Page 130 of Dream On, Ramona Riley

“Hey, that’s not what you’re doing,” Olive said, reaching out and squeezing Ramona’s arm.

“Isn’t it?” Ramona asked quietly. “I mean, I wouldn’t have this job with Noelle without Dylan. That’s what it comes down to. Dylan, who I’m sleeping with. Dylan, who thinks I simply studiedapparel design at RISD for a year and then came home to take care of my family.”

Everyone was silent. They knew she was right. They knew this looked as bad as it did in her head, even worse actually, because now everyone agreed with her.

“Apparel design isn’t all that different from costume design,” Olive said quietly, and god, Ramona loved her for it.

She dropped her head into her hands.

“Okay, okay, don’t panic,” April said, then got out her phone. “Let’s see what Madame Andromeda has to say.”

Everyone at the table groaned.

“Oh, please, you know you all read her when you’re freaking out about something,” April said, scrolling.

“We really don’t,” Leigh said.

“All right,” April said, ignoring them. “Libra this week…”

She trailed off as she read, forehead wrinkled in concentration before her brows shot suddenly into her hair. Then she put the phone face down on the table.

“You know what, Madame Andromeda is a hack,” she said. “Who wants dessert?”

“Absolutely not,” Ramona said. “What did Andromeda say?”

“She said you’re the most beautiful girl on the planet,” April said.

“Right,” Ramona said. “Don’t make me break out Llama Face.”

“Shit, I forgot about Llama Face,” Leigh said, leaning forward on their elbows. “Let’s see it.”

“Not until April reads me my horoscope,” Ramona said, folding her arms. “And there are seven words I never thought I’d say.”

“She said you’re doomed.”

All three of them looked at Olive, who had declared this lovely fortune. She held her phone in her hand, eyes on the screen.

“Doomed?” Ramona asked.

“Basically,” Olive said.

“Just read it,” April said, sitting back in defeat.

“As a Libra, you crave balance and fairness,” Olive read, “but this week, as Saturn moves into emotional Pisces, you find yourself ruled by the heart. This is a welcome respite from your usual logical methods, but be careful. The heart is wild, and left untamed, it can place you in situations where you find yourself risking heartbreak. You’ll have to decide whether or not it’s worth it.”

They were all quiet for a second, Andromeda’s words echoing through the room.

“Well, shit,” Leigh said, standing up. “This definitely calls for some black bean chocolate mousse.” They went to the fridge and pulled out a tray of tiny glass jars, each one full of silky-looking chocolate and topped with blueberries and shaved almonds.

Ramona just stared as Leigh placed a pot in front of her.

Heartbreak.

You have to decide…

“Hey, everyone,” Dylan said, coming in the side door. She still had a full face of makeup, but she was dressed in jeans and a plain gray T-shirt instead of the fateful striped dress. “Sorry I’m late. Gia was on a tear tonight.”

“Hey,” Ramona said, standing up and pulling Dylan into her arms.