Celtic Cross | #ONC2019

II.

I was rattled for the rest of the day.

I could barely remember the faces of the clients that came in, or the results of their readings. On any other day, I made a conscientious attempt in case they came back for a follow-up, but my mind was so desperately focused on my own potential outcome I couldn't even feel guilty over my lack of effort.

It made no sense.

I could tell Nick sensed my unease. As soon as the evening's final customer exited the store, he came over to my corner, frowning.

"I don't think I've ever seen you like this," he said carefully as he sat in the chair across from me.

"You should have seen me in high school," I responded as I leaned back in my chair, rubbing my eyes in a poor attempt to remove the mental cobwebs.

"Goth chick in leather belts with Tarot cards?" he joked. "Or was that just last night?"

I could tell by his tone that he was trying to cheer me up, but I was not in the mood. My desperation for answers must have been evident on my face because his jovial expression dropped back to a concerned frown.

"Talk to me, Siobhan."

I shook my head. "I just need to go home and have a drink. Maybe three." Whiskey was always the perfect temporary fix to my unresolved problems.

"I'll do you one better," Nick said, standing. "Come out with us tonight?"

I perked an incredulous brow. On any other night, I would have happily agreed. Nick and his friends could make any dive bar into a flamboyant cabaret, but he should have figured I'd be less than enthusiastic about joining his entourage after the day I'd had.

If a frown could have gotten any lower and looked more pathetic, Nick managed it. "Please?"

"You're begging."

"I'm concerned."

"So you want to take me out to drown my sorrows?"

"Yes."

I barked out a laugh.

"C'mon," he said, holding out a well-manicured hand. "It'll take your mind off things, at least until I make you come back in tomorrow morning."

"How about this- if I come out with you tonight, you let me have tomorrow off?"

He scoffed. "And handle all the readings by myself? Not on your life." He paused, as if considering my suggestion. "How about a half-day, be in at noon?"

A smirk graced my lips. "You must really want me to come out with you."

"Or I just really want your input on this guy I'm talking to?"

With a snort, I stood. "I knew there was an ulterior motive."

"So that's a yes?" He seemed almost hopeful.

I sighed. "Fine."

I watched him grin and clap his hands together with as much excitement as if I had just told him he was going to Disney World.

Something told me wherever this night was going to take us, the last place it would be was Disney World.