Page 85 of Fighting

Christian joins us, sitting on the third chair we dragged from the fire station out to the garage parking lot. His large brown hand clasps around the cap of a water, twisting, his eyes roam across Liam. He cocks an eyebrow, watching as we mindlessly sip from our beers.

“Babe, I’m going to turn a blind eye here because you aren’t on station property right now.” He nods at the beer in Liam’s hand. “But you are literally only over the line.” His expression softens, and so does his tone, when he turns to me. “What has you all twisted, Matty?”

“Nothing,” I answer, quickly shoving my phone into my pocket.

“It’s the blonde,” Liam says, pretending to hide his smirk behind the beer.

Christian and Liam exchange one of those knowing glances. The kind Lee and Stef share. My parents too. Like they’re all in on something I’m too stupid to see.

With a grunt, I take a long drink hoping to cool my nerves with the hoppy brew.

“Do you need me to get my aunt over here to lay into you?” Christian teases me.

All my life, Prudence has ambushed the folks of Peacock Springs with advice.

“Wouldn’t she find me on her own if the spirit called her to? I thought she didn’t need the guidance of a mere mortal.” I tease with a quirk of my eyebrow.

“I’m her nephew, I’m no mortal,” he counters—and honestly, I’m not sure if this is a joke or if they truly believe it.

Either way, it eases the tension building in my chest. We sit just beyond the main square, but from here, we can see all the businesses still decorated from the previous weekend’s events.

It is as if autumn swept in and covered every inch of downtown. There are dried cornstalks tied to every other lamp post and scarecrows dot the street randomly, ready for the town-wide competition. Oversized planters with mums and dahlias greet patrons at the doorways of most businesses, while a few have opted for simple pumpkins.

I pull sips quietly from my bottle, absorbing the buzz of town life around me. I finish the beer, dropping it onto the blacktop driveway with a plink.

When I returned home, the city had my head swarming, but today the noise has dulled to a soft hum. I was desperately missing Nessa. Everything felt like the proportions were wrong. Like I was wearing clothes two sizes too small. Even through the silence, that feeling is gone.

I’m confident we’ll find our way back to one another.Eventually.

“All right, lay it on me. What do you think I need to know?” I’m entertained, even if unconvinced.

Another wave of laughter rolls across the group when Prudence’s gray cat pads our way.

“Looks like you’ve been made,” Christian says as Zelda winds herself between Liam’s legs.

Collecting my empty beer bottle from the ground, Liam rises. “On that note, I’m going to grab another round. Do you want one, Chief? Or are you going back on shift?”

“I’ll take one. Why not,” Christian says to Liam’s retreating form.

Just as the heavy metal door on the side of the building closes with a thud, Pru herself materializes and drops into Liam’s now empty chair.

“Are you doing my job now?” Pru gives her nephew a stern look.

“Never, Auntie, let me check on Liam.” He rushes out before heading back to the fire station.

I wait, and wait, Pru is quiet and searching. She stares at me, as if trying to look deep into my soul. I squirm in my seat.

“Ready for your next client readings?” I ask, hoping I’ve mustered up enough enthusiasm to cover my abnormal mood.

Without answering my question, she pulls out her deck of cards, and hands me three of them. “The eight of wands, the Hanged Man, and the ten of cups,” she says as she points to each one in my hand.

“This weekend is going to bring big changes, that’s for sure,” she says cryptically.

“Huh?”

“You’ve been good busy, Matty. And even if you are paused, you are avoiding seeing the way your relationship has evolved,” Pru explains, pointing to the first two cards.

“But there may not be a relationship anymore.” I say with shoulders drooping.

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