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figured she’d taken up enough time that she should still pay.

“It might be,” Dani said casually. She studied the bills on

the table. “But just because you don’t believe in something

doesn’t mean it’s less true. Or because you do believe

something’s true doesn’t make it a fact.”

“Thanks for the sage advice. When I want my fortune told

again, I’ll be sure to come back.”

Dani grinned at her as she snatched up the bills and folded

them into her palm. “You bet. Next time I’ll be sure to actually

read your cards. Have a good one, Miss Golden Sandwiches.”

Emily ground her teeth together. She wished she had

something to respond to that, but she figured it was best to just

make a fast escape before her face got any redder and things

got any worse. She turned and tried to get out of there quickly

but making a dignified exit through beaded curtains was

harder than it looked. She had to struggle to spread them apart,

not once, but twice. When she finally made it back into the

store, the other girl that worked there gave her a funny look.

She tried to say something, but Emily brushed past her, burst

out the door, and walked so fast down the sidewalk that her

legs burned.

She didn’t slow down until the crowd that was always thick

in the French Section had swallowed her up, offering her the

balm of anonymity again. She hated that Dani’s face stayed

with her, haunting her, following her as if she’d already

painted it.

She never even said if she was single or not.

What kind of thought was that to have? It was far better to

resign herself to two years of law school, because her plan

would never work. She knew she’d never have the courage to