Page 33 of A Fool's Game

The sound that sputters from my mouth is not quite a laugh and not quite a scoff. It’s somewhere between animalistic and mournful and so loud that Doc abandons Taylor and trots over to see if I’m okay.

“The Magician?” The words finally make it out of my mouth, but they sound wrong. Like I’m about to cry. I clear my throat and shake my head. “That’s just perfect. That’s the perfect summary of how I feel right now. Like you’re the magician, and I’m the damn fool.”

Taylor walks over to stand in front of me too quickly, too close. I’m caught off guard but backed up against the counter with nowhere to escape. “I would have thought a fancy collegeboy like yourself would know a thing or two about homework,” he growls, his nose almost touching mine.

“I…I don’t know what that means,” I manage.

He takes a step back and zips his coat up. “I suggest you figure it out.”

And then he leaves without looking back.

Chapter 13

Ainsley

Ispend all Saturday on my couch, researching tarot cards with Brooklyn 99 reruns on in the background.

Turns out The Fool isn’t about being stupid at all. It's more like the beginning of a journey.I guess that explains some of Taylor’s behavior when I told him. But not all of it.

I learn that The Magician is only kind of about magic. It’s more about self-confidence and using the resources you have. And the guy on the card is wearing a dress, so I feel a little better about the silly outfit The Fool is sporting.

I learn a lot about the history of Tarot and what it’s used for.

I learn that there are different decks and people interpret them all differently.

What I fail to learn is the connection between The Fool and The Magician, and what it could mean for this crazy situation I can’t seem to imagine walking away from.

My dreams are filled with guys in dresses and so much sexual tension that I wake up with an aching hard-on—and amission.Doc and I retrace my steps from the other night back to the shop where Gem told me she used to work.

The Stone Moon.

I crack open the front door and peer inside.It’s dimly lit, a small, crammed shop that smells of incense and looks like it sells rocks. I suppose that makes sense, considering the name.I can hear movement and voices, but I don’t see anyone, so I call out. “Hello?”

After a moment, a woman who looks to be in her early thirties appears from around the corner. Tall and curvy with dark hair and dark eye makeup, she’s more or less exactly who I was expecting to see in her long flowing skirt and spiderweb embroidered shawl. “Hello,” she calls out.

“Hi. I was wondering if I could bring my dog in.” I’ve learned over the years it’s better to ask. “He’s very well behaved.”

Her face widens in all directions with a smile. “Animal familiars are always welcome here.”

I blink at the surprising answer but decide it’s a yes. Pushing the door open the rest of the way, I cross the threshold and wait patiently for Doc to sniff his way inside.As soon as I close the door and take a step into the shop, the woman is on her knees, greeting Doc. This is such a common occurrence that it doesn’t faze me anymore. There’s something about my guy's ears that seem to draw people to him like static electricity.

“What a gentle soul,” the woman says as I take a closer look around the shop fullof rocks and crystals, books, hanging things, and dried plants. The smell makes sense now that I see at least three incense holders pouring out smoke.

“What’s his name?”

“Doc.”

“Hello Doc. You do look very wise.”

She brings herself back up to her feet but doesn’t look away from Doc’s big, droopy eyes, as she addresses me. “What brings you in today?”

“I need to get a tarot card. Two, actually.”

I’m not sure where I got the idea that holding the two cards in my hands will somehow give me the answers I need, but it just feels right.

“You mean a deck?”

She finally looks up at me, and I find kindness and curiosity in her eyes. And a bit of haze. I’m fairly certain this woman is stoned.

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