LUKE

“Why are there so many psychic shops?” Soph asks with a sweep of her naked arm, black tank top fitted over ripped jeans and the only boots she ever wears. We left the jackets behind today. “Bunch of charlatans decide to up the competition, live in one place or something?”

I grab a leaf off a tree and agree, “It’s too much to be a coincidence.”

“I’m going to ask them,” she announces, doing an about-face and walking into one of the shops.

The air reeks of incense, making me wince as I stroll in, glance around the place. A vomit of healing crystals, dream catchers, dragons, New Age books. My eyes follow Sofia Sol as she approaches the clerk.

Wasn’t sure if I should hang out with her today, but then Tyler bailed after breakfast for some vague reason. The only thing he was firm on was that it was none of our business. Soph picked a roll apart, dipping it in jelly, throwing down the invite, “So, you wanna go into town today then?”

I almost said no.

Couldn’t sleep last night, had to take a ride through the valley, blow off some steam since jacking off did nothing but make my desire for her worse.

Tyler’s wise-ass smirk was irritating, so I shrugged, just to prove him wrong that I’m not affected by her, and hanging out together alone without touching her, wouldn’t be torture.

“Excuse me, this is the first time my friend and I have been to Sedona.” Soph jogs her thumb to me, and I nod to the lady who looks normal enough. “And we were wondering, what’s up with all the psychics?”

With that serene look the overly meditative have, she says, “This area is a vortex for psychic and spiritual energy. It can help you take amazing leaps in personal, spiritual development.”

Soph and I exchange a look—neither of us cares.

But the clerk’s smile says she’s used to skeptics. “Would you like a reading?”

Amusement dances in grey eyes as she tries not laugh. “Yeah, um, no, I think we’re good.”

“Scared?” I tease her, for the hell of it.

“Terrified,” she jokes, rolling her eyes. “Shaking in my boots.”

The clerk remains unfazed. “You might be surprised.”

“I’d be trying not to laugh my head off, that’s what I’d be doing,” she mutters, heading out.

I block her way. “I’ll pay for it.”

She makes a face like, you’re nuts. “It’s not about the money.”

“It’s about you being a jaded woman with no room for mystery.”

“Oh, am I now?!” Her head flies back in a laugh, grey eyes prettier than any crystal in this or any other shop. “I’ll take your challenge and show you just how firmly based in reality my cynicism is.” Turning to the clerk, she asks, “So what do I need to do?”

“Go to House Luna.”

Sofia glances to me, since it’s her mother’s name. “Why?”

With a cocked eyebrow the woman dodges a bullet, “You’ll fight me if I do your reading, but her gifts eclipse even mine. You’ll change your mind about the gifted. And that’s worth losing the sale.”

Impressed, Sofia nods. “Nicely played. Get rid of me, yet get me for life if you win. The collective ‘you,’ I mean.”

The woman’s smile grows.

I dig my phone out, mapping our walk to House Luna while we head out, sunlight shining on us as Sofia Sol mutters, “The gifted? Good Lord.”

“There’s really a Coffee Pot Road? It’s right over there.” I jog my chin and smirk, “I can’t wait to watch you get a reading done.”

“If this is how you entertain yourself,” she smiles, sun playing on her golden skin.

I almost jump as my phone buzzes.

Hers buzzes, too.

She digs it from her pocket as I read a text from Tyler.

“It’s from Ty,” she mutters. “About dinner.”

“Mine too. Guess he sent one right after the other.”

“Think he’s bored to death already?”

I smirk, “Nah, guy’s just food-obsessed. You want to reply or should I?”

She shrugs. “You do it.”

As we walk past stores selling handmade pottery, local artist knick knacks, and more crystals, I type with my thumbs.

We’re cool with whatever. Just say when.

A second later his reply comes.

You with Soph?

I start to reply and pause, wondering why he’s asking. I did get expelled from the house so they could keep me away from her. But he brought her here. Was that smirk this morning because…fuck, this is confusing, so I type a lie:

Nope. Just know she’ll be cool with anything.

Her phone buzzes. She digs it out, staring at the screen. “Ty is asking if I’m with you.”

“Fucker,” I grumble. “Tell him what you want.”

She meets my gaze, footsteps slowing as we get closer to our destination. “What’d you tell him?”

“I lied.”

She mutters while typing, “I’m telling him you lied.”

“There’s no way you’re doing that.” Leaning over I read her text:

Isn’t Luke with you, Ty?

Chuckling I rake my hair back. “Knew you wouldn’t.”

“Of course not.” Under her breath she adds, “I didn’t even tell them it was Atlas and not you.”

We stop just shy of an iron sign that reads: House Luna. “I gathered that, since I hadn’t heard a tornado of hell about it. Why didn’t you?”

Soph glances to the sun, thoughts flickering across her face. “I was going to. Gathered them all to make the big announcement. But they were fighting, it was ugly. Did you see it?”

“Little bit. I got there after they’d fought, took me a second to notice because I was so pissed.”

She chews on her lip, kicking the pristine sidewalk with the toe of her boot. “The distraction gave me time to think. I realized you hadn’t told, and you did that to protect him. Even when he betrayed you, you didn’t want them knowing that he’d done that to you, because of the wrath it would bring onto Atlas.”

Slowly I nod, impressed she got it right, didn’t let her anger rule her for once. “He would have been…hell, I don’t want to know how they would’ve reacted.”

“It was hard enough that he snitched on you,” she offers, “but that it was a lie, and he was covering for himself…”

“Yeah,” I exhale, blinking to the ground. “I’ve had a lot of time to think about what Atlas did, and I think it boils down to he just blurted the lie out of self-preservation.” I leave out the part that he wanted her for himself. Still trying to figure out how things were left between them, for real.

“It was a huge sacrifice, Luke, and in the face of betrayal.” She’s searching my face to understand.

“I don’t think what I did was a sacrifice.” I start for the door.

Soph grabs my arm, pulls me to stay with her. “How isn’t it?”

“I don’t snitch. I protect my brother. Why would I change who I am just because he doesn’t have the same self-control, or the same values I have? When someone acts like an asshole, doesn’t mean you have to be one, too. Then you’re both assholes.”

“If you’d have told them Atlas lied…”

“I would never have forgiven myself.”

“Even though it would be just telling the truth.”

“I would have been someone else in that moment. I don’t want to be ‘that guy.’ I don’t respect ‘that guy.’ So I’m going to be a man I respect. It’s that simple.”

Sofia touches my chest, gazing at me without her wall up. She’s never done this before, gently pressed her hand here. Currents spread into me from her fingers, her flattened palm as she applies more pressure, holding my gaze. The street, the buildings, the tourists, disappear around us.

It’s just me and Soph.

“I respect you so much,” she whispers. “There are three people who know what you did. And one of them thinks you’re kind of amazing.”

I frown at her, wishing I could bring her closer. The inches between us feel like miles. Her eyelashes drop and she presses a little harder over my heart.

As her hand leaves me I feel it in my core.

Turning the iron door handle she asks, “You ready to see some magic?”

I just did.