Soothsayer: Magic Is All Around Us (Soothsayer Series Book 1)

by Allison Sipe

  “Shall we?” Ian asked, holding out his arm for me to take.

  I took a deep breath, grabbed his arm and we headed into the restaurant.

  The Cantina was new in town and fairly busy. Daniel had called ahead for a table so we didn’t have to wait long before being seated. The lights were kept low to help set the mood and candles in tinted glass vases glowed in the center of each table. Mariachi music played through the audio system, bringing the restaurant to life. Beautiful portraits of Mexican dancers and landscapes decorated the walls. Ian pulled my chair out for me to sit down and then sat next to Daniel across from me.

  “So, Violet. I hear you’re a photographer,” Ian said, leaning across the table with his chin barely a safe distance from the candle.

  “Yes, I am,” I replied, wondering if the evening would be improved if Ian accidentally set his shirt on fire.

  “What kind of pictures do you take?” He sounded genuinely interested.

  “Pretty much anything.”

  Becky stepped on my foot under the table and I had to bite my lip to keep myself from yelling out.

  “What I mean is, I’ll take any job to help pay the bills,” I added, biting my lip to ignore my throbbing foot. “Portrait’s, school photos, weddings.” The word “weddings” brought on a hundred flashes of the night I was attacked. Robert’s intensity, Brett dressed in red, my blood-soaked clothes. I had to suppress a shudder as I remembered the feel of the blade sliding into my stomach.

  “I see,” Ian said, bringing me back to the present, “but what kind of pictures do you actually enjoy taking?”

  “Don’t get me wrong, I do enjoy the odd jobs from time to time. It’s just, there’s something about a bare landscape, a part of the world untouched by human hands that I like to capture.”

  “You should go by her studio and see some of her work,” Becky suggested, tearing her attention from Daniel for a brief moment.

  I glared at her. How could she be doing this to me? She knew I didn’t even want to be here and now she was making additional plans for us.

  “Your studio?” Ian asked, looking back at me.

  “Yeah, I own my own studio,” I replied.

  “Wow, that’s really great. I’d love to come by sometime and take a look.”

  “Yeah, sounds good.” I kept my voice even, trying to be nice.

  Before I could change the subject and ask what he did for a living our waiter came over to get our drink orders and drop off the complimentary chips and salsa. Both Ian and Daniel got beer and Becky and I ordered margaritas, blended for me, on the rocks for her. Plus an extra spike of tequila. I needed a strong drink and now.

  “So, what is it you do for a living?” I asked while looking over the menu.

  “I’m in film, mostly editing,” he said, shrugging nonchalantly.

  “Film, huh? So you’re a Hollywood big shot?”

  He laughed. “Not really a big shot, not yet at least. I’m still working my way up the ladder.”

  “He’s being modest. This guy calls all the shots,” Daniel said, laughing and pointing his thumb in Ian’s direction.

  Ian looked up at me from under his lashes, obviously a little embarrassed by his friend. He had a childlike innocence about him I hadn’t noticed before. Maybe my first impression of him wasn’t quite accurate.

  “Have you worked on anything I might have heard of?” I asked, a little more interested in the conversation now.

  “I mostly do indie films, but I’ve assisted on a few mainstream movies. I don’t really like to talk about it too much. In LA it’s all about what you’ve done and who you know. That’s all anyone ever talks about so I don’t really like to talk about work when I’m outside of the industry bubble.”

  “Oh, well I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to pry. I was just curious.” My cheeks flushed and I shifted uncomfortably in my chair.

  “It’s nothing to be sorry for. Besides, I want to hear more about you.” He put his hand on top of mine and looked up at me.

  Pulling my hand from underneath Ian’s, I reached up to grab my margarita before it could be placed down on the table and took a much needed sip. Our orders were taken and before Ian could ask me anything else about myself I turned my attention to Daniel.

  “So, Daniel what do you do for a living?” I asked.

  “I have an auto body shop. Mostly I restore older cars,” he answered, scooping up some salsa and shoving the chip in his mouth.

  “It’s actually a nice shop,” Becky clarified as she looked at Daniel with an admiring gaze. She really seemed to be taken with this guy. I was surprised; maybe she did have real feelings for him.

  “You mean to tell me the shop is actually in good shape?” Ian asked, laughing. “The last time I was there it looked like a bomb went off.”

  “Screw you, I was just getting settled in,” Daniel laughed, nudging his shoulder against Ian’s.

  “So Ian, how long are you in town for? Maybe Violet can show you around while you’re here?” Becky suggested, interrupting the guys’ banter.

  I almost choked on my margarita. I had to stifle a cough into my napkin and take a sip of water to wash down the tequila burning my throat.

  “I’m just here for the long weekend but I’d love to see the sights. It’s been awhile since I was last in Pismo,” Ian said and tossed me a look of equal parts concern and confusion.

  I kicked Becky under the table but kept a smile on my face.

  “Yeah, that sounds great,” I lied. “I’ll just have to make sure I don’t have anything going on at the studio.”

  “She doesn’t. She’s free all weekend,” Becky said, glancing at me out of the corner of her eye. Man was she pushing it.

  I just smiled and took a cautious sip of my drink. Ian actually looked a little uncomfortable at the obvious tension between Becky and me. He seemed like a pretty decent guy and in spite of myself I felt bad for being so rude, or maybe that was just the liquor talking.

  “I’d be happy to show you around,” I said as reassuringly as possible.

  It seemed to work. He smiled and his eyes brightened. I was definitely going to have to give Becky a piece of my mind for doing this to me but there was nothing I could do about it at the moment.

  The food arrived quickly despite the fact that the restaurant was packed tighter than a hipster in skinny jeans. Steak fajitas and warm flour tortillas were placed down in front of me. The sizzling of the meat on the cast iron pan and the smell of seasoned peppers had my mouth watering instantly. We all talked about work and Ian asked me about my other interests. It turned out that we had a little more in common than I would have thought. He asked about my family and I saw Becky tense out of the corner of my eye. Family was supposed to be a neutral topic, but when you didn’t have any family to talk about, it could get a little awkward.

  When we finished the meal, Ian picked up the check, noting he was honoring our hospitality and not just paying because he was obligated to. We all stood up once Ian got his card back. Becky and I headed to the restroom and told the guys to meet us outside.

  “So what’d ya think?” Becky asked the second we were out of earshot.

  “He’s… nice,” I said, biting my lip and staring at my reflection in the mirror. Ian did seem like a nice guy but there was just something missing.

  “Just nice?”

  “I don’t know, there’s just something off about him.”

  “Oh no you don’t, you’re not going to nit-pick this guy to death until you find something wrong with him.” She turned away from the mirror to look at me. “He’s nice, smart, successful, and sexy as hell. What more are you looking for?”

  “Warmth,” I said under my breath.

  “What the hell does that mean? Look Violet, he seems to be interested so just give it a shot. If it doesn’t work out then he’ll be gone in a few days.”

  “Maybe you’re right,” I said, staring at the sink. She did have a point. Just because he didn’t light me up like Robert did d
idn’t mean I should totally blow him off. And it really wouldn’t hurt to distract myself from thinking about Robert either.

  “Of course I’m right. Now get your sexy ass out there and work some magic.” Becky smacked my backside and we both laughed as we walked out of the bathroom.

  “Oh and just so you know, I’m leaving with Daniel so you’ll have to get a ride from Ian,” she whispered behind me as we walked outside to meet the guys.

  “Thanks for the heads up,” I said under my breath sarcastically.

  “You ready to go, babe?” Daniel asked Becky.

  “Always,” she said, smiling and bouncing into his arms.

  “It was nice meeting you, Violet,” Daniel said.

  “Night, guys,” Becky called, her voice thick with implication.

  “Night,” I sighed. “So, I guess it’s just you and me then.” I smiled at Ian.

  “Come on, I’ll give you a ride home,” he said, holding out his arm for me.

  I looped my arm through his and we walked up the street to his car. He paused and pulled out his keys in front of a Smart Car. Looking at the car hesitantly, I worried about its safety as I hopped in reluctantly.

  “So, where to?” he asked.

  “Umm, just head down the street and make a right at the light.”

  He started up the car and the engine was so quiet it sounded like a golf cart.

  “Now that we're alone,” he said as he pulled out of the spot. Oh crap, I thought. “I have to ask. How does a girl like you manage to stay single?” He grinned in my direction.

  “Umm, well for one thing, I’m really focused on my work and making a life for myself,” I answered.

  “I know how that is. I’ve been so focused on my own career for the past few years I haven’t had much time for a personal life.” He paused and took a breath like he was going to say something else but then stopped.

  “What?” I asked.

  “Can I ask you something?" His arm grazed mine in the tight space.

  “Sure,” I said, leaning toward the passenger window.

  “Do you ever get lonely, not having anyone?”

  I took a second to answer. I wasn’t sure what he was getting at but I had a gut feeling he hoped I was lonely enough to allow him to entertain me with his company.

  “Sometimes, but I’m very happy with the life I’ve built for myself. I like the freedom of not having to answer to someone else,” I answered, satisfied at the truth of my words. Even after everything I’d been through I could honestly say I was pretty content with the way my life had turned out so far.

  “You’re different you know,” he said.

  I blinked. “How so?” I edged closer to the window.

  “Most women I meet can’t wait to find their next relationship. They’re always looking for Mr. Right or Mr. Right-now in some cases. But you’re secure. You're…” He hesitated, trying to find the right word, “Unique.”

  I laughed.

  “What?” He gave me a confused smile.

  “Oh, make a left up here. I’m just up the block on the right side.”

  “So what did I say that was so funny?” he asked, returning to our conversation.

  “It’s just, I’ve tried very hard not to be unique,” I said and looked out the window. “I’m right here.” My complex flashed by the window. Ian hit the brakes and put it in reverse, parking in a spot that was really only big enough for motorcycles and scooters.

  “You can't change who you are.” The tenacity in his expression had no effect on me.

  “Thanks for the ride. And thanks for tonight. I had a really good time.” I meant it. Ian might not give me butterflies or ignite a fire inside me but he was still a nice guy and the evening had gone better than I’d thought possible.

  “So did I. I’m glad I got to meet you.”

  “You too. Night,” I said, opening the passenger door and stepping out.

  I closed the door and started walking to the gate when I heard a window roll down behind me. I turned to look and Ian was leaning across the car almost out the passenger window.

  “What time should I pick you up tomorrow?” he asked.

  “Tomorrow?” I replied.

  “You didn’t forget that you’re supposed to show me around now did you?” He smiled.

  “Oh, that. Well I normally get up around five in the morning on Saturdays to make it to the beach for sunrise.” I hoped this news would discourage him from wanting to spend time with me. Ian was nice and all but I didn’t really want to spend an entire day with him.

  “Sounds good. See you around five-thirty then. Sleep well,” he said, rolling up the window before I could protest.

  “You too,” I said under my breath and turned to unlock the gate.

  I sighed with relief as I locked the door behind me, nearly collapsing on the tiled entryway floor. I changed out of my dress and into sweats faster than Superman changing back into Clark Kent. I set my alarm and crawled into bed.

  I yawned and rolled onto my side. As much as my brain wanted to over analyze the evening, a tequila-induced sleep forced my eyelids to close and I passed out.

  >>>><<<<

  I had hoped Ian wouldn’t show up. Most people didn’t like getting up before the sun, but he arrived just before five-thirty and we headed out for the day. He was quiet most of the morning, no doubt still feeling the effects of the sandman, but he didn’t take his eyes off me the whole time. It felt like he was waiting for something to happen, like I would magically sprout wings and fly away. I tried to ignore him but I couldn’t help feeling exposed and vulnerable as he tracked my every movement.

  I finished shooting a few photos and we watched the sun rise over the water. With any other guy, I might have thought it romantic to watch the fingers of dawn stretch across the sand, but with Ian the sky couldn’t brighten up fast enough.

  “How about we get some coffee?” Ian suggested. He stood, dusting the sand off of his jeans.

  “Coffee sounds great. I know just the place,” I replied. Ian reached for my elbow and helped me to my feet. Robert’s face flashed across my eyes and his voice echoed in my head, “Violet, I need you to look at me.”

  I pulled away from Ian and dusted myself off without looking at him. What the hell was that? I thought.

  “Stand up too fast?” Ian asked.

  His voice startled me. “Huh? Oh, yeah. Just a little light-headed.” I lied. Ian’s blue eyes flittered over me and a shiver ran down my spine. I couldn’t quite put my finger on it, but something about Ian was off and I was ready to be rid of him.

  We pulled up to the Java Beach Café and instantly I felt a sense of relief wash over me. It was packed with people and the familiar scent of fresh donuts and coffee filled my nose.

  “This must be the place to be,” Ian said with a smile as we walked inside.

  “You betcha. Java has the best pastries within a hundred miles.”

  We put in or orders and found a place to sit outside.

  “So does your family also live in Pismo?” he asked as we sat down.

  “No, they don’t.” I fiddled with the napkin dispenser, avoiding eye contact and hoping he’d switch to a different subject.

  “So you’re not originally from around here, or did they move away and you stayed behind for the view?” He wiggled his eyebrows and a feeling of unease settled in the pit of my stomach.

  A small, plump woman bustled over to our table and quickly distributed our coffee and breakfast.

  “I moved here after college. My parents aren’t around anymore and I needed a place to start over.” I tore a piece of my donut off and popped it in my mouth as I waited for my coffee to cool a bit.

  “Oh, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to pry.” Ian sipped his coffee and for the first time today, took his eyes off of me.

  “Yes you did,” I said, calling him on his bullshit.

  “I’m just trying to get to know you. Man, you’re a hard nut to crack, aren’t you?”

  I sighe
d. “I just don’t talk about my past much. I try to focus on the future.”

  “I understand. I lost my dad when I was ten and my mother was never the same after. It was like a piece of her died with him.”

  “I’m sorry, I didn’t realize…” I trailed off.

  “It’s alright, it was a long time ago. Thankfully I had my uncle. He took me under his wing and kind of became a surrogate father.”

  “Same with my aunt. She took care of me after my parents died but unfortunately we haven’t stayed very close over the years.”

  “I’m sure she’s always looking out for you, one way or another.”

  “Maybe,” I mused. This conversation was making me feel uneasy. I was being too free with my past, something I never did. I could feel the unnatural desire to open up to him cling to my chest like a bird to its prey. The words he wanted to hear bubbled out of me without my consent. I felt compelled to answer him and tell him whatever he wanted to hear and it terrified me.

  “What about siblings?”

  “Nope, it’s just me.” I tried not to answer, but the words just popped out. I took a sip of my coffee as panic gripped me.

  “That’s lonely.”

  “It’s all I’ve ever known.” I shrugged. “What about you? Any brothers and sisters?” I tried steering the conversation toward him to get the heat off of me.

  “An older sister, but we don’t stay in touch. After my father died, she went away to school and we took different paths in life.”

  “It must be hard to have family and not be close to them.”

  “Not really, my uncle is my family,” he said, his voice cold and hard.

  Whatever had happened between him and his sister must have been pretty bad. I couldn’t imagine having a sibling and not being close to them. I let the topic of family drop as we quietly sipped our coffee. If it were me, I wouldn’t want some stranger digging into my family history. Then again, a stranger was currently digging into my family history and I was letting him. I couldn’t figure out why; even Becky had to work to get details out of me sometimes and we’d been friends for years.

  “So, no parents, no siblings, no husband, you’re all alone. That’s kind of sad actually,” Ian said. He frowned and reached across the table to hold my hand.