She side-eyes me. “You’re saying you think it’s stupid to even be considering taking a chance on a guy who hangs on your every word, who makes up reasons to be with you, who agrees to decorate for Samhain just so he can be in the same room with you, who gave you the first orgasm you’ve had at the hands of a man in… how many years?”
Blushing, I ignore the orgasm reference. “Wh-what do you mean, he makes up reasons to be with me?”
Pen’s stare makes me feel dumb.
“The man is a geology student,” she says dryly, “not a business student? What can he possibly contribute to your plans to open a salon?”
I bristle. “Well—I mean… he’s helped me get organized and—and form a plan of attack, so to speak.”
“Has he?”
I’d like to clap back at Pen’s impertinence, but now that I think about it… I’ve been doing the organizing and the attack-planning.
Lark has just been inspiring me.
Making a space for it to happen.
Listening to my plans. Encouraging me.
Spending time with me under the guise of business-planning.
Something in my expression makes Pen’s gaze soften. “It’s not stupid for you to be pursuing Lark. He’s pursuing you.” Her eyes glint. “Besides, he’s preordained by this very house. Yours by right.”
“By right.”I snort and roll my eyes.
Judging by her face now, I probably shouldn’t have rolled my eyes. Or snorted. Or mimicked her.
“Sorry,” I mutter.
“I’m turning over the third card now.”
“What about that one—”
“Who exactly is the witch here, me or you?” she snaps.
“That would be you, Penelope.”
With a pert little nod, she flips over the card, and it’s beautiful.
“Oooh,”we both coo.
“Pretty,” I say.
“The Empress,” Pen says.
I look from the card to her and find my best friend beaming. “This is the card you want as number three.”
“Oh?” I sit up straighter.
The figure on the card sits on a plush throne wearing a crown of stars and holding a golden scepter. A forest of green makes up her background and a field of wheat is at her feet. She’s sitting pretty, all right.
Pen taps the card with her long index finger. “Your romantic future is ripe and blossoming. Successful and secure. Maybe even fertile.” She taps the circle and plus symbol tucked beneath the empress’s throne. “So be careful.”
I suck in a breath. “Fertile?”
Pen nods. “You wantin’ to give Maisy a little brother or sister?”
My eyes go wide. “I-I-I—”
