Page 37 of The Lovers
It’s a lot harder in the bright sun.
Being out means being truly seen.
I don’t wait for Piper to fill in the blanks about her transformation. I flip the final card, my breath stuck in my throat.
Three of Cups, reversed. Another three.
“By nature the threes in tarot represent turning points. Those action moments when the querent can harness the energy of the cards for the progress of their journey.”
This three is full of celebration, but in reverse it can mean that the querent isn’t finding enjoyment in being in the moment; they need the reminder to be present, to be grateful. My few interactions with pinched-asshole Piper have already shown me that joy isn’t a high priority.
“I’m hoping to reconnect with someone,” Piper says, her focus fixed on my ghost of a smile.
“Three of Cups reversed is more of afind joy in the momentmessage.” I pause, watching her expression shutter.Notwhat she was hoping to hear. “You may be fixating on something serious, when really you should be playing the field.”
“Slut it up, baby!” Coco cheers. Natalie steps up to snap a photo of the spread and then eyes the result in her phone.
“Jesus, Piper, you look like you’re about to shit your pants.” I swear Natalie almost smirks, as if this look on Piper’s face pleases her for some reason.
Piper ignores them both, leaning forward and tapping the Three of Cups card. “Dating around isn’t my thing.” She pushes the card away, as if she can dismiss the prompt through distance.
“Buzzkill,” Jenni growls. She pops a gummy I can only assume is pot-infused into her mouth.
“I don’t like to waste time.” Piper stares me down.
“Enjoying your life isn’t a waste.” I don’t flinch.
“I’ll enjoy it when I have all the pieces back in order.”
The door to the yurt smacks closed. A quick glance aroundthe room reveals Julia has left the building, and I don’t need a tarot card to tell me why. Piper wants her back. This chance reconnection in the desert is kismet, exactly the forced proximity opportunity she needs. There’s heat and hurt between them, just like us.
Just like us.The words ping around in my brain, uninvited and way too honest.
Piper shoves up from the table. “Thanks.” But it sounds more likefuck you.
There’s no way to reframe this reading into something she wants to hear. Noplease recommend me to your friends and relatives. Definitely not a five-star review. She’s on a mission, and she wanted confirmation, not criticism.
Right now, her Fool’s Journey is one of singular focus. Her happy ending impossible to acquire without Julia beside her. Which is fine—absolutely great. Good for them. I wish them all the best, happiness, oodles of luck, tarot spreads full of blissful omens.
I do. Really!
Fuck.
I yank the cards up from the table, my thoughts drowning out Freya Dan’s food and libation instructions. It shouldn’t matter to me what Julia decides to do about Piper. It shouldn’t matter to me that Piper thinks she has a claim on her heart, when I had it first. Both of us clearly screwed that up—neither one of us has the right to assume she’d want us back.
Stop this right now! This is not happening!
I’m getting out of control. The off-the-charts, annoying spinning sensation in my gut is just a freak-out in response to all thisstress. Just me cataloging old questions the events of this week in my life have dredged up. Just a classic Kit Larson moment of hyper self-awareness and an overflow of feels.
Julia isn’t mine to claim dibs on. No matter what the OG tarot reading promised.
I hopeshe’shappy. Really.
I do.
Chapter Fourteen
Julia
