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Together, we walk over to Shelby’s booth. People stop us to say hi. A guy I don’t recognize tries to rub my belly. Marcel shackles his hand around the guy’s wrist.
“You want this back?” he asks, shaking the guy’s arm. “Don’t touch my wife.”
“Sorry, sorry.” He backs away from us fast.
“Who the fuckareall these people?” Marcel grouches.
“Friends of Ravage’s, I guess.” I turn my head, searching the room. “Where is he, by the way?”
“No clue. But as soon as I talk to him, we’re out of here.”
I’m starting to agree with him but after making such a fuss about staying, I don’t want to admit it.
“I see an ass-kickin’ in your future if you don’t back the fuck up.” Shelby’s Southern twang burns through all the other noise around us.
“Jesus,” Marcel grumbles. “What now?”
Without even looking for Rooster, Marcel steps up to the man sitting at Shelby’s table and taps him on the shoulder. “What’s goin’ on?”
The man isn’t wearing a cut. He’s dressed like Santa and glares at Teller for about two seconds. Recognition seems to cross his face and he jumps out of his seat.
“Nothing, man. Just talking to the lady. Thought that’s what the girls were here for.”
“She’s my brother’s ol’ lady. You need to move along,” Marcel says. “Now.”
“Yeah, yeah. I’m goin’, man.”
Santa shuffles away, but Marcel isn’t content with that. He searches the room. When his gaze lands on Wrath he signals to him.
“Give me a sec, Sunshine. I’ll be right back.” Marcel guides me into the chair across from Shelby and takes off.
“You all right?” I ask her.
“Pfft. I’m fine. He was just gross. Probably old enough to be my damn grandpa.” She closes her eyes and takes several deep breaths, waving her hands back and forth. “Okay! Do you want me to pull cards for you?”
“Sure.” I’ve watched Shelby do this several times and I’m still not sure what to think about the process.
“Good.” She picks up her cards and starts shuffling them. “Do you have a question in mind?”
“Not really.”
“That’s okay.” She sets the cards in front of me, splits the deck, and fans the cards out. “Pick three.”
I touch several cards before pulling three out and handing them to her. She picks up the rest of the cards, setting them to the side.
One by one, she turns over the cards. A sly smile curves her pink lips.
“The universe is feeling obvious tonight. Empress.” She taps the card with a woman wearing a crown. “A sign of fertility.”
I rub my stomach. “I can think of another big sign.”
“No joke.” She taps the next card. “The Sun, for our family’s sunshine—perfect. Can also indicate children or fertility. And finally, the Ace of Wands. It can mean new opportunities and growth.”
“I’m definitely growing,” I agree.
She picks the cards up. “That’s a relief. I was worried that since I’m kinda doing this for kicks as a party trick, the readings would be garbage. But that was a dang good one.”
I can’t see how she could’ve rigged that to pull those particular cards for me. “I guess there’s magic in the air tonight.”
