Sassy Blonde - Stacey Kennedy Page 0,47
Penelope said. “The everlasting stuff.”
Maisie’s heart squeezed in agreement. “Tell that to Hayes for me, would ya?” she joked, placing her foot back on the brake and shifting into drive as the train finally vanished and the gates lifted again.
As the car bounced over the tracks, Penelope asked, “Do I want to know what that even means?”
“It means I’m still not sure where things are going with us,” Maisie explained with a sigh. Penelope knew everything. Maisie leaned on her when Laurel passed away. She told Penelope when she started developing feelings for Hayes. “And isn’t that weird? I mean, I don’t really get the feeling that he’s holding back because I’m Laurel’s best friend; this is something different.”
“Hmm,” Penelope hummed. “He won’t talk to you about what’s going on?”
“I haven’t really asked,” Maisie admitted. “And yes, I’m know that’s because I’m scared if I ask, then he’ll shut me out.”
Penelope gave a dry laugh. “Okay, then I won’t say that, because you have your answer. You just have to talk to him.”
Seemed so easy, but it wasn’t at all. Hayes had been through a lot. Too much. He finally seemed happy again, she didn’t want to push him too fast, too soon. Maisie stayed lost in that thought for the last few minutes of the drive. When they reached downtown, people were already walking the streets, visiting the farmer’s market, and shopping in the quaint stores. She pulled to a stop next to the red brick storefront with the black awning next to an old bookstore. The hanging wooden sign read: LUNA WHITTLE. HOUSE OF MAGIC.
“Ready?” Penelope asked, undoing her seat belt.
Maisie stared at the sign. She needed to get answers. For everything. “Hell yes,” she told Penelope and then got out in an instant. She strode toward the small store, with Penelope hot on her heels.
When she entered, ethereal music played through the speaker on the desk. A black cat with bright green eyes cleaned its paw on the counter. Strings of lights hung around the ceiling, with plants decorating the corners of the room. Along the far wall were shelves displaying tea sets and herbal teas, with celestial pictures on any available surface. Scented candles warmed the space, smelling both earthy and spicy.
The cat meowed, almost in greeting, when Luna came out from the private room at the back. She was everything one would expect a psychic to look like. She had long blond hair that was the whitest blond Maisie had ever seen. Her eyes were a striking gray color that stayed with a person after they peered into them. Luna was both soft and sweet, and full of so much warm light, it practically exploded out of her.
“Hi, Maisie,” Luna said with a bright smile. “It’s so nice to see you.”
“Good to see you too,” Maisie said, stepping farther into the shop. “Have you met my cousin Penelope?”
“Not yet, but I did sense you when you moved to town.” Luna smiled.
Penelope laughed nervously, settled in next to Maisie, and grinned down at the cat, giving him scratches on the top of his soft, furry head. “Oh, you are such a lover.”
“He most definitely is,” Luna said. “Please feel free to sit and relax while Maisie and I chat.”
“Thanks.” Penelope sidled up to Maisie. “I think I’ll just visit with this sweet fluff ball while you’re having your talk.”
“Oh, yes,” Luna said. “He will like that very much.”
Feeling oddly nervous, Maisie gave Penelope a quick wave and then followed Luna into the private room. Curtains draped from the ceiling to the floor. A round table with a fringed cloth sat in the center of the room, with two cushioned chairs around the table. In the middle of the table were crystals in a bowl.
“Please, take a seat,” Luna said.
Maisie did as she asked, wiping her sweaty palms on her dress.
Luna sat across from her, reaching her hands out, palms up. “Please give me your hands.”
Maisie exhaled slowly and slid her hands into Luna’s delicate ones. For as long as she’d known Luna, she’d never had a reading done by her. She never really believed in it all. But the way Maisie had gone about things wasn’t working anymore. She needed a way out. And people in town swore by Luna’s gifts. Besides, Clara had planted the idea with her hex talk; Maisie was simply running with it.
Luna’s head cocked, wise eyes warm. “Is there something specific you’d like to address?”
“I think I might be hexed,” Maisie