Page 59 of Chasing After Forever

“Pretty please,” Everly pleaded. “With a cherry on top?”

“Go. It’ll be fun. I have to check in with Quinn, anyway, make sure everything went okay at the store today. I’ll meet you over there,” Liam said, bending down and dropping a soft kiss on my lips.

“Yes!” Everly said, pumping her fist into the air, victorious. She blew Liam an air kiss from her palm, then linked her arm in mine, dragging me away towards the dark purple fortune teller tent.

“Think of what questions you want answered,” Everly said, her tone serious. “You need to have a few thoughts in mind.”

“Sure.”

“What? It’s true. I saw it on a TikTok. It works.”

“Okay.”

“You have to at least give it a shot, Macy,” Everly said, her hands on her hips as we stood outside the tent. “Otherwise, you won’t get a good reading.”

“Fine, Ev.” I blew out an exasperated breath, my bangs feathering up, then back down on my forehead. I didn’t even want to do this.

Everly ushered me into the tent, through a waterfall curtain of gold and silver beads, back into a dim room. In the center of the space stood a tiny round table, covered with a plum-colored satin tablecloth, a clear crystal ball in the middle.Straight out of a cheesy movie, I thought, but kept my eye roll in check.

“Welcome.” A petite woman with long, jet-black hair, wearing a bright red robe, waved us over to the table, taking our tickets. “I’m Madame Scarlet. Are you here for your fortunes?”

“We are,” Everly said in an enthusiastic voice.

“Come, come.” Madame Scarlet gestured to the empty seat at the table and Everly sat down. “You can sit over there.”

She pointed me to a chair off to the side, adjacent to the table. I obediently sat, happy Everly volunteered to go first. I didn’t know if it was the new-agey music, the flickering candles, or Madame Scarlet herself, but something about the whole ambiance made me jumpy.

“My child,” Madame Scarlet said, resting her hands over Everly’s and closing her eyes.

She started humming, low and soft at first, then got louder and louder. I caught Everly’s eye over Madame Scarlet’s shoulder and we both stifled our giggles. Madame Scarlet started rubbing Everly’s hands and rocking back and forth, then all of a sudden, her eyes flew open.

“My child! Change is upon you.” She stared directly at Everly, her dark eyes flashing and wild.

Everly’s mouth formed a perfect ‘O,’ but no sound came out.

Madame Scarlet continued. “A new relationship is on the horizon.”

“Oh, exciting!” Everly said. “A love relationship?”

Madame Scarlet nodded. “Indeed.”

“Is he cute? Tall? Dark hair? What’s the time frame looking like? Is he local?”

Madame Scarlet closed her eyes again, humming. “It’s foggy, I can’t see all those details. The vibrations are different, though; he seems far away.”

“Oh,” Everly breathed, low and quiet. “Can you see where? Like, how far? Are we talking Atlanta?”

Madame Scarlet’s eyes slid open. “My child. I’m getting the reading. Sshh.” She lifted a finger to her red glossy lips, emphasizing the silence required for a proper fortune telling.

Everly shut her mouth, pressing her lips together in a thin, tight line to keep from talking.

“I see sunshine, then fog. And water. This could be a sign or a timeline clue. I’d say within the next six months.”

“Great,” Everly said, excitement bubbling back up in her voice. “Oh, right. Sorry—no talking.”

Madame Scarlet gave Everly a wan smile, then her arms twitched. “I am getting more.” She rocked side to side, rolling her head back for dramatic effect. “There’s movement.”

“Does that mean I’m moving? Who’s moving?” Everly asked, her brows knit in confusion.

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