Page 13 of Five Things I Love About You

‘Well, thanks. I’ll speak to them.’

Sophie places her hand on my arm. ‘Pleeeease let me do you a reading. This is the perfect time, when you’re at a crossroads in your life. Especially since—’ She stops, her face colouring, and glances up at Kirstie, who rolls her eyes again.

‘Obviously I told Soph about Darren,’ Kirstie says, getting straight to the point.

‘I hope you don’t mind, she was just worried about you,’ Sophie says, her eyes wide.

‘It’s fine. It’s not a big deal and I was going to tell you today anyway.’

‘Well, good. But that makes it even more important to do a reading. It could give you some direction, some hope.’

‘God loves a trier,’ Kirstie says, laughing.

‘I know, I know,’ Sophies concedes. ‘And I know you two think I’m completely mad, but honestly, times like this, when you’re feeling a bit lost, are absolutely the ideal time for this sort of thing.’

Kirstie leans forward. ‘Soph, how long have we been friends?’

‘Twenty-five years?’

‘More. And how many times have either Miranda or I said yes to your offer of any sort of reading, tarot or otherwise?’ She’s teasing, a lightness to her voice.

Sophie sticks her tongue out. ‘Once.’

Kirstie’s eyes widen. ‘Once?’ She looks at me. ‘Kennedy, was that you?’

I hold my hands up. ‘Guilty as charged. But in my defence it was when Nick left, and I was vulnerable.’

Kirstie laughs and turns back to Sophie. ‘Well, there you have it, m’lud. The evidence, somewhat weakened by my esteemed colleague but nevertheless still damning, proves that your pleas to give us a reading don’t work, and therefore I can conclude that the answer on this occasion too, is very likely to be no.’ She crosses her arms and sits back, looking pleased with herself.

Before Sophie can say anything, I do.

‘Actually, Soph, I might take you up on it.’

The air stills and I don’t dare look at Kirstie. Then Sophie squeals and Kirstie explodes with laughter.

‘Fuuuuuck!’ she says. ‘That isnotwhat I expected you to say!’

‘Do you mean it?’ Sophie says, her cheeks pink.

I smile. ‘Do you know what, sod it, I really think I do.’ What the hell have I got to lose? I’ve already lost my job and my sort-of boyfriend, the only excitement I’m getting is from spending time with a fantasy man when I’m asleep, I’m rattling around in a house all by myself and I have absolutely no idea what I want to do with the rest of my life. What harm can letting my friend give me a reading do, even if I do think it’s a load of old rubbish? It might just give me some food for thought – and if not, at least it will keep Sophie happy.

Which is how I find myself, twenty minutes later, drinking neat vodka with Kirstie while Sophie arranges her tarot cards on the kitchen table. The music has been turned off (‘we both need to concentrate for this,’ Sophie told me solemnly), and I’m trying not to look at Kirstie because I know she’ll make me laugh.

Finally, Sophie tells me to step up to the table and take a seat opposite her. She’s turned the lights low and a couple of candles flicker on either side of us, casting her half into shadow.

‘You either stay over there and don’t say a word, or go into another room for ten minutes,’ Sophie warns, pointing at Kirstie.

Kirstie mimes zipping her mouth up. ‘Not a peep from me, I promise.’

Sophie shoots her one last look, then turns back to face me. She places her hands on the pack of cards and picks it up.

‘Now, in a minute I’m going to ask you to shuffle these cards, split them into three piles and lay them face down in front of you,’ she says. ‘But first, think of a question you want to ask the universe.’

Behind me, Kirstie snorts and Sophie glares at her.

‘Sorry,’ Kirstie mutters. I hear the creak of the sofa springs, then Kirstie’s hand is on my shoulder as she passes behind my chair. ‘I’ll give you ten minutes.’

She disappears into the back garden clutching her vodka glass. Once she’s gone, Sophie hands me the pack of cards. Her hands linger for a minute as she stares into my eyes. For all that I’m convinced this is a load of nonsense, it’s very intense, and I search her face for something. What I’m looking for I’m not quite sure.

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