When Emily reached the shop, she wanted to back out more
than she could say. She didn’t think she had the courage to go
through with asking the same person, twice, to be her fake
wife. Would she have to grovel? Would Dani study her with
those knowing, grassy eyes? It was her eyes that were most
discomfiting. She had ancient eyes. The kind of eyes that
belonged to someone so much older.
Emily’s hand paused on the metal handle of the glass door.
The shop was as well illuminated as before, all the little boxes
of crystals and tarot decks in their same spots. Emily wasn’t
sure what she was expecting. Something much different, now
that Dani had changed her mind? She had seemed so against
the idea, but now it appeared she’d given it some thought. Or
maybe she just got a kick out of watching Emily grovel.
Hidden camera style. She couldn’t shake the idea once
she’d thought of it.
Even though she didn’t want to debase herself again and go
for another lecture, Emily knew she’d grovel if she had to. If it
meant getting to follow her dreams instead of being stuck with
a career she hated, she was willing to do more than grovel.
With her mind made up, Emily pushed open the door. The
other girl from last time, the nicer one, wasn’t there. It was just
Dani behind the counter. She had an emerald silk scarf that
matched her eyes almost exactly wrapped around braids
woven together and pinned on top her head. She was wearing
another black blouse tucked into black skinny jeans, but this
time they weren’t so ripped up. Her flat canvas shoes
somehow looked alright with the outfit. Even though it was
half formal, half over the top casual, Dani had the kind of
body that could pull it off. Her killer curves and tiny waist