Page 135 of The Compass Series

DAMIAN

T hat’s him?

That’s the boyfriend?

I’m sorry, but…

What the actual fuck?

How did someone like Stella end up with someone like him?

I couldn’t comprehend how someone as gentle and bubbly could end up with someone like Jeff. He was the poster child for a spineless dick who walked all over women and broke them down just so he could feel an inch bigger and better.

It didn’t make sense in my mind. Sure, Stella had no choice in choosing me as her husband due to the arrangement, but I was beyond baffled that her choice would lead her to a man like Jeff.

Her standards weren’t even at ground level.

They were completely underground. The bar was in hell, and Jeff set it on fire.

“Are you going to keep pacing on my front porch or actually come inside?” Maple called out from inside her home.

I stood still, thrown off by being caught pacing even though Maplehadn’t turned to see me.

“Open the door, son,” she said, urging me to step inside her home.

I did as she said, closing it behind me. Surrounded by crystals and lit candles, she sat at herdining room table, flipping tarot cards. It looked like a fire hazard of sorts. As Maple flipped through her deck,I walked over to her.

“How did you know I was out there? Your shades are drawn,” I asked.

“Call it a sixth sense.”

I went to take a step closer, and she turned to face me with her deck in hand. “Pick a card?”

I shook my head. “I don’t believe in that stuff.”

“What do you mean by that stuff?”

“Witchcraft and voodoo mumbo jumbo.”

Maple smiled, unmoved by my dismissal of her craft. “People don’t believe in a lot of things. That doesn’t mean it’s not real.Regardless, I understand. Aries men are a bit harder tobelieve in things not directly in front of them.”

“I’m an Aquarius, not an Aries.”

She raised an eyebrow. “I thought you didn’t believe in this witchcraft, voodoo mumbo jumbo?”

“I don’t. Though, I’ve been told enough to know my zodiac sign.”

“Spoken like a true Aries,” she said again, laying out a spread of cards.

“I told you, I’m not an Aries.”

“Of course, you aren’t. With your sun sign, at least. But, sweetheart, today I’m talking about your moon.”

I had no clue what the hell she was going on about, and when she noticed my confusion, she smiled bigger. Placing down her final cards, she studied them, made a stumped sound. Then she looked at me, looked at the cards, then back at me. “Hmph,” she muttered again.

Then she blew out her candles, stacked her deck, and turned her chair to face me. “How can I help you, Damian?”

“I have a question for you.”

“I know. So ask.”

“Is there any chance that Jeff is hurtful toward Stella?”

Maple raised an eyebrow. “Did hedo something to her?”

“Yes. Well, no. Not physically that I can tell. I just have a bad feeling.” I shifted in my shoes. “He’s rude to her. And undermining. And a drunk.”

“Oh, yes. He is all of those things.”

“But shepretends to see the best in him.”

“Oh, sweetheart, she’s not pretending. It’s her gift and her curse—seeing the best in people.”She picked up a lighter and lit abunch of sticks and leaves. They began to burn and create smoke as she waved it around in the space.“Saging,” she explained. “It rids negative energy.”

“You’ll probably have to use a lot on me.”

She smiled a sincere grin. “Not as much as you’d think.”She placed the sage bunch on the fireplace in a vase and then wiped her hands clean on a rag sitting on the table. “So, you think Jeff is toxic.”

“I do.”

“And you’re worried about Stella’s safety.”

“No.” I cleared my throat. “I’m not concerned about her life.”

Maple laughed and walked over to me. She placed a hand against my forearm. “It’s okay to care, sweetheart. It doesn’t make you weak.”

I didn’t respond because I didn’t care.

Right? Right. I didn’t care. But…

“He speaks down to her as if she lacks intelligence.”

“Yes. Between you and me, I think he’s a prick. I did a few readings on him, and well… he’s not a good person.”

“Based on your tarot cards?”

“That and based on actual interactions with him.”

“Why does she stay with him? It’s clear he’s awful.”

“As I said, she sees the bestin people, and you”—she walked to the kitchen and began to heat her kettle—“see the worst in individuals.”

“My gift and curse,” I muttered.

“You’re quick to catch on.”

“What do I do? How do I show her he’s no good without her being defensive?”

“That’s the tricky part. She’s protective of the ones she loves. Even those who are undeserving of herprotection. If you come at her sideways about one of her people, she’ll attack.”

“I only know how to be blunt.”

“I don’t think that’s true.” She tossed a few herb-like substances into a mug, poured hot water onto it, and then handeditover to me.“I think gentleness is at your core.”

I huffed, taking the mug from her. “Did your tarot cards tell you that about me?”

“No. Your eyes did. You’re not the only one good atreading people’s energy. I’ve been studying people since beforeyou were even born. Both with tarot cards and without.”

I sipped the tea and made a face.

She laughed. “Cat piss normally has people reacting that way.”

My eyes bugged out of my head. “I’m sorry, what?!”

Her chuckles vibrated off the walls. “It’s a joke, and your reaction is worth the price of admission. Dandelion tea can be a bit bitter to some. The lavender should help, though.”

“I’m not a tea person.”

“I know.” She smiled. I hated it. I hated it because she stared at me as if she knew all the parts of me. I didn’t like people who were able to read me.It made me feel too vulnerable. “My advice for you?Be the person toward Stella that Jeff isn’t.”

My brows knitted. “How do I do that?”

“Simple. Be yourself.”

“I’m not a nice person.”

“Just because you keep lying to yourself doesn’t make it true. Do you know what Stella needs? A friend who’s in her corner, standing up for her when she doesn’t do it for herself.”

“You want me to be her friend?”

“No.” She shook her head. “You want to be her friend. That’s why you’re pacing on my front porch overthinking everything right now.”

“What if she doesn’t want to be my friend?”

“For a man who’s good at reading people, you sure missed this mark, huh?” Maple laughed. “Don’t be so na?ve, Damian. Stella has been trying to be your friend from day one.”

I grimaced and thanked her for the advice even though it didn’t seem helpful at all. AsI began to leave, I hesitated and looked back at Maple, who wasback at her tarot cards. “Have you done readings on me?” I asked.

“Yes, I have.”

“And what have they told you?”

“What does it matter?” She smiled wide, the kind of smile a grandmother shared with her too young to understand grandchildren. “You don’t believe in this stuff anyway. Have a good day, Damian.”

For weeks, I’d been putting off meeting with any of the wicked stepmothers, but I finally had to face the fact that I had to meet each of them one-on-one.

The first one up was Rosalina. She invited me to a musical, and I was somewhat grateful for that because it meant we didn’t have to talk to one another for a good two hours.

I couldn’t focus on the show, though. I found myself studying everything about her instead.

Was that my nose? Did she have my side profile?

I tapped my fingers when nervous, the same way she had during the performance.

Was she nervous? If so, why? Because of the money?

Because of the show? Because she was my mother?

Are you my mother, Rosalina?

After the show, we headed out for dinner. She ate a salad, and I had a ribeye steak. She went on and on about the acting in the show, judging the performers as if she could do better. I doubt she could. Then again, she could’ve been acting right now in front of me, pretending not to be my mother.

Are you my mother, Rosalina?

“So, what do you think?” she asked me, making me realize I’d been zoning out and overthinking everything without listening to the actual words coming out of her mouth.

“Hmm?”

“About Denise and Catherine. Who do you think is your mother?”

My stomach knotted up. “I’m not interested in speaking about the others.”

“Of course. Sorry. I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable. I just mean, you deserve to know something like that. I couldn’t imagine how hard things were for you in your life.”

“Rather not talk about that either,” I grumbled.

She frowned, and I almost believed it. Then I reminded myself that she was an actress. The whole world was probably her stage.

“Are you interested in dessert?” the server asked.

“Oh, no. I don’t do sugar,” Rosalina said, waving him off. She turned to me. “That was the hardest part about living with Kevin and Stella. Stella was obsessed with sugar. It’s no surprise that she’s so big to this date.”

Piss off, Rosalina.

“Every night, she was eating a bowl of mint chocolate chip ice cream. Shoving it into her mouth because it was her favorite. With a million rainbow sprinkles. I swear, she had enough for a whole company, and it shows on her body.”

“There’s nothing wrong with her body,” I snapped.

She laughed and leaned in toward me. “Please, Damian, you don’t have to play nice. It’s no secret she’s massive. I bet she’s one scoop of ice cream away from having diabetes.”

Please don’t be my mother, Rosalina.

I stood and left the table without giving her another word. Even if it turned out that woman was my mother, she’d never get a cent from Stella or me.