Chapter 16 Jesse

T he follow-up meeting with Sam wasn't until early next week, but Lauren's demand that I "fix it" was bothering me more than it should, considering I didn't do anything wrong.

Sam had said the new computer would be there days ago, so it seemed reasonable that I might stop by and set up the inventory software now so that I could just teach her how to use it next week.

Completely reasonable.

It was this sequence of events that had me standing outside of Books and Broomsticks, hands shoved in my pockets, during what was apparently a "Tarot Night." The shop was livelier than I'd ever seen it during the day, and my once completely reasonable offer of installing software seemed not at all well-timed. I could see Sam inside, helping a woman looking at some crystals. Her smile was relaxed, and she was in her element.

I let out a breath and accepted that my presence might make her less happy, and that kind of sucked, to be honest, but this obviously would not be the casual drop-in I'd imagined. As I turned to walk back to my truck, the shop bell chimed when a customer exited. Sam looked up through the door and caught my eye before I could try to disappear down the street.

Shit .

Now, I looked like a stalker lurking outside of her workplace. Leaving at this point would be worse than going in and explaining myself, so I caught the door as it was closing and shuffled inside.

The store was very... twinkly. And Sam was wearing some kind of fancy witch's hat, but she looked cute.

She always looks cute.

"Jesse..." she greeted warily, stepping away from the customer she was helping.

"Hey, I, uh, well, I came by to maybe get a head start on loading the software so that we didn't need to take that time when we met...but I didn't expect a party?" I gripped the back of my neck, hoping she didn't think I was a creeper.

"Ah, gotcha. Well, to be perfectly honest, the only thing I've had time to do is turn the computer on once to make sure it worked. So, I can't say whether or not it is ready for software." She shrugged apologetically.

"Okay, that's no problem. We can just take care of it next week."

I had accomplished nothing I'd set out to by coming here. No software, and I highly doubted this conversation counted as fixing anything. She didn't seem as cautious as she did during the first meeting, though, so that was something.

"I also like your hat," I added, grinning at her.

"Oh god, I forgot I was wearing it."

She reached up to take it off, and I instinctively stepped forward to grab her wrist. Sam stopped moving almost immediately, and her eyes locked on mine.

"I was serious. Keep the hat, it's cute."

I brushed my thumb across the palm of her hand before dropping her wrist, but I stayed in my new, closer position. Surprisingly, she didn't step away either. I reached to straighten the hat just a bit, and Sam opened her mouth to say something. Before any words came out, a customer interrupted with a question about a specific tarot deck, dowsing that moment. I stepped back then, resisting the urge to clear my throat, and I watched her switch back into her sales persona, happily chatting with the older lady. Although I'd counted this as a bust before it even began, now I was invested. Because that ? It wasn't anger. I leaned onto the checkout counter to wait for her to have another second, an idea already forming in the back of my mind.

The customer apparently decided on a deck to buy, and they both turned toward the check-out. I didn't miss Sam's step falter just slightly when she realized I'd waited for her. She rang up the purchase, wished the woman a good night, and then turned her gaze on me.

"What are you still doing here?" She seemed genuinely curious.

"Well, Sam, it's Tarot Night, and I would like a reading."

She laughed in response. "Well, sadly, Zin is booked up for the evening, but I'm happy to put you on the schedule for the next one if you'd like." Her smile held a challenge, which only made me want to press harder.

"Unfortunately, I really need a reading tonight. I seem to remember that you have read for Lauren a bunch of times in the past. So how about it?"

"I'm not reading tonight. I don't even have my deck—"

"Ahem," her aunt voiced from behind her. Sam's eyes fluttered closed, and she almost grimaced. I was about to get my way.

"Hi, Ms. Crawford. Nice to see you again," I greeted.

"Mr. Garrett," she replied. "Now, Samantha, what is this I am hearing about you not having your deck?" Her aunt reached for the electric kettle and poured herself a cup of tea.

"Thanks for that reminder, Aunt Zin. I do , in fact, have my deck, but I'm not reading tonight. I need to man the register and do sales-y things, you know."

I glanced around, the store having mostly cleared out within the past fifteen minutes.

"You know, Sam, I'm getting the impression you don't want to do a tarot reading for me. I'm truly wounded."

"It would be good practice. I believe it was you who said you hadn't read for strangers in too long, and well, Mr. Garrett here isn't even a stranger. That seems rather serendipitous, doesn't it?" The older woman smiled over her teacup and made her way back to her waiting client.

"I dislike her very much," Sam grumbled after her aunt was out of earshot.

"But you have the hat on and everything, and I really don't want that to go to waste. I'm doing you a favor, Marsh. It has to, like, enhance your powers or something, right?"

"I hope you get all swords and The Tower in your reading." She glared at me and dug a tarot deck out of her bag under the counter. I had no idea what that meant, but I assumed it was an insult. I didn't care. If me trying to be cordial and professional had made her upset, then I was going to be friendly, bordering on flirtatious, and see how that went instead.