know I can’t.” It’s just the three of us at the table, but I lower my voice anyway. “I’m going to Brooklyn tomorrow. I can’t be up all night.”
My best friend rolls her eyes. “And the likelihood of you actually sleeping tonight is . . .”
“Not great,” I concede. If the past four nights are any indication, I’ll be up well past two rehearsing my recruitment speech. For the millionth time.
Morgan nudges my shoulder with hers. “I think it’s a good idea. You can practice your arguments on me.” She bats her eyelashes and sticks out her lower lip into a pout, and the resulting puppy dog look is just unfair. “Please?”
I pretend to think about it moment longer, but in the end, there’s no refusing these two. Especially when they both want the same thing. “Fine. I’m in.”
The promise of popcorn, pizza, and some parent-free alone time with Morgan gets me through the rest of the day. The second the final bell rings, I text Mom to let her know where I’m going, meet Gemma and Morgan at my locker, and drive the three of us to Gem’s house. Both her parents are still at work when we get there, and even though we have the house to ourselves, we pile into Gem’s bedroom.
Gemma maneuvers to her desk and sits in the chair. “Can I read your tarot? It could help with your mission tomorrow.”
Even though tarot has always scared me a little—I’ve never let Lauren read for me—I’m determined to have fun tonight. “Bring it on,” I say, and disappear to grab an extra chair from the dining room. When I get back, Morgan is sprawled out on Gemma’s bed with her face buried in a carnation pink novel.
“You read more than anyone I know.” I set the chair next to Gemma. “What’s this one about?”
“International politics.”
“Seriously?”
Morgan glances up, a smile quirking her lips. She looks so cute, I’m worried my heart might combust. Thankfully, her Blood Magic could probably fix that. “It’s also very gay,” she adds, a quality I’ve learned she values in books. “You can read it when I’m done.”
“Come sit,” Gemma says before I can reply. The cards snick-snick-snick together as she shuffles, a piece of amethyst sitting prominently on the desk beside her. I sink into the chair, but I can’t help glancing over at Morgan. She bites her lip as she hastily turns to the next page, and a not-small part of me wants to abandon the tarot cards and curl up next to her.
“Come on, Hannah,” Gemma teases, poking my shoulder. “You have to focus on the cards, not your girlfriend. Otherwise the reading will be about her instead of this Allison.”
“It’s Alice, actually,” I correct after a moment of hesitation. Even after two months, it still feels weird that I can tell Gemma about Clan stuff. Secrecy is a hard habit to break. Hard, but so, so worth it. “I’m sorry, Gem. I can do this, I swear. Can we start over?”
Gemma nods and shuffles again. “Focus on your mission.”
I try to do as she says, but focus is in short supply these days. My mind bounces from the mission to the drugged coven to how much I’d really like to kiss my girlfriend right now, even if that makes me a terrible friend.
After a few more shuffles, Gemma has me cut the deck and then she lays out three cards. A field of deep blue with flecks of gold stars stares up at us.
“Ready?” Her voice is breathless with anticipation, and when I nod, Gemma flips the first card. A figure sits below a tree, their arms crossed while a disembodied hand holds out one of four cups.
“Well, that looks cheerful,” I grumble.
“Yeah . . . I don’t think Alice is going to be easy to convince.” Gemma examines the card more closely, and it’s clear she takes this process seriously, even if it’s also fun for her. “I get the feeling she has a stubborn streak. About everything.”
From the bed, Morgan laughs. “Sounds like someone else I know.”
“Hey! I’m not that stubborn.” I swivel around to look at her. “Have your boys kissed yet?”
“Not yet.” Morgan sighs dramatically and turns to look at me. “I’m dying.”
“And card number two is . . .” Gemma says with an announcer’s flair to draw back my attention. “Huh.”
“What is it?” I examine the card, this one labeled Six of Swords. Two people sit huddled in the boat while a third person