always been with her closest friend. Lauren reached carefully into Nat’s outer mind, and then followed the invitation deeper. She stayed a moment, and then backed gently out.
“Oh, Nat.” The tears in her eyes mirrored those of her best friend. “That big, huh?”
Nat nodded and swiped her eyes.
Cripes. Jamie had some serious moves on a moonlit beach. And her best friend was falling in love with a witch.
Chapter 14
The funky outdoor café was crowded with breakfast seekers. According to Jennie, it was the best place in town for morning fare. Lauren sniffed the bacon and eggs as the waiter set her plate down, a double order of everything. She was hollow with hunger.
“A bit more practice, and maintaining functional barriers won’t demand so much food. It’s energy draining at first,” Jennie said.
“I’m eating like a teenaged boy.” Lauren tried not to shovel in the eggs. “Of course, there are upsides to that. I ate a pint of ice cream yesterday, and I don’t have to do penance today.”
“Had some girl time with Nat, did you?”
“You get that from my mind or hers?”
“Neither. In my sixty-three years, I’ve gotten pretty smart at using my eyes. It doesn’t take mind powers to see how tight the two of you are, or what’s brewing between Nat and Jamie. Is it prying to ask how that’s going?”
“Well, you saw the bit between them in yoga class yesterday. He’s definitely gotten to her. I’d feel better knowing it goes both ways. I like Jamie, but—”
“Nat’s your sister.”
“Yeah, she is. My parents are wonderful, but they moved to Florida when my dad retired. Nat’s my family. I don’t want her messed up.”
“Men can mess us up without even trying, but if it’s any consolation, I think Jamie’s at least as twisted up about this as she is. It has to be a huge shift for her, but she’s one of the most centered people I’ve ever met.”
Lauren was glad to have her friend appreciated, but she still worried. “She is, but she’s also got a heart that yearns. Her family sucks and yours is pretty awesome.”
Jennie touched her hand gently. “Are you worried we can’t make room for one more?”
“Not at all. I’m worried how much it will hurt her if things don’t go the way of Jamie’s precog. We’re supposed to leave in a few more days, and I can already feel how that pulls her in two directions.”
“Her yoga studio is in Chicago,” Jennie said.
“Yes, and the life we’ve both built since university. Her studio is like my couch. It’s her center.”
“We can worry about those we love, but even we witches can’t wave magic wands and make it all easy. They’re two good people, and they’ll work out the journey between them.”
Lauren hoped so. “Nat deserves everything.”
“Then I hope she gets it. How are you feeling about going back to Chicago next week?”
Lauren looked around the café. “I couldn’t have done this just a couple of days ago—sat in a crowd of people like this. It still feels like work, but I can be here and eat breakfast and carry on a conversation, so that’s progress.”
“You’ve made beautiful progress. Your basic barrier setting is solid now, although I’ll want you to continue the exercises we’ve gone through. The next level is to be able to fine-tune your control so you can let in what you want, when you want, and no more. That’s the piece you’ll need to keep working on back home.”
It was scary to think of losing her trainer when she’d only just gotten started. “I’m pretty sure if it weren’t for you, I’d have spent the rest of my life terrified of crowded places. I can’t thank you enough.”
Jennie looked very pleased. “Jamie would have helped you, but I like to think we got there a little faster. I’ve never tried training someone long distance, but I’m sure we can figure something out. It’s a true pleasure to watch your skills blossom.
“You’ll have to come back, though. I want to be watching the next time you beat Aervyn; it’s a rare sight, and I much enjoyed my front-row seat when you zinged your little red car through his barriers.”
“It’s hard for me to wrap my head around the power he has when he still puts his shoes on the wrong feet. I’m going to miss him. I haven’t spent much time around little kids, but he’s adorable.”
“If Jamie’s precog comes to pass, you’ll be honorary aunt to his double one