Matthew turned to me and grinned and then paused, narrowing his eyes. “My God, you’re glowing.”
“I am not glowing,” I protested. “Am I?”
“You are absolutely glowing,” he insisted. “Someone’s been complicating things further with Mr. Complicated.”
I sputtered. “I … how did?—”
“You have the look of someone who has been thoroughlyappreciated.” Matthew arched a brow and heat flooded my face.
Sir Buster growled and then pawed at my foot.
“We are not discussing my …appreciation…in front of the dog.”
“We absolutely are,” Matthew said serenely. “Sir Busterlovesromance.”
Sir Buster huffed when I bent to pick him up.
“Somehow, I highly doubt that.”
Tucking Sir Buster in the crook of my arm, I dropped my bag by the nearest armchair and blew out a breath. “Right. I am officially compartmentalizing my love life now. This is about you. And your chart. And your huge life question that you want to ask.”
“Fine. But you’ll have to give me details later. I may be doomed to live vicariously through others.”
I totally understood Sophie’s joy at seeing her best friend now. He had an easy manner about him that made him already feel like a close friend. But today was about him and his needs. Not mine.And how I was thoroughly “appreciated” last night.
“I guess we’ll see what your chart says.”
We settled into opposite chairs, a low table between us. I’d brought my laptop, tarot deck, a couple of crystals because I liked to create an atmosphere and they helped my energy. The fire crackled in the hearth, and Sir Buster bounded down from my lap and settled himself at a wee bed next to where Lady Lola napped peacefully.
Matthew poured us both a cup of tea, and turned to me, studying my face as I pulled my laptop out and opened it.
“You look nervous.”
“I’m not nervous,” I said and then paused, lifting my eyes to the mural on the ceiling above me. “Okay, I’m a little nervous. I have been trying to read up on being a chartweaver, I don’t want to accidentally tangle your entire life.”
Matthew blinked. “Yes, that wouldn’t be ideal.”
“Sorry.” I took a breath. “I’ll explain as we go. But I want you to know, I won’t shift anything without your explicit consent, all right? You have full veto power here.”
Something in his shoulders relaxed. “I trust you,” he said simply.
My throat tightened. “Thank you.”
“We can be terrified together,” he added. “You, of your loom of destiny. Me, of the possibility of moving my entire life across the ocean.”
“Right.” I clicked open my astrology software. “Let’s start with the basics. You wrote your birth details down?”
He slid a folded paper across the table with a flourish. “Date, time, location. I even triple-checked the time with my mother. She was very excited you’re looking at my chart. She thinks Ineed ‘cosmic guidance’ to stop me from dating men who own more leather bracelets than books.”
I snorted. “Your mother sounds wise.”
“Oh, she is,” he said. “Terrifying, but wise.”
I typed in his details, hit enter, and the familiar wheel spun into place.
I leaned in.
“Okay,” I said slowly. “Interesting.”