Page 32 of Solo Stan
“You’re not even a Libra, are you?” Kai said dryly.
“I have no idea. I didn’t think you’d let me talk for that long.” Elias’s expression became discerning. “What sign do you think I am?”
“Based on all that nonsense that just came out of your mouth, Pisces,” Kai replied without hesitation. “When’s your birthday?”
“March fifteenth.”
The corners of Kai’s mouth slowly drew into a smile. “I knew it.”
A moment of genuine shock reflected on Elias’s face. “How did you know?”
“The symbol for Pisces is two fish swimming in opposite directions, which represents the separation between reality and fantasy, meaning you’re the king of illusion and delusion.”
He immediately turned to observe Elias’s reaction—amused affront—and smiled to himself, pleased.
Elias’s eyes betrayed a pointed interest. “You really believe in this kind of stuff, huh?”
“Even if the formations don’t tell us anything, isn’t it cool to know exactly where the stars and planets were the moment we were born? It’s weird to know they’ll never be like that again. Who am I to think that something as big as the galaxy doesn’t have an effect on something as small as me?”
“You’re not that small.”
“Shut up,” Kai said, pushing Elias, who rebounded like a free-standing punching bag. “But to be honest, I don’t know what I believe anymore. Bobby’s been telling me for years that all the astrology, tarot cards, palm readings, and stuff I do are bullshit. He’d never let me do any readings for him because ‘There’s no scientific basis for it.’ Maybe I’m starting to think he’s right.”
None of his readings had indicated that his friends would be leaving him that summer, and he’d been wrong about the instant connection he thought he’d felt with Elias as well. Looking back, most of the actions he’d taken in his life because of the stars or the universe had led him to heartbreak. Because he always looked up at things that were bigger than him, he didn’t realize how narrow he’d allowed his thinking to become. The definition ofinsanitywas doing the same thing over and over expecting different results, so perhaps all the times Bobby had called him crazy, he was right.
“No offense, but your friend Bobby seems like a dick,” Elias said, knowing full well that his words would indeed cause offense. “Readmypalm. I’ll tell you what’s true or not.”
Kai studied him, taking in his restless energy, the way he seemed to constantly switch between a teasing half smile and a full-body frown.Stop trying to psychoanalyze him,Kai thought.
With a shrug, he asked, “Can I have your hand?”
“Like…in marriage? You really do fall fast,” Elias joked, earning a deep sigh steeped in disappointment from Kai. “Relax.I’m only kidding.” He showed Kai his palms, revealing several calluses running parallel to his heart lines. “I’m not sure what you’ll see, though. Except that I dunked a basketball a bit too hard a few times.” He hesitated briefly before finally extending his left one.
His skin was rough against Kai’s palm. There was a warmth that passed between them, that intense red energy that Kai had felt earlier.
16
Elias
9:26 p.m.
Elias quickly turned his hand over in Dakarai’s when he remembered that the skin on his middle knuckle had unzipped, revealing reddened flesh. It was an injury from slicing sweet potatoes with a mandoline and not from the fight as Dakarai would probably assume. Dakarai’s gentle touch on his palm carried a comforting chill.
Dakarai blinked hard a few times. “What I’m seeing immediately is that physically, you’re strong, but emotionally, you’re timid.” Elias narrowed his eyes, not sure if Dakarai was using this reading as a way to make fun of him. “Don’t worry. I won’t tell anyone,” Dakarai reassured him. He then cleared his throat and continued, tracing the grooves in Elias’s hand with the tip of his finger. “You do a lot for people, sometimes without them even knowing. You probably have a habit of saying that you won’t do it again, but not even that deep down, you know you will. You’re focused and make decisions easily; you’re realistic but not closed-minded. You’re emotionally intelligent when it comes to other people’s needs, but when it comes to yourself, you tend to be self-sacrificing.”
Elias looked at Dakarai sideways. “You got all that from my palm?”
Dakarai winked and gestured for Elias’s other hand. He ran his fingers over each crevice, moving it to catch the shadows in every line and crease. “You want something, but you don’t know what it is. You want answers, but you don’t know the questions.”
Elias watched Dakarai’s mouth as he spoke.Is he for real with all this clairvoyance stuff?
“And what about my life line? Are you going to tell me I’m going to die young like everyone else does?”
“No,” Dakarai said resolutely. “You’re going to live a very long life. Exceptionally long, according to your life line. Maybe to a hundred.”
“One hundred years?That sounds miserable.”
“Should I go on?” Dakarai asked with a smirk. “We can talk about your love line,” he said, adding, “if you’re brave enough.”
