Chapter 20
“I’m just saying, I can’t believe you didn’t tell me.” Audrey huffed, as she’d been doing since she’d come in, and shoved a pack of tarot cards onto a shelf.
River groaned and lightly thumped her head against the table. “Audrey. Why are you here? You said you needed to be at the hospital.” She’d had more than enough of Audrey’s irritation at River not calling to tell her about the attempted mugging.
“Apparently I’ve been abusing visiting hours, and they can’t allow that anymore.” Her use of air quotes was indiscriminate and didn’t seem attached to any particular word. “Have you seen the schedule?”
River sat back and looked at the gloomy sky outside.
Last night had been a win, as far as Adriana was concerned.
Her multiple early morning texts said as much.
But River’s dreams had been chaotic, filled with trap doors and the sense of people just waiting in the shadows for her to choose the wrong turn.
Her morning tarot card, the nine of swords, pretty much underscored her stress and anxiety and didn’t give her any hints on how to proceed.
“River?” Audrey’s hand was gentle on her shoulder. “Your thoughts are all mucky. And really loud. Mucky loudness gives me a headache.”
River put her hand over Audrey’s and smiled. “Sorry. I’ll try to calm it down in there. Yeah, I’ve seen the schedule, and it looks like we’ll get through our usual post-holiday slump a little easier with all the new business coming in.”
Audrey squeezed her shoulder and went back to the counter. “Let’s hope it stays—”
The door flew open and Leo practically leapt into the room, waving their phone. “Oh my god. You’re a total thirst trap. Have you seen this?” They laughed, still waving the phone. “I know you haven’t. That’s why I’m here. You’ve got to see it.”
“Leo.” River held up her hands. “Hold up. What are you talking about?”
Leo came to stand beside her and held the phone so River could see it. Audrey came hurrying over to look over River’s shoulder.
“Your name is trending as a hashtag. Look. People aren’t just talking about the neighborhood stuff.
They’re dueting and stitching stuff where you’re talking or even just standing there listening.
” Leo laughed and kept swiping to show River the different videos.
“Look at this one. Hashtag thirsty echoes. And there’s—”
“Okay. I get it.” River pushed the phone away. “Thank fuck I’m not on social media.”
Leo bit their lip. “But the thing is, River, Echoes has an Insta. You just don’t use it very well.”
Audrey punched Leo’s arm. “Hey. I’m in charge of that.”
“You suck at it.” Leo grinned. “Sorry, but it’s true. You just post occasional pics of stuff in the store, and you don’t even use captions.”
“What’s your point?” River asked, sitting down again and letting the tarot deck sift through her fingers.
Leo straddled the chair opposite her. “My point is you should totally make use of this crazy viral thing. Use it to talk up the issue and show people who you are and why it sucks that some corporate shithead wants to take away what you guys built. At the very least it might get you some more business. It will definitely get a zillion people sliding into your DMs. Have you even checked them today?” They looked at Audrey, who frowned.
“I’ve been a little busy with the dying husband thing.”
Leo blanched. “Fuck. I’m so sorry, I didn’t know—”
“Audrey, don’t be an ass. Leo, her husband did have a heart attack, but he’s fine, and the nurses actually had to kick Audrey out because she was driving them insane.” River flinched when Audrey yanked the tarot card from her fingers, leaving a stinging papercut.
“Can I take over?” Leo asked, looking between them. “I’d love to manage your socials.”
Should we allow that? What if it gets them in trouble somehow? River thought it clearly, and loudly, and Audrey’s eyes narrowed.
“Yes. You can.” Audrey handed over her phone. “Figure out the passwords and all that malarkey. Do what you will. You’re an adult and if you think you can handle it, then you can.”
Well, that certainly told River off in no uncertain terms. “But Leo, if things get tense or people get…well, peopley, then you shut it down and let us know, okay?”
Leo nodded absently as their fingers flew over the phone, and they moved from Audrey’s to their own. They started to laugh and held up Audrey’s phone. “You have seven hundred DMs.”
River grabbed the phone and scrolled down the list. “Why would someone send a pic of that? And why would I want to marry a total stranger?” She shook her head and handed it back. “Can you ignore them? Or send some bot response that doesn’t sell my soul, or body, to anyone?”
“If you ask me, you could do with handing over both to some hot person who makes you—”
“Nope.” River clapped her hand over Leo’s mouth. “Not having this conversation with you, ever.”
Leo’s eyebrows wiggled, and River shook her head and dropped her hand.
“Okay, I’ll handle it. But I’m going to want to do some B-roll video of you doing stuff.
Like, doing a tarot spread, or meeting with the neighbors, whatever.
It would be best if you’d talk because the queer community is all over this, and you know we can move mountains when we get together.
” Leo began doing a bit of videoing as they walked around the shop.
River smiled at their optimism. Things had mellowed for a couple of decades, but now the next generation was being called to fight again. It was heartening, and sad, to see.
Her phone buzzed in her pocket, and she pulled it out.
Can we talk again? In person?
River frowned at Marina’s message. Seems like you said what you have to say. As ungodly hot as you are, it isn’t a good idea.
My hotness makes everything a good idea. Maybe I’ll even fall at your feet again.
The last one was followed with a devil emoji.
“You’re like a lioness in heat,” Audrey grumbled from behind the counter. “Put up some barriers or I’ll vomit into the witch hat.”
“What?” Leo spun around and looked at the phone in River’s hand. “You’re talking to someone?”
“I talk to people every day.” River held her phone out of Leo’s reach as they tried to grab for it. “But I’m not dating anyone, if that’s what you mean.”
Leo scoffed. “Audrey said malarkey, and you say dating. How old are you guys?”
Audrey threw a fluffy cat toy at Leo’s head. “Don’t be impertinent.”
River turned away to text Marina back. Business or pleasure? Honestly, please.
A little of both.
Okay, well, that was fair. River looked at Audrey, who was staring back at her. “Do I?”
Audrey sighed and glanced at the person outside about to come into the shop. “She’s been dropped onto your path for some mysterious reason. You might as well flow with it to see if she drowns you or helps you fly.”
Shaking her head at Audrey’s bizarre metaphor, she texted back. When and where?
Godfrey rooftop. 6:30.
Make it 7. I’ll need to close up here and then get into the city. We can watch Adriana’s segment together.
See you there. #ThirstyEchoes
River laughed, making Audrey stop talking to the customer about what was going to happen in her appointment. “Sorry.” The last thing she wanted to do was encourage them to keep teasing her about it.
After that, the day was back-to-back appointments.
It didn’t escape River’s attention that many of the newcomers were from the rainbow brigade, and she managed to duck out of more than a few requests for dates by saying she was too busy with the neighborhood situation.
Some of the people who’d booked readings just wanted to talk about the gentrification issue, and she wasn’t thrilled about that coming into the shop.
Audrey had to leave to get to hospital visiting hours, and River wished Leo hadn’t left earlier in the day. Having people waiting at the counter to pay for something wasn’t helpful when she was doing a reading for someone who needed her attention.
By the time she turned the sign to closed, she had a low-level headache and would have liked to head to the gym to work off the energy she’d picked up from all the people in her personal space. But she really hated canceling plans, and she was curious about Marina’s desire to see her.
It was already getting dark by the time she stepped into her place, and Marjorie floated past the living room, the lights flickering in her wake, her perpetual disapproval written in every wrinkle.
River dashed upstairs, showered in under two minutes, and was back out the door in less than fifteen.
She made sure the comb was in her pocket before she put on her helmet.
The only way to get through the city at this time of day was on motorcycle.
Thankfully, the weather was dry, and it wasn’t too cold yet.
The roar of the engine made her smile, as did the power beneath her.
She made good time cutting lanes and moving ahead of traffic at lights, and she was headed to the rooftop with five minutes to spare.
The Godfrey wasn’t a place she’d ordinarily go to.
Swanky and overpriced, it catered to a crowd she’d never wanted to be part of.
But the private faux snow globes with tables, chairs, and heaters were pretty.
And romantic. Why would Marina choose somewhere with that kind of vibe? Was she going to be underhanded again?
She inhaled and was filled with the scent of vanilla. That tugged at some other memory she couldn’t place, but it fled when she looked down at Marina standing beside her.
“Hey.” Marina’s smile was tentative, her gaze searching.
“You look beautiful. As always.” River shoved her hand in her pocket, glad the other was holding her helmet.
“And you look…” Marina touched the leather jacket. “Shall we sit?” She gave her name to the waiting host, who led them to a globe at the far end, one with the best view.