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“What the hell are we doing here?” Austin Shelton asked as Paige shut off the ignition in front of a Tarot and Crystal Readings shop in Chinatown.
Paige Turner stepped out of the car and ducked down to meet his questioning gaze. With a snap of her head, her long dark hair shifted out of her face, revealing the crystal blue eyes that always melted through his frustration.
“I need to get a few things. You can wait here if you’d like.” She flashed a smile and closed the door on any further conversation.
Austin glanced at his watch and sighed, turning his attention to the front of the cheesy psychic shop. Although he knew her magic practices had saved his ass in the past, right now, he had less than thirty minutes to get across the city to Cornell, and if he was late, he could kiss his chances at getting in to his first choice of medical schools goodbye. He did have a backup plan just in case, and that interview wasn’t until the end of the day at Columbia.
The fact Paige was dicking around at a psychic’s place of business set the burn in his already twitchy stomach on overdrive. Another glance at his watch and he reached for the door. All he had to do was swing the metal open, and she came trotting back out with a smile and a little bag in her hand.
He took a deep breath, trying to calm his nerves, but they were as untamed as a toddler’s hair. She slid in the driver’s seat and handed the bag to him.
“For luck,” she said in that breathless tone that stalled his brain.
Austin blinked and glanced in the bag at the small crystal that connected two strands of silver.
“What am I supposed to do with this?”
She gave him a cursory glance before she pulled out into the thick city traffic, navigating the streets like a veteran cab driver. It both impressed and terrified him.
“It’s a necklace. You should wear it to the interview.”
He rolled his eyes and glanced out the window. Despite their recent past, he still didn’t know if he could put stock in her psychic mojo, but he sighed and fished the necklace out of the bag. It wasn’t gaudy, but it wasn’t very masculine, either. He slipped it over his head and tucked it under his dress shirt, forcing a thank you from his lips.
Paige navigated the car into a parking spot across the street from the administrative offices of Cornell. Austin glanced at the signs on the side just to make sure the parking spot was legitimate and then gave her a forced smile and nod before he reached for the car door. Nerves still clenched his muscles.
Paige climbed out of the car and came around to the passenger side. She stepped onto the sidewalk next to him while he closed the car door and took a deep breath.
“You got this,” she said, pulling his attention away from the building, and the conviction in her voice almost had him believing her.
Austin tried on a smile and leaned forward, placing a gentle kiss on her cheek. “Thanks. Are you just going to hang in the car?”
Paige hitched her thumb over her shoulder, and he glanced up at the Starbucks sign across the street.
“I’ll be over there nursing a Cafe Mocha and finishing up my paper.” Paige gave her laptop bag a pat. “Just relax and be yourself,” she added, and gave his hand a squeeze before she turned, heading towards her destination.
Austin waited until she was safely inside the coffee shop before he stepped toward the admissions building. Taking a deep breath, he crossed the street and opened the door to what he hoped was the start of a bright future.