Page 92 of You, with a View

That last visual sinks its claws in. “I do. But I question if it’s real.”

Flor places her hands over the cards, as if absorbing theirenergy. “That’s normal. You’re in build mode, and that feels scary. But give yourself credit for your bravery. That’s what’s going to carry you through. You think you’ve given up, but you haven’t. You’re just resting before you build the rest.”

Sometimes hope hurts when it grows too quickly. Right now, it’s so big inside my body I want to scream. Instead, I let out a breath. “Thank you.”

Flor gives me a warm, guileless smile, like she didn’t just strip me down to my bones in front of the man who’s stripped me nearly that far.

“All right, now it’s Stern and Silent’s turn.” Flor sweeps my cards up and starts her shuffle over again.

Theo leans over, whispering, “You okay?”

I nod. “It’s just intense. You’ll see.”

He makes a sound in his throat, full of doubt, but then Flor murmurs, “Wow,” and his penetrating gaze darts to her.

“What?” he asks, edgy.

Flor inspects the spread, her eyebrows arched high. “Well, it looks like your world is crashing down around you.” She pins him with neon eyes, placing her fingers over two cards. “Does that resonate?”

She says it like she already knows it does. It’s telling when Theo doesn’t respond.

Her appraisal is brief but keen, and she holds up the card. It’s a stone tower, aflame, with people falling out of it. “This card means crisis and transformation. Something’s happening or happened that’s shaken the foundation of everything you know. I also pulled the ten of swords—” She pushes it across the table, the corner catching in a wood grain. The pop it makes sounds like thunder against Theo’s silence. “These swords have found their target.Could be you, could be a relationship. There’s a sense of betrayal, right?”

“Did I get the two worst cards because I don’t believe in this or what?” Theo asks, but his voice is unsteady.

“They’re not the worst cards,” Flor argues. “I mean, listen, does anyonewantthese cards, especially together? Knee-jerk response would be no. But this is destroying what no longer serves you so you can come back stronger, in a different way. You’re preparing for a transformation.”

Theo releases my hand, pointing between the two of us. “How can we both be transforming?”

Flor lifts a shoulder. “We’re all constantly transforming, sometimes in little ways and sometimes in big ones. It’s possible the universe wanted you together while you went through this. I can’t say for sure.”

My gaze drifts over to the mural, to the painted eye that’s been watching us from the start, and a shiver works down my spine. I turn back to Theo, whose hands are now laced between his spread knees. His brows are drawn tight, but otherwise I can’t read his expression, and I wonder if any of this makes sense to him. Is it about his relationship with his dad? About his job? Are the cards saying he should give in to what Anton and Matias want? Where To Next’s uncertain future clearly hurts him, but maybe the transformation is literal—the company will shift, and his growth will be tied to that.

It sounds like a good thing, but Theo’s frown deepens.

“My point is, this is going to happen no matter what. It’shappening.” Flor leans forward on her elbows, the tower card falling to the ground, and presses a long fuchsia nail on the table in front of him. “The cards are inviting you to let it go and let something newand better grow. You’ve been placed with resources in your life that will help you move on, but you have to allow that resource to help you.”

There’s a long, drawn-out silence. Finally, Theo clears his throat. “Got it.”

I place my hand on his thigh, palm up, but he doesn’t take it, so I curl my hand over his leg instead, wanting to comfort him somehow even if he won’t grab hold of it himself. There’s an invisible wall between us. Whatever this means to him, he’s processing it. Alone.

Flor crosses her arms, her expression kind. “I hope this helped.”

“So much.” Part of me wishes I hadn’t pushed so hard, though. The light, sexy mood Theo and I built over dinner is gone, and I don’t know if I can get it back. “Thank you for taking the time to do this.”

“Totally selfish on my part. That connection, whew.” Flor fans her face. “Nearly blew me over when you walked in.”

I laugh uncomfortably, digging in my purse for cash so I don’t have to look at Theo. It’s one thing to feel the intense connection. It’s another thing for a total stranger to feel it and make it a thing.

When I find what I’m looking for, I stand and extend the money toward Flor. “We won’t keep you; I know you said you had plans.”

Theo pushes my hand away, placing two hundred-dollar bills on the table. “Thanks for your time,” he says woodenly, his eyes lingering on the tarot cards before drifting down to the one on the floor.

He turns and leaves, his shoulders coiled.

I turn to Flor, hesitating. “I’m sorry, he’s just—”

There’s no good way to end that sentence. I don’t know what heis. Skeptical, so he wants to get out of there? Shaken, so he has to leave?

---