Wrong Bed Baby (Crescent Cove 10)

So much for the makeup helping.

“Just feeling a little under the weather.”

“Oh.” Her wide smile dimmed. “I’m so sorry. Do you want to reschedule?”

Yes. So much yes. “No, that’s okay.”

She frowned. “If you’re sure.”

My hand trembled as I reached for my favorite gentle tarot deck. Shuffling required a bit more dexterity than I was currently capable of, so I went with a messy spread across my table. “So, tell me what we’re talking about today.”

That was all she needed to hear. Her aura went bright and fluttery like Monarch butterflies in the spring. His name was Patrick and he was too perfect to live on this earth. The way she described him, the dude was going to sprout angel wings.

I surreptitiously floated my hands over the cards and flipped one. I’d been doing this long enough not to let my face betray the card. Seven of Swords wasn’t the best one to pull when thinking about a guy. Nor was the next card, Knight of Wands. Both hinted that Patrick might’ve been a player.

“So, how long have you been seeing one another?”

“Four months. We have spent every Thursday together. That’s his night off. He works on the road a lot.”

I bet he did.

I pulled out my favorite oracle deck and groaned at the Spy card.

Okay, cards, I get it.

“I’m really glad you’ve found a guy who makes you so happy, Madeline.”

“Do you think we have a future together?”

“Do you think you do?” Most of the time, when people came to me it was because they already had a bad feeling.

She looked down at her hands. She was gripping a startlingly large hunk of rose quartz. “I really like him, Luna.”

I curled my fingers into my palm before stretching my fingers out again. My hand heated over a card. I flipped over the Four of Cups followed by the Star and Ace of Cups. Her hopeful nature and giving heart always got her into trouble, but she really shouldn’t settle for half measures.

“I’d be careful. Keep things slow and steady.”

She leaned forward. “Is it something bad?”

I left the cards that I’d pulled and gathered up the rest. I set them down and took a quick drink against the flood of moisture in my mouth.

Come on. Hold on just a few minutes longer.

With unsteady fingers, I reached for the rollerball of lemon oil and ginger I’d mixed last night.

I slid it over my wrist and waved it near my nose.

Slowly, the nausea settled. I drew in a deep breath. My hand was much steadier as I overhand shuffled and pushed away my own maladies. I didn’t want to put my fucked-up energy into the cards.

When I turned over Three of Swords and a reversed Knight of Cups, I looked up.

“That’s not a good face.”

I was usually better at schooling my expression and giving a positive spin to even the worst cards. “Tell you what. I think some of my energy is messing up this reading. I’m really sorry. Would you mind if we rescheduled? I’ll throw in an extra ten minutes for free.”

“Oh, that’s okay. Are you sure it’s just not really bad cards for me?” Her lower lip quivered.

“I think you should search your heart. If you’re worried, there’s a reason.”