Chapter 11
ELEVEN
The intrusive chime of my phone has me groaning awake. I reach for it, squinting at the bright screen. It’s just past noon. I had hoped to catch up on some much-needed sleep after another restless, lonely night.
My head was spinning with what Saylor and I did and how it did not help keep him with me in the least.
Tally’s name lights up on the display.
Tally
Hey girl, can you meet me at the restaurant?
I release a tired sigh, wondering what could be so important that Tally would want to meet now. My shift doesn’t start until later in the evening.
Reluctantly, I type out a response.
Be there in a few.
Dragging myself out of bed, I wiggle into some tights and pull on a sweater, pulling my hair into a messy bun. When I open the van’s sliding door, I have to shield my eyes from the sun.
Just as I’m about to step out, I look down and notice a basket in front of my van’s door. Irritation prickles at the edges of my exhaustion, and I crouch to inspect it. Inside, there’s what appears to be homemade bread and an assortment of cheeses, which agitates me even more.
I fucking love cheese.
There’s no way I can just set this aside or handle it casually like I did with the cookies. My stomach growls at the smell, so I pick up the basket and climb back inside, holding it in my lap as I sit on my bed.
I pull out the bread and cheese, uncovering an envelope at the bottom of the basket. Siren is written on it in Nash’s handwriting.
I shouldn’t read his poems.
They only hurt and are a way for him to slither back in.
But my curiosity wins, and I pull out the letter, popping a piece of cheese into my mouth as I do. A groan escapes me as I savor the perfectly flavored cheese. Then, I unfold the letter and begin to read.
It’s cute. Nash is calling me a wildflower and his muse, and I catch myself smiling. Fuck.
With a heavy sigh, I set the letter aside and continue to nibble on the bread and cheese.
I just don’t understand him.
What happened to him wanting to be friends? To we can enjoy each other’s company with no strings attached?
Did he really change his mind?
Or is this all just because he wants to participate in the challenge of wooing me with the guys?
The thought makes me furious and momentarily distracts me from my fatigue. I set aside the cheesy goodness and stand again, wiping my hands on my tights before I make my way to the restaurant. I’m hopeful that Tally has something to distract me, or I will start spiraling again.
Stepping into the restaurant, I scan the room for Tally, but she’s already seen me and is rushing over, fidgeting and pulling on her hands anxiously.
I can tell right away that something’s off.
As I approach, her eyes meet mine, filled with worry.
“Please, Sloan, don’t hate me for this,” Tally blurts out before I can even ask what’s wrong.
“I just… I want to help. It’s not just about her, although she’s suffering badly.
I want you to face your fears and overcome this. ”
A cold sensation washes over me, and my stomach drops. I glance around, noticing a couple at a nearby table watching us intently.
I lean in, lowering my voice to a hiss. “Tally, what did you do?”
Her eyes are earnest, pleading. “My friend’s mother passed away a long time ago. She never got to say goodbye, and it’s haunting her. She needs closure, Sloan. And you… you need to get over your fears. You’re a medium, and it’s not a curse. It’s a gift. Not just for you, but for others too.”
Her words hang in the air while I try to breathe, trying to process what she’s asking of me.
She wants me to do a reading.
Now.
Here, with her friends I don’t know shit about. Maybe they’re the nicest people ever. Maybe they’ll get me locked away again.
Panic starts to rise, and I take a step back, panting slightly. “I can’t do this, Tally. I’m sorry. You’re asking for too much.”
“No, I’m not. I’m helping you and them. You need this. She needs this. I swear, she’ll never do anything to hurt you. I vouch for her. Do you believe I love you and you’re my best friend?”
I want to.
“I-I think so,” I stutter, making Tally laugh.
“Seems like I’m not doing a good job at showing you then. I would never do anything that could put you in danger.”
“Not intentionally,” I whisper, feeling the urge to turn and run. But a harsh chill runs down my spine before I can, signaling a strong presence. It’s not the one I would suspect, though. It’s not a mother figure. It’s someone else, someone younger and more urgent.
I turn to see a young girl, perhaps sixteen, standing beside me. Her desperation is palpable. “Please help me. He needs to hear this.”
“For fuck’s sake,” I mutter, trying to shield myself from the emotions she is radiating, urgency clawing on me. Taking a deep breath, I close my eyes, trying to center myself.
“You okay?” Tally asks, and I feel her hand touching my upper arm.
“Fucking fine, I’m doing it, but I swear to God, Tally, if you ever pull something like this again, I’ll walk straight out of here,” I warn, still agitated from her springing this on me.
“Understood, future readings only with arrangement and a heads-up.” Tally nods.
I sigh, heading to the table where the couple is sitting. “There will be no future readings.”
“Sure,” Tally agrees way too happily, following beside me, and she introduces her friends to me. “Sloan, this is Chelsey and her boyfriend, Brad.”
I sit across from the couple who might be our age while Tally sits next to us. Chelsey is eager and hopeful, while Brad looks skeptical with a hint of annoyance.
I recognize his type.
He’s here for her, which I respect, but he doesn’t believe in the afterlife.
“You wish to speak to your mother?” I ask Chelsey, trying to sound not as annoyed and anxious as I am, my pulse racing.
She nods, her eyes already glistening with tears. “Yes, I just want to know if she’s okay. She was so weak and in pain, and I need to know she’s no longer suffering. I wasn’t there when she died, and I want to say goodbye.”
I smile weakly at her. “Spirits leave the pain behind when they depart. I can assure you she’s not in pain anymore.”
The young girl comes to stand beside Brad, her hand on her hip, tapping her foot slightly to let me know she’s waiting.
Fuck, this isn’t at all how Tally and her friend had imagined this reading would go, and it has the potential to blow up. “I’m sorry,” I apologize, my voice trembling with nerves. “I would love to talk to your mother for you, but she’s not here.”
Chelsey’s face falls. and Brad huffs a sarcastic laugh. “I knew this would be a waste of time. She’s not even pretending to try.”
“There’s someone else here,” I continue, ignoring his remark. “Someone who wants to speak to…” I turn to Brad, “… you.”
He scoffs, rolling his eyes. “Of course, there is.”
“Oh, Brad, don’t be such a dick,” Chelsey chides before looking at me. “We’re willing to talk to anybody who wants to talk to us.”
I turn to look at the girl again. “What’s your name?” I ask, trying to keep my face neutral. It’s the first time a spirit has been at one of my readings uninvited. I always had at least an idea of whom I was talking to.
“I’m his sister, Isabelle. Please tell Chelsey I’m sorry for stealing her reading, but her mom is okay with it. I asked for permission, and they can have another one with you soon.”
I smirk at her confidence. Relaying her message, I tell Brad, “She claims she’s your sister, Isabelle. She’s apologizing to Chelsey for the interruption but assures that your mom is fine and will talk to you in another reading soon.”
Perfect, Sloan, you just promised her another reading.
Chelsey looks at me with wide eyes before turning to Brad, whispering, “Oh my God. Isabelle?”
“You know, I really like her. She’s the best girlfriend he’s ever had. She’s good for him. But he needs to move on from the past, or he’ll ruin everything,” Isabelle confides.
“What message do you want me to convey to him?” I ask.
“I was run over in a crosswalk by a drunk driver on my way home from a study group. I called him to pick me up from my friend’s house, but he fell asleep in front of the TV. I decided to walk home. It wasn’t his fault. It was mine—”
“There’s no way she’s here. You must’ve learned that from social media or something. You googled us,” Brad accuses, crossing his arms over his chest.
Why do they always think I google shit.
I continue, ignoring his skepticism, and tell him what she wants him to hear. “She wants you to know that it wasn’t your fault. That night, when she called and you didn’t pick up—”
He sucks in a breath, making me pause. His face turns pale, his eyes widening in shock. After a long moment, he asks in a hushed tone, “No one knows she called me. How do you know that?”
“She’s telling me,” I whisper. “She says you blame yourself for what happened to her, but she wants you to know it wasn’t your fault. She’s at peace now.”
He looks down at his hands on the table, forming fists, his hands trembling, his knuckles white. “I should’ve been there for her. I should’ve picked her up.”
“I’ve been sending this dickhead signs for years now.
Every time he gets in his car, he gets a well-selected playlist. He thinks it’s shuffle, but it’s me.
If he’d listen to the lyrics just once, dammit…
” she starts before telling me about their teen years.
I listen to her and watch as desperation seeps into Brad while the restaurant remains silent.
“She says she’s been sending you signs,” I relay after she finishes. “Songs, lyrics, whenever you’re driving. She says you both played in a band together. She sang, and you played the bass. She’s been trying to communicate with you through music.”
He looks up from his hands, his face a mixture of disbelief and hope. “I found a guitar pick under my bed last week. I haven’t played in years. I thought it was strange.”
“Finally, he’s connecting the dots.” Isabelle rolls her eyes.
I can see how she was fun to be around.
“That was her,” I say softly.
He looks at me for a few more seconds before he breaks down, sobbing uncontrollably. “I’m so sorry,” he whispers, looking to where I was watching Isabelle. “I think about it every day. I think about you every day.”
“She wants you to move past what happened,” I say gently. “She says it’s time for you to let go of the guilt and live your life.”
“Yes! He needs to finally live his life.” She turns to him and says, “And stop using me as an excuse not to take the next step. I saw that fine ring you have hidden in your sock drawer. I was there when you picked it out. Ask that girl to marry you already, or she will walk away. And then what? I won’t be there to pick up your sorry ass like I used to. ”
“And she has one more message for you,” I smile. “Chelsey, maybe don’t listen for the next few seconds, or I might ruin a surprise.” Chelsey widens her eyes but covers her ears, making me grin and Tally snicker.
Brad looks at me, wiping away his tears with the sleeve of his sweater.
“She says you should ask Chelsey to marry you. She knows you have the ring. She helped you pick it. And she won’t stand for you using her as an excuse not to marry the love of your life. She likes her. She thinks Chelsey is the best girlfriend you ever had. She wants you to marry her and be happy.”
“Damn, Isa.” He laughs a watery laugh and wipes away the remaining tears from his eyes. “Still bossing me around from the afterlife.”
Chelsey cautiously uncovers her ears and looks at Brad, puzzled. “What’s going on? What did she say?” she asks, her eyes wide with curiosity.
“You’ll find out soon enough.” He smiles at her, grabbing her hand.
As Brad leans in to kiss Chelsey, Isabelle has a satisfied smile on her face. She looks at me and appreciatively nods before she vanishes.
Tally’s eyes meet mine, a silent question in their depths.
Am I okay?
It wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be.
I am. I really am okay.