Page 93 of All Signs Point to Malibu

“In fairness, I was running for my life...”

Warren shoots me an exasperated look.

“Okay, so I messed everything up! That wasn’t my intent.” That’s a lie. I backtrack. “Okay, at first it was, but notduringthe wedding. Today, I promise you, I was fully on board and just trying to make the day happen.” For all our sakes.

Warren peers at me. “Why? What changed?”

“Come on, Warren. You know what changed,” I say softly. Everything. Over the last few weeks my feelings for him took such a sudden turn that I hadn’t had time to catch up, to process, to fully evaluate things...and then the kiss with him today revealed everything I needed to know. My own feelings had been crystal clear. They still are. I’m ready to take a chance on trusting someone...maybe not with the full version of who I am right away, but in time. Something about this connection with Warren feels different than any other I’ve ever had—it feels safe and makes me believe that I might actually be able to make that ultimate trust fall.

But Warren swallows hard, then shakes his head. “I don’t think I do. Anyway, like you said, what happened between us was nothing.”

I want to argue that we both know that’s not true, but I can feel the guard he’s put back up. His fear and hesitancy has him retaliating and while I’m desperate to break through that wall and reassure him that what was happening between us wasn’t nothing—not even close—I know anything I say right now will fall on a closed heart and I deserve that.

The only thing I can do is focus on Sonia and Liam. I swallow my own emotions and repress the urge to reveal my feelings for Warren.

“We need to get them back together.”

Warren looks incredulous as his head swivels toward me. “You’re still interfering? Haven’t you learned anything?”

Apparently not. “I want to make things right.”

“Liamhas to make things right.”

Still firmly on team Sonia, got it.

“That’s the thing. Liam thinks he’s meant to be with me.” He’s been calling and texting for hours. I’m ignoring him. Just like in my glimpse.

For once, I would have loved to have gotten it wrong!

Warren gets to his feet and throws his hands up. “Oh, for fuck’s sake Hailey.”

“ButIknow we’re not meant to be!”

Warren turns toward me. “A month ago, you felt differently. And news flash—their lives aren’t up to you. You think just because celebrities and professionals think your advice is gospel, it gives you the right to mess with everyone how you see fit.”

Truth hurts, but okay, I can own that. “I know. I do. I just...um...”

“Just what?”

Warren stares at me expectantly and I summon all the courage I’ve never been able to muster before. I need to tell him. Everything. The whole messy truth that sounds like something out of a speculative fiction movie. The secret I’ve kept to myself my entire life...

“I have this thing...a gift,” I blurt out.

He frowns. “What are you talking about?”

Here we go. Ultimate trust fall. “I can see into the future when my lifeline connects to another person’s. Not my own or anyone I’m close to. I’ve had it since I was a teenager and it’s never been wrong. I saw Liam heartbroken and originally it was because of Sonia—if he went through with this marriage—but now I think it’s because of me.” There. I said it. The truth is out. I’d thought I’d feel lighter if I ever shared this burdensome secret with someone, but only terror seizes me. I’ve just completely opened myself up to devastation.

“You’re saying you’re psychic?” he says it slowly and I know he thinks I’m full of shit.

Who wouldn’t? It’s the reaction I always knew I’d get if I told someone, but somehow it still aches that he doesn’t immediately believe me.

I take a deep breath. “That day at the airport, I saw what would have happened if you’d gone to the tryouts. I saw you get hurt. Really hurt,” I say. May as well keep going. I’m in this far already. And maybe if I tell him everything, there might be something he can grasp on to as a glimmer of truth.

Instead, Warren stares at me for a long beat, then shakes his head. “I don’t believe this.”

“I’ve never told anyone...besides my neighbor, Mrs. Cranshaw, but she thinks I’m a palm reader, so she doesn’t count.” I shake my head. Getting off track. “It’s how I’ve built my business.”

He raises an eyebrow. “You see into your client’s future and that’s how you advise them?”

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