Twist of Fate Louise, Tia (read dune .txt) 📖

this out.” She leans closer. “Only females with ancestral blood connected to Fireside may join. These bitches were hardcore.”

“I wonder why they did it.”

“To fight the patriarchy, of course!” Sly holds up her fist, and I shake my head.

“You’re drunk.” I push her aside with my hip and take over searching.

It’s like a scrapbook with old letters pasted inside, black and white pictures of women in giant swimsuits at the beach, an old photo of the same women in suffragette sashes with pantaloons and giant hats. Palm fronds are pinned to pages along with ribbons reading City Council. It’s a visual antique. A historic record, and I love it.

“They are very interested in women’s rights, but also something about protecting the palmettos.”

“Fight the patriarchy!” Sly holds up her hand again, but her eyes are closed.

“You might need to drink a little coffee first. Or take a nap.” I turn another page, and I see the heading When You’ve Exhausted All Human Means. “This sounds promising.”

Looking closer, I see what looks like a recipe. “I think they might’ve been witches after all.”

That gets Sly back in the conversation. She pushes me aside with her hip, hoisting up the enormous book. “This is it! This is the one we’re looking for. Finding Lost Things.”

My brow furrows as I watch her. “What have we lost?”

“Your baby daddy! We’re going to do this potion right here and bring him back to you. You’re going to find your lost love!”

“Sly.” I shake my wobbly head. “I don’t want to bring him back.”

“Yes, you do. Liar.” She scowls fiercely and a little buzzedly. “Stop fighting your fate. It says here we need a candle…” She walks over to the kitchen counter and picks up a pink jar candle. “Done. Oakmoss and rose quartz…”

“Which we do not have.”

“I have rose quartz in my massage supplies. I use it to set the mood.” I squint one eye, but she keeps reading. “Rose petals and biological matter from the lost one. It is for finding people! I knew it!” She jumps up and down clutching the book to her chest.

“We don’t have half of this stuff. How will we get biological matter?”

“A piece of Melody’s hair. She’s fifty percent his!”

“I think that’s pushing it, and I don’t like dragging my baby into this. What if something… goes wrong?”

“You do believe.” Her eyes flare, and my stomach tingles. Maybe I do?

Sly deposits the book on the table and takes off up the stairs. “I think there are rose petals in the potpourri jar up here, and I bet oakmoss too!”

Twenty minutes later, we’re sitting on the back porch facing each other with our legs crossed and a ceramic bowl in front of us. Sly drew a big chalk circle with a pentagram inside around us. The sky is dark with the full moon glowing so bright. Stars wink around it.

“It’s a beautiful night.” I gaze at the expanse.

It’s one of those nights where the wind carries the scent of the ocean to us. It’s a staccato breeze, switching between short and strong bursts. The temperature is perfect for sitting outside in a tank top and skirt, and with my cousin’s red hair swirling around her face, it feels magical.

“Are you ready to make it happen?” My cousin raises her eyebrows and threads our fingers together. “Here’s to fixing the future.”

“I feel like we shouldn’t mess with the future.” That terrible movie with Olivia Newton-John and John Travolta flits through my mind. Then I think about how Scout and I were the only two who knew all the words to that song, and the memory of his blue eyes closing as he belted out the words with me makes my stomach squeeze. I would like to find him again.

“Close your eyes and repeat after me.”

My heart beats faster, but I do what she says.

“Keeper of what disappears, hear me now, open your ears.” She pauses, and I repeat the words. “Find for me what I now seek by moon, sun, earth, air, fire, and sea.”

I repeat the rest, and as if on cue, a strong breeze sweeps past us, blowing out the candle and sending my hair in my face.

“It worked!” Sly hisses, and my eyes pop open.

I look around at the clouds rolling in and shake my head. “It’s just the storm rolling in. It’s going to rain tonight.”

“No, it worked.” Her voice goes louder, and she jumps up, putting her arm around my shoulder. “You’re not going anywhere. What you seek will come to you.”

My mind drifts across the miles, and I remember the night I looked at Scout and decided he was magical. Am I magical, too?

“Whatever.” I lie. “I don’t believe in spells.”

“Get ready to change your mind. More tequila!” She grabs my hand, pulling me towards the house. I look back as she runs through the door at the star on the back porch and the extinguished candle. A twist is in my chest, and I wonder if it could be fate.

Looking up at the clouds quickly sliding across the stars. One is left, and I make a wish.

Twenty-One

Scout

“Feels like fucking Africa out here.” My brother lifts the beer he’s holding and takes a long pull.

A fast-moving storm blew in overnight, and now it’s too warm and too sticky as we stand at the Tuna Tiki’s outdoor bar. The live band is playing the same reggae songs you know by heart, and as the sweat rolls down my sides, I feel like this was a mistake.

When I called J.R. yesterday, I hadn’t talked to André. I didn’t know about Daisy’s daughter or Sheriff Chad or the fact she has probably moved on, settled down with a guy who, as much as I hate to admit it, sounds pretty decent.

J.R. slides a bowl of nuts over. “What did you want to talk about?”

“I don’t know.” My insides are off. I should go back to L.A.

The band starts playing “I Wanna Love You” by Bob Marley, and