My Ex's Baby (Crescent Cove 8)

Seeing how upset my bestie became when Rory traveled for work had me evaluating a lot of things. Maybe this baby idea with August was actually a really smart plan. We were friends yet we could have a kid and not get tangled up with messy feelings that just complicated matters.

For two busy business owners, this made sense. It was like having the best of both worlds.

And I’d just keep telling myself that.

“I’ll take a Past-Present-Future reading, please.”

“Okay, Luna will shuffle while you think about your question.”

“Hold up.” Luna leaned toward the webcam, her bright blue eyes going wide. “You’re making a big life change. You’re red. Bold red today.”

I looked down at my white man-styled shirt with oversized cuffs paired with a long gauzy pink and purple skirt dotted with tiny wildflowers. “Not wearing a stitch of red.” I played dumb, though I full well knew she was referring to my aura. Typically, she tended to say I was a cool blue. “But I did pull out my favorite red lacy thong for this weekend.”

“I knew it! You’re seeing someone.”

Ryan leaned in closer, tipping her sleek long dark hair close to Luna’s bouncy blond shorter waves. “Oooh, I totally missed it. You’re right. She’s sexing on the regular. Tell us.”

Luna smacked her friend’s arm while I fixated on the pendant lights August had brought me and tried not to flush eight shades of crimson. “No, you don’t have to tell us.” She grabbed the deck of cards and shuffled gleefully. “The tarot will tell us all we need to know. Past-present-future, you said?”

I laughed and clutched the chunk of labradorite dangling from today’s necklace. I’d been called to this stone, probably because my spiritual path seemed very shaky lately. “Why do I do this to myself every week?”

“Because you love us and we always help interpret the cards in a way you appreciate.”

I frowned at Luna. “Does that mean you tell me what I like to hear?”

“No, of course not. The cards are the cards. We don’t lie. But there’s always a way to focus on the positive. That’s one of the tenets of Tarot Tramps.”

Ryan nodded sagely. “We came up with ground rules before we started the podcast. We always try to leave people with a smile, even if they’re going through rough stuff. The cards are always honest. We just frame things in the best possible way so we can help our listeners find constructive solutions.”

“Right. I knew that.” I tucked my hair behind my ear and took a quick furtive look around my store. For this instant, it was empty. I’d known I was taking a risk calling for a reading now, but Luna and Ryan would recap it for me later if I got busy, and I desperately needed some guidance. No matter how many times I told myself August and I were doing a practical thing, my heart was not nearly as convinced.

Mainly because he just kept being so damn sweet. Bringing over meals and flowers and offering to make furniture for my shop without asking for anything in return, other than those pillows for Seth’s anniversary present for Ally. August was fixated on those. I kept putting him off, but little did he know I’d taken a swatch of the fabric Seth wanted last time I was in August’s shop and was already sourcing something close.

“Okay, Luna’s shuffling for you. We’ll make the preliminary reading quick because we know you’re dealing with customers and then we’ll film an expanded one for you to watch later. How’s that?”

Since I kept looking at the doorway, expecting customers, that was probably smart. “Perfect.”

Luna’s armful of bangles jangled as she shuffled and cut the deck before shuffling again. “Tell me when,” she said.

“Now. And those two cards on the end too, please.”

She set down my three cards from the colorful witchy tarot deck she was using and flipped them over. “Oh, this is very interesting. In the past position, you have Seven of Wands. In the present position, you have Four of Pentacles. In the future position, you have Ace of Wands.”

“Uh oh. That looks ominous.” I pointed to the past card, depicting a witch surrounded by hands holding brooms pointed in her direction.

“A little bit, but it’s largely due to your perception. In the past, you felt as if you had to defend yourself.”

I nodded. That was scarily on point. “Yes.”

Ryan tapped the Four of Pentacles. “In the present, you’re holding everything dear to you close. Your valuables, your gifts, even your spirit. Keeping them away from someone, as if you fear losing them if you share yourself freely.” She cocked her head, shrewdly narrowing her eyes. “Joy shared is joy multiplied.”

I fumbled for my necklace and said nothing. “I’m trying to be freer.”

“Sex is but one expression of such. A good one,” Luna conceded, resting her chin on her hand. “But it’s only a beginning. There’s so much more inside you to give.”

I didn’t even flush. I knew what they were saying was accurate, and I couldn’t deny I probably had a sex glow going on. It wasn’t hard to imagine since August and I were…active. As in every night and occasionally during lunch times too.

This was just the first week. Things would settle down sexually soon enough I was sure, but right now, my body was happily humming for the first time since probably ever. I’d never had this much sex before, even when I was seeing someone.