We sit in silence as I contemplate the bomb the psychic has just delivered.
“Well, what the fuck does that mean?” Remi finally asks.
I’ve always hated my birthday.
Ever since I woke up in the hospital after the accident, I’ve never wanted to celebrate. Even though I don’t remember what my birthdays were like before that night, I knew deep down they would never be the same again. How could they? My parents weren’t there to celebrate, and I never had friends to invite to a party. By the time I was twelve, I had convinced Addison I didn’t want any parties or presents, and we agreed on a family dinner and a card, which was more than enough for me.
Remington doesn’t know my birthday is actually today, which is good because I know she would have wanted to throw a big party for me. Just like they are doing today for her father, Elias. His birthday was last week, but apparently, the nice family dinner I had attended that night wasn’t enough for the Weylyn family.
“I’m sorry I’m missing your birthday today, Pru,” Aunt Addie tells me, her soft voice coming through the speaker in my Jeep. “But I’ll be back at the end of the week, and we can have our dinner then.”
Addison owns a chain of high-end clothing boutiques across the country, and she is required to travel often. She tries to spend an equal amount of time at each location, but it’s been getting harder and harder for her to do since she’s now up to seventeen storefronts. Addison’s currently in New Orleans, working on opening the eighteenth location. Being the control freak she is, she insists she be the one to train the new staff and make sure everything runs smoothly. I don’t know why she bothers to have an assistant when she won’t let the poor girl take charge of anything.
“You know I hate my birthday, Addie,” I say as I make the turn into the Weylyn’s mile-long driveway. The gate usually requires a code is wide open, allowing the guests to drive in. The party for Elias technically started an hour ago, but I didn’t worry about being on time as I figured I wouldn’t be missed, seeing as, according to Ransom and Ranger, Margot, their mom, had basically invited the whole town.
“We can order pizza in or something when you get back.” I reach up and remove my sunglasses from my face as the sun has set enough that it’s no longer blinding me.
“I thought we would try the new steakhouse that opened in town,” Aunt Addie replies. She sounds tired, and I can’t help but think about how she’s seemed worn-down and drained the last couple of months. Her usually upbeat self just hasn’t been there. I’ve also noticed she is looking a little older than her actual age of forty-five. I had tried to talk to her about slowing down some and delegating, but she wouldn’t have it. “We need to get you out of the house more, or you’re going to be known as the Town Hermit,” she adds with a laugh.
I gulp at the word hermit. I’ve been thinking nonstop about my appointment with Esme earlier this week. No matter how hard I try to shake it off, her words and her vision have shaken me. The part about the lovers card had specifically gotten into my head.
“…The one you have been looking for…”
Of course, the first thing I think about when I recall Esme’s words is the wolf. Even after ten months of having the same dream, I haven’t given up hope he’s real and we are somehow connected. His golden eyes match the golden glow surrounding him, and every night I see those eyes staring back at me from across the dark clearing.
I remember I’m on the phone still and turn my attention away from my thoughts of the wolf and try to listen to what Addison is saying. “…and it was nice of the Weylyns to invite you to the party today. I wonder how many people they’ve invited. With the size of their house, they could host the whole town and half of the neighboring ones too.”
“The twins said there should be a hundred people here today.” The thought of so many people makes my skin crawl. I may be comfortable with the Weylyns, but being around that many strangers makes me nervous, and I pause a moment with the thought of texting Remi and telling her I can’t come after all. I could easily fake the flu… “No, I’m sorry—cough—I woke up with this horrible head flu, and I’m afraid—cough–cough—I would get all those people sick—cough—and I don’t want to risk it. I’ll send Elias a muffin basket in my place—cough.”
But as quickly as the idea comes into my head, I dismiss it. Knowing Remington, she would drive to my house and pull me out of bed and force me to come anyway. She doesn’t get told no often. I’ve learned to pick and choose my battles with her, and today, that’s a battle I would not have won.
“I don’t understand how they even know that many people,” I say to Addison. “Yes, I know we live in a smaller town, but still, I don’t get. Everywhere Remi and I go, people recognize her and stop to talk.” I cringe the second the words leave my mouth because I know how that sounded.
“Yikes. You might want to tuck that jealousy back in before you get to their house.”
I don’t want to be jealous of Remington, but sometimes I wish I had the large happy family she
