Page 14 of Downfall

Abby smirks down at her half-empty plate, then, glancing back up at me, says, “I know it sounds outrageous, and I was skeptical, too, at first, but Viv has proven her power to me by now.”

“And do you know how it works?” My eyebrows are still raised in disbelief, but Abby doesn’t seem to mind.

“She’s tried explaining it to me before, but it’s all beyond me. All I know is that I consider her judgment gospel. Viv doesn’t care if people don’t believe her; she is who she is. She only cares that I trust her, and I do, implicitly.” The confidence she exudes when she speaks about Viv’s so-called powers is admirable and shows how much she loves and trusts her best friend.

I’m not sure I believe in her abilities, but I guess that will depend on what Viv tells her about me. If she somehow knows that Abby is already mine, that we are meant to be, then she might just make a believer out of me.

When we finish, Viv comes over to say goodbye, refusing to let me pay.

I thank her for the meal and slide off my barstool, turning to Abby to wait for her.

Viv meets me next to the stool I just vacated and hugs me again. I look over her shoulder, my arms once again hanging limply at my sides, and give Abby another wide-eyed look. She presses her lips together, suppressing a laugh.

When Viv lets me go a minute later, she catches my eye and winks. “Just messing with you this time,” she says, laughing.

“I’ll meet you outside in a sec,” Abby tells me, falling apart in a fit of giggles as I rush out the door. Of course, Abby and Viv need a moment to talk about myreading. Luckily, it’s a beautiful day, and I lean against the short, wrought-iron fencing that surrounds the outdoor seating area, soaking up the sun as I consider my next move.

Chapter 12

Abby

Messingwithskepticalmenis one of Viv’s favorite things to do, and it always makes us lose it. They just make the most hilarious faces.

Once we get ourselves under control, Viv gets down to business, letting me know exactly what she thinks of Kolson.

“I know you feel it, Abby. That’s why you brought him here, and I’m sorry, but I can’t lie to you. Your soul knows his; I can feel the pull he has on you even now. But, also—” Viv can read energies, and when she chooses to, she can access a person’s Akashic records, seeing their past lives like she was there with them.

I have witnessed it enough times that I am truly a believer, but I have never brought anyone to meet her before. I never had any plans for love or long-term commitments, but here I am, risking my entire outlook for a feeling.

“Also, what? You know about my past, Viv. My trauma. I can’t get involved with someone who is going to abandon me. I can’t risk my heart.” I don’t even sound convincing to myself, and she gives me a look that screams pity.

“Babe, I just want you to be happy, and you’ll do what you think is best for you, but I am here to tell you that Kolson is your match. The other half of your soul. You can try to fight it, but the universe will always win in the end. And, believe me, he isn’t going anywhere. In fact, I think you’ll have an extremely hard time shaking him.”

My forehead creases as I look down at my shoes, absorbing her words. I give her a hug, ignoring her meaningful hum when her skin brushes mine, then call out a goodbye to Max.

As I walk out into the afternoon sun, Kolson’s tall frame comes into view. He’s scrolling on his phone, looking stupidly perfect in his light gray t-shirt and jeans. He is breathtaking, and my heart is screaming at me to hold on for dear life.

For as long as I can remember, I’ve told myself that love is for the weak. For people whose goals for their life include settling down and having a family. Who don’t know any better than to let someone into their heart. And that’s not me. I don’t know exactly what I want, but what I do know is that heartbreak and emotional suffering are not on my list.

Kolson raises his head as I walk toward him, stowing his phone in his pocket. He takes in the look of distress on my face, and the corners of his mouth fall into a frown.

I start walking in the direction of my apartment, and he falls into step next to me, not attempting to hold my hand as we did on the way to Samsara.

“So, what did Viv say about me?” he asks, genuine curiosity in his tone.

“She likes you. Thinks we’re made for each other. One soul split in two.” I shouldn’t tell him this. I should tell him that she thinks he’s all wrong for me, that he isn’t the one, but he feels it, too. He already knows that we are connected in a way we can’t fight.

“Siren—” he starts, but I don’t let him finish.

“There’s a great record store up here. Can we run in? I want to see if they stocked the record I asked for,” I blurt, changing the subject before we can get any further into this conversation about our feelings. I am falling for him, and I don’t know how to proceed. I feel awkward and out of my own control; I hate it.

“Yeah, that sounds great.”

We walk around the corner in silence. The record store is tiny and cramped, but it’s the best in San Diego. When we enter the store, the desk is empty and I frown. Craning my neck and standing on my toes, I attempt to see over the huge racks of records, CDs, and vintage music memorabilia. I’m about to give up when I spot a head of wild, white hair coming through the back door.

“Vince!” I yell, running through the store to throw my arms around the broad man’s neck. “Please tell me my White Stripes vinyl came in.”

Vince chuckles and hugs me back, lifting my feet off the floor. “Yep, it’s here.” He sets me down, looking over my shoulder at where Kolson is browsing in the 70s rock section, then back at me. “You haven’t been in for a couple of weeks. Everything alright?”

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