk.” I lied, my jaw clenched. An unfortunate projection of my own thoughts, and a mistake I couldn't afford to make.

Ethan's face flushed, believing the lie. “Oh shit, yeah. I remember now,” he said, pretending to recall.

He was a terrible liar, I realized.

“I don’t work with him often or anything, but sometimes the CEO’s son, Preston, will ask me to do something. I guess my uh, drunken ramblings were correct, because he is a bit of a dick, honestly.”

My eyes gleamed at the mention of his name, but I kept my tone light. “Well, I mean, with a name like Preston, it’s practically in your DNA to be one.” I scrunched my face.

Ethan laughed. “Yeah. He’s basically got the personality of a rich nepo baby who thinks we’re all beneath him. I’ve don’t see him often, though. But, that might change…who knows.” He paused mid-step and turned to her. “Enough about me, though, what do you do? I realize I don't even know that much about you.”

You really don't need to either, I thought, scanning my reflection in the shop’s window as I debated how to answer him.

“Well…I’m kind of in between things right now. After my Dad…” I trailed off. “I’m just trying to figure out what’s next for me, you know?”

I mean, technically, it wasn’t a lie.

Ethan’s expression softened, and he nodded without a word—an unspoken understanding between us. At least I didn't have to fake that.

I quickened my steps, pointing ahead. “I love this place! I used to come here all the time as a kid.” The excitement in my voice was genuine, surprising even myself. I stopped at the entrance under the big sign that read Pike Place Magic Shop.

Right outside the doors stood an old fortune-telling machine. I used to beg Dad for a quarter, practically buzzing with anticipation as I waited for the fortune card to slip from the slot.

Looking at it now still sparked some of that childhood excitement, though the animatronic inside wasn't as cool as I remembered it being.

Ethan laughed. “Whoa. It’s kinda….creepy?” He dug in his pocket and pulled out some coins, holding one in front of my face. “Should we see what the spirits have to say?”

My smile slowly faded, quickly replaced with a look of concern. Maybe this wasn't actually such a good idea after all. Things like this are fun when you know that magic isn’t real, that the monsters aren’t actually under your bed, but I knew better now.

“Oh, it's okay…we don't have to,” I laughed, brushing it off.

“Come on, it’ll be fun!” Ethan shoved the coins into the machine, standing back as it whirred to life.

Gears grinded, and green lights flickered back at us as a warbled voice crackled from a speaker inside the machine. “Your fortune awaits, seeker…” The animatronic’s mechanical head turned toward us as its robotic golden eyes pulsed back at me. My stomach lurched when I saw them, half expecting Layne to burst from the machine itself.

After its mechanical routine finished, a fortune card slipped out from the slot with a soft click. My pulse quickened as Ethan grabbed it and turned it over with excitement.

He read the fortune out loud, his voice slow and uncertain. “Your path leads through dark water. Victory and loss walk hand in hand.” He laughed awkwardly. “Okay, that's...weird. What happened to ‘Good things are coming’ or whatever?”

A chill ran up my spine. I didn't know if this was just a strange coincidence—something I didn't really believe in anymore—or some kind of warning. Either way, I didn't like it.