Page 123 of Astrid Parker Doesn't Fail

“I can’t,” Astrid said. “I doubt I’m the Everwoods’ favorite person right now.” Plus, being around Jordan without beingwithJordan? She wasn’t that brave.

“Have you tried talking to her?” Claire asked softly.

“No,” Astrid said firmly. “I can’t. I almost ruined her life, Claire. She deserves so much better.”

“Why don’t you let her be the judge of that?” Iris said.

Astrid shook her head, picking up her pen and tracingBakingover and over again on her list. She could feel her friends staring at her, but luckily, the front door opened, halting any further romantic plots from forming.

“I’m home!” Ruby’s voice sounded from the entryway.

“Hey, Rabbit,” Claire said when Ruby appeared. She pulled the girl into her arms and kissed the top of her head. “Have fun at Tess’s?”

Ruby nodded and handed over a padded envelope covered in yellow smiley faces to Claire. “This was outside. Something from Grandma.” She eyed the mess on the table. “What are you doing?”

“Just trying to convince Aunt Astrid to go after the woman she loves,” Iris said.

“Iris!” Astrid said.

Iris just smirked at her.

“Wait...” Ruby said, looking at Astrid. “Aunt Astrid, you like girls?”

Astrid sat back and smiled weakly. “Yeah. I do. Well, one girl right now, but... yeah.”

“Cool!” Ruby said, taking a handful of popcorn from the bowl and lobbing a piece in her mouth. “Me too.”

Astrid’s eyes went wide. “Really?”

Ruby nodded. “Yep. I think I might likeonlygirls, but Delilah says I don’t have to label it yet, you know? I’m only twelve.”

Astrid’s smile broadened. She adored this kid. “Yeah. I do know. That’s great, Rubes.”

Ruby grinned, then ambled off to her room to do some homework. Astrid leaned across the table toward Claire. “When didthathappen?”

Claire smiled, and Delilah took her hand. “Last week? She came home all starry-eyed, talking about this new girl in her class, and then she just sort of... came out to us. I had my suspicions, so it was honestly a relief.”

“We’re thrilled,” Delilah said. “But, you know, the world can be pretty cruel, so we’re talking her through it.”

“Ruby is badass,” Iris said. “And she has badass adults in her life. She’ll be fine.”

“Turns out, every single one of us is extremely queer,” Delilah said, tossing the subtlest of winks at her stepsister.

“Thank the goddess,” Iris said, and Astrid smiled.

She wasn’t exactly sure what label fit her the best quite yet.Bisexualfelt right, but for now, she was happy to simply know who she was and be with her friends who understood.

Claire laughed as she opened the package from her mother. She took out a small box featuring an illustration of a Black woman in a white dress and red robe holding out a wand. “Oh god, it’s another Tarot deck. I’ve got about ten of these already.”

Claire’s mom, Katherine, traveled a lot with her husband and was very into Tarot, along with oracles, crystals, and herbs. She was constantly sending Claire something new to try, books or decks she thought the bookstore could stock.

“Any cards with apples on them in here?” Delilah asked, leaning over and pressing a kiss to Claire’s neck. Claire blushed and actually giggled.

“Oh, inside jokes between lovers are my fave,” Iris deadpanned, and Claire stuck out her tongue.

“This one might be cool, though,” Delilah said, taking the box from Claire and reading the back. “Looks pretty diverse—noteveryone is white, and there are all women or nonbinary people on the cards.”

“Nice,” Iris said, grabbing the box to take a look. She opened it up, and out spilled a bevy of brightly colored cards.