Page 75 of Stella

Ember laid out the first card.

Death.

“Of course.” I snorted.

Ember arched an eyebrow. Normally she was cute and fun, the life of the party. When she did tarot readings, I could almost see the bossy but wise old woman she would become one day. “You know it doesn’t mean real death.”

I sighed. “Let me be dramatic.”

Death never meant actual death in tarot readings, just a major change. But with change came rebirth. It was basically the moldavite crystal card of the deck. We’re gonna force you to grow, whether it’s comfortable or not.

She flipped over the second card. The Star.

I bit my lip. I often pulled that card in the deck, maybe because I identified with it so much.

“Renewed hope and faith after death,” Ember mused. “Not a bad pull.”

I stared down at the glossy card. The star in this deck was gorgeous, with seven points and a woman in the background pouring water out of a cup.

Cobalt blue and golds decorated the cards, calling to my inner magpie.

And finally, the Two of Cups.

Again.

I groaned. “Really?”

Ember shrugged. “The cards know. You got to work on your relationships, baby.”

I huffed. The sunroom was beautiful, airy, the perfect place to ask the universe for guidance.

Damn it.

“I tried,” I said.

“You did.” The weight of what shewasn’tsaying hit me.

I took a sip of chamomile tea and huffed again. This was the opposite of relaxing.

“It’s not my fault Simon has baggage.”

“It’s not.” Ember sipped her own tea. “He clearly has some issues to work through.”

Just like I did. I glanced at my phone. I was waiting for another text from Evan, even though I’d told him not to. He always seemed to know what I needed even when I didn’t know myself.

Jerrick would have been a great shoulder to cry on. We could curl up on the couch afterward and read.

My phone remained silent.

“No advice for me?” I broke down. “No one has told me I’m being an idiot.”

“You know you are.” Ember picked up the cards again. She started loosely shuffling. “We told you before. You have issues to work through. Simon being a jerk was the perfect excuse for you to prove yourself right.”

A card slipped out and it was the Two of Cups.

“Ember!”

“I didn’t do it,” she laughed. “You know this isn’t the subtle deck.”

---