Page 43 of Miss Belief

Finally, it was our turn, and we stepped inside the tent. Sitting at a table inside was a small woman with brown, weathered skin. She was anywhere between seventy and a hundred years old. A colorful headdress matched her embroidered, loose-fitting blouse.

“Come in and take a seat,” she said with an islander accent.

The tent was filled with bright-colored tapestries and blankets that hung from floor to ceiling, giving the small space the desired ambiance for a psychic reading.

Teagan whispered, “What do you want to bet the bride and your ex slipped her a twenty to tell me I’m doomed?”

I grinned and was about to reassure her when the woman spoke.

“I do not take bribes. This is serious work. My name is Imelda, and I’ve been a psychic for over fifty years.”

Teagan sucked in a breath. “Sorry. Bad joke.”

I started to chuckle, but Imelda’s glare shut me up.

“She hates us both,” I murmured under my breath as we both took seats.

Now that I was closer, I could see the table was covered with a printed cloth and adorned with lighted candles, books, and beads. Whether all of this was functional or aesthetic, I wasn’t sure, but it definitely set the mood. The same could be said of the vanilla spiced incense permeating the room.

“Give me your hands.”

I could sense Teagan’s hesitation, so I took our hands, still clasped, and put them on the table.

Imelda put her old, weathered hands on top of ours and closed her eyes.

I winked at my date who appeared as though she was ready to bolt.

“I see a sexual spark between the two of you. A definite chemistry.”

“She can’t keep her hands off of me.”

My quip was meant to be funny, but it earned me a stern glare from Imelda.

Teagan’s lips twitched with the hint of a smile.

Imelda’s gravelly voice spoke again. “I see a much brighter spark with her than with you.”

Teagan smirked. “He does tend to lie there a lot while I do all the work.”

The vision of her on top of me made me suck in a breath. Guaranteed she wouldn’t be the one doing all the work.

Imelda narrowed her eyes, looking at us both. “You two haven’t had intercourse yet, have you?”

Her scrutiny had me squirming in my seat. “What makes you say that?”

“Because of all the unsatisfied sexual energy between the two of you.”

Gulp. I didn’t dare glance at Teagan.

Imelda leaned forward. “Don’t take things too slow. This is your window. I see a long and happy future for the two of you.”

Double gulp.

She then let go of my hand and concentrated on Teagan, whose eyes went wide.

“My dear, you are loyal, but the numbers of those you trust are small. You crave options in your life, don’t you?”

Teagan cleared her voice. “Yes.”