Chapter 20

CHAPTER TWENTY

RIO

Sasha and I walk hand in hand up the path to BooBoo's parents' house, and I don't know if I've ever been as happy as I am right now.

We've been officially dating for four days now but somehow it feels like longer. Maybe it's because we've known each other for a while now and have grown our friendship over the years. I've heard some demisexual people describe waking up one day and realizing that they like someone who has been in their life for a long time in a completely different way. It's like a sudden realization of feelings, and that pretty much nails my feelings for Sasha on the head. It went from friendship to interest to more so quickly that it caught me off guard. I'm just lucky that he feels the same way because that isn't always how it works.

"Hi Rio, it's nice to see you again," Karla greets me with a warm grin. "And you must be Sasha," she says, reaching out to grab his hand in both of hers.

"That's me," Sasha says with his usual flair. "And you're Karla?"

Her smile grows wider, and she nods. "Come on, I've got my room all set up. Are you joining us?" she checks with me, but I look at Sasha instead of responding.

"Yes, he is," he tells her, giving my hand a squeeze.

"Works for me," she says while leading us to her witchy room, as BooBoo calls it.

"This place is gorgeous," Sasha whispers with an awe-filled tone.

"Thank you, why don't you pick a deck, and I'll light some incense."

Sasha nods. He walks over to the table and instantly picks the same deck I did.

"This one was almost screaming at me," he says, and Karla shoots me a knowing smile.

"Should I grab another chair?" she asks, but Sasha shakes his head.

"I'll sit in Rio's lap. The chair looks sturdy enough to hold us both."

I sit first then Sasha perches in my lap and takes a deep inhale of the incense that Karla lit.

Karla pulls out the cards like she did for me and starts to shuffle them. "What are you wanting from today's reading?" she asks Sasha.

"I guess just a general reading," he says with a shrug. "It's been forever since I've had one, but when BooBoo and Rio mentioned you there was like this intense pressure inside of me that was telling me I had to come here. It left me wondering if my spirit guides have a message for me."

She nods, just like when I was here, cards begin to fly out of the deck, and she stops when there are five on the table.

She flips the first card and smiles when The Lovers card shows up. "That makes a lot of sense," she says, and I give Sasha a little squeeze. "As you know, the lovers in this upright position represent love, relationships, union, and harmony. Something I can see you clearly have in your life right now."

Sasha flashes me a smile and nods at Karla. A second card is flipped; this one is also upright. It shows people emerging from what looks like graves, extending their arms, and looking up at an angel blowing a trumpet in the sky. At the bottom of the card, Judgment is written, and Sasha hums, still smiling.

"The judgment card in this upright position signifies you are on the right path," she tells us, but I'm pretty sure Sasha already knows that.

The third card that she flips has my man gasping. This one is apparently called The Tower. The image on the card shows a tower that kind of looks like it's on fire and with people falling out of it.

"Just wait," Karla tells Sasha, who is shaking in my arms.

"What does the card mean?" I question, feeling out of the loop.

"Usually nothing good," Sasha mumbles. "It represents chaos, upheaval, and sudden change."

Shit that doesn't sound good at all. What kind of chaos could be lurking around the corner for him? A knot forms in my stomach but I force myself to be patient and hope that Karla has a better explanation once she's done.

The fourth card she flips is the Wheel of Fortune, which, if I remember from my reading, means change.

"As you know, this card represents change, but it also represents good luck and destiny," Karla tells me.

The final card she flips is called The Star. It has a naked woman in front of a lake pouring pitchers of water. There is a large yellow star at the top of the card and smaller white stars alongside it.

" The Star represents hope, healing, and renewal," Karla says and Sasha nods along. "To me, this reading is telling you that you are loved and on the exact path you are supposed to be, but trials will be coming your way. Something big is coming your way, and you need to be prepared. But good luck, hope, and healing will soon follow whatever chaos is thrown at you. You need to stay strong in your faith, in yourself, and those around you. Challenges are coming, but they won't last long, and good things are waiting for you on the other side."

"I've really had enough of the universe throwing shit at me," Sasha grumbles, and I run my hands up and down his arms.

"I understand that feeling all too well," Karla tells Sasha. "Even though we just met, I know you are strong. Your aura is one of the brightest ones I have ever seen. You are going to get through this."

Sasha sighs but nods. "Thank you. I really appreciate you taking time out of your day to do this reading for me."

Karla smiles warmly at my man. "Anytime. Please don't let The Tower card scare you too much. Put your focus more on the ones of positivity."

"I will," he responds, standing and rounding the table to give Karla a hug.

"I want you to take this deck and use it whenever you are feeling anxious," she tells Sasha who shakes his head.

"I couldn't do that. It looks so old and well loved," he replies.

"It is. It was a gift to me, and I'm gifting it to you. One day, in the future, you can pass it along to someone else."

Sasha gives Karla another hug, this one much tighter than the first. "Thank you," he whispers before letting her go.

She smiles and hands him the tarot deck.

"You are more than welcome."

Karla walks us to the door and reminds us not to be strangers.

On the drive back to Sasha's house, I can tell he's worried, but I don't know what to do to make it better.

"No matter what happens you have me and amazing friends surrounding you. You're going to be fine, just like Karla said," I remind him as I park outside his house.

He doesn't respond right away, but he nods to acknowledge my words.

"Deep down I know I'm going to be okay at the end, but my gut is also telling me that whatever is coming my way is going to completely turn my world upside down. I'm scared." His words are broken, and I see a tear trickle down his face. "How strong do I really have to be? Why does the universe keep testing me like this? I just want my happily ever after already and to be done with fear and sadness."

I reach over and grab his hand. "I'm sorry for everything you've ever gone through, and I'm even more sorry that you had to go through most of that alone, but you're not alone anymore," I remind him. "I won't ever abandon you, no matter what happens. Even if you decide that this relationship isn't meant to be, I will still be your friend. I care about you, and so do many other people. Please don't shut us out."

Sasha takes a shaky breath and nods. "I won't. Thank you for being so understanding."

"That's what partners do," I tell him with a wink.

He finally smiles and gives me a gentle shove before leaning in for a kiss and then heading into his house.

I hate that he's going to have to face more struggles, but I know that I'm going to be by his side the entire time.