Harlowe’s Curse – Chapter 3

HARLOWE

Vitt throws every single ring around the farthest target and wins me a fluffy unicorn, even though I tell him a dozen times I have no use for a damn stuffed unicorn. “You’re really good at this,” I say, reluctantly carrying the toy I could’ve blissfully lived without.

“It’s not that hard. I can teach you if you want.”

I beam. “I’d love that.”

I learned at a young age how easy it is to steal from some men who love to mansplain the hell out of life. Vitt is apparently no exception.

“Nope,” Jaden says, jumping between us two. “No. Hey, let’s go to the bumper cars. Guys, what do you say?”

“I don’t know, Jaden,” Norm says teasingly. “Do you want to get your sorry ass kicked in a miniature car that can’t even fit those bony knees of yours?”

“We’ll see about that.” Jaden drags me along with him towards the huge bumper cars canopy tent.

I catch a hot, sticky drift of cotton candy as we pass by the food stands, and I smile at the stars. It’s one of the last hot days of summer, which always makes me feel as invincible as the Marshes but at the same time like my days are running out. Every employee is trying to lure us toward their stands, shouting and waving cheap flashing bracelets. I would probably let myself linger at a few if I didn’t have a goal in mind.

We’re strolling toward the cars when my phone buzzes in my pocket and I look down at my mother’s text.

Mom: Dinner over. How long are you going to be at the fair?

I slow down, writing a fast reply.

Harlowe: depends

Harlowe: did u have a nice time

The three dots that mean she’s typing appear, disappear, reappear, and disappear again. And then just one word.

Mom: Lovely.

My mother has never uttered the word lovely in anything other than a sarcastic manner. She adds something else.

Mom: He insists on a movie at Cliff’s Hanger. Don’t be home late.

I sigh, then click on silent mode. I don’t want to think about them tonight.

“The parents?” Jaden asks, slowing his pace to walk next to me.

Ahead of us, Vitt and Norma are talking about whether dogs should be muzzled in public transportation, a topic my dear best friend adores to bring up the moment she meets someone new.

“Yeah,” I tell Jaden, kicking at a pebble. “Dinner wasn’t a success. Shocker.”

He slaps my shoulder softly, without any zeal. “Don’t say that.”

“Well, there’s no use in holding on to the ruins of their marriage.”

Jaden mutters a curse. “Why do you have to be like that?”

“Because it’s true. At this point, they’d both be happier if they just got a divorce. We’d be happier. Our house has been a minefield for too long. It’s a shitshow we shouldn’t have to deal with.”

“It’s our shitshow,” he defends. “And they still love each other.”

I sigh, my silence trailing a second too long.

“What?” he asks, sensing that I know something.

Jaden glances ahead at the others who are now dangerously nearing an argument. (Vitt must be team muzzles.) Then he lowers his voice, deflating a little. “You think Dad is having an affair?”

The way he asks it, voice filled with dread and eyes brimming with sorrow, almost breaks my heart. The truth is, a few months ago, I did think our father was having an affair. I know how he feels right now.

“He’s not,” I reassure him. “I asked him.”

“Oh, and you think he’d just tell you the truth? Do you forget that our father is one of the most talented liars on this miserable planet?”

“I do know.” I smirk. “That’s why there was just one way for me to make sure I’d get the truth.”

Jaden halts. He closes his eyes. “What did you do?”

I laugh. “Don’t be so dramatic. You look like me and it’s creeping me out.”

“Lowe…”

I pull at his arm to keep him walking. I wait that a pack of tweens run past us, giggling excitedly. The bell of a near stand rings, loud and cheery, and a man whoops. I lean so Jaden hears me over the ruckus.

“I needed to know their marriage was worth saving.” I poke his nose with the fluffy unicorn I whole-heartedly plan to throw over a bush at the first opportunity I get. “He’s not cheating. He loves Mom. And he can’t lie for shit anymore.”

Jaden sighs. Then laughs, walking again next to me. “I’m pretty sure you’re going to hell, but that was clever.”

“Thank you.”

“Oh, my God!” Norm shouts ahead of us, and we turn to see her pointing at a dark-green tent with a glittery flap door.

“What is it?” Vitt asks.

“Fortune teller! Come on,” she says, waving at me and Jaden. “I want to know if my book is going to get published soon.”

“Oh, Norm, honey. Don’t waste money for that answer, it’s clearly a no,” I say in that tone that’s so perfectly in-between teasing and honesty that it makes everyone else quiet and uncomfortable.

Which I secretly love.

It makes me feel in control and gives me a little rush of adrenaline every time. I know it’s wrong, but I can’t help it. I live for that control.

“You’re joking, right?” Jaden asks me, all brotherly affection gone from his tone.

“Of course,” I say. “But in all fairness, traditional publishing is a brutal world, Norm. I just want to make sure you know that.”

She shrugs, her shoulders stiff. “Of course, I know. Why do you think I’m already building an online platform and saving up money for the professional editing I’ll need when my latest revision is done?”

Jaden just sighs, shaking his head at me.

After an awkward second, Vitt hooks his elbow with mine. “Well, I want to know if we’re meant to be.”

He leans to kiss me, but I dodge. “A definite nope.” I push the unicorn against his chest. “If Jaden hadn’t interrupted earlier, you would already know that.”

“Babe?” Vitt’s face drops.

“Yeah, there’s really nothing in this relationship for me.” Anymore.

I can almost hear the cringes of Jaden and Norm behind me, but I learned with time that there’s no use trying to be gentle. I’ll break their hearts anyway. I always do. What’s the point in making it last longer?

“Jeez, Harlowe,” Jaden mutters.

Vitt’s cheeks are so red. He stubbornly stares at the unicorn in his hands, then lets it fall to the sandy ground and walks away, soon disappearing in the crowds. A second later a little girl with a purple balloon grabs the toy excitedly and runs to her parents with a squeal.

I inhale, baring myself for Jaden and Norm’s reactions before I turn on my heels to face them. I expect glares, or for them to remind me that there’s no need to be that rude, but they just look exhausted. Which is somewhat worse.

Jaden shrugs.

“You know what?” he says. “I’m going to pay for yours.”

“For my what?”

“Your fortune.”

I snort. “Please. The woman in that tent is obviously a fraud.”

He raises an eyebrow. “Look who’s brainwashed by gender norms now? That medium could be a he, a she, a they, who knows?”

I smile slowly, narrowing my eyes. “Point for you,” I concede.

“Let’s go.” He grabs my arm and drags me toward the tent.

“Wait,” I say, struggling to keep up with him. I’m a little bit relieved, because that’s exactly where I wanted to end up tonight, but also unsettled, because what is he even talking about right now? “Why would you pay for mine?”

“Because I think it’s time someone tells you you’re lining up all the stars in the fucking sky to end up alone.”

I don’t have a single second to digest that blow that a tall figure with the most beautiful, wavy blond hair comes out, one fist on a curvy hip. She eyes the three of us with a fierce, dark gaze.

“Ha!” I exclaim, proud. “It’s a she, I knew it.”

“Actually,” the medium says. “It’s a they. Thank you for asking.”

“Oh, shit, sorry. Really.”

“Please ignore my sister,” Jaden says, harshly letting go of my arm. “You’re the fortune teller?”

“In the flesh and aura,” they reply.

I snort again, then cover it up with a lazy cough when I realize they’re serious. Flesh and aura, really?

“How much for a reading?” Jaden asks, unfazed.

The medium’s gaze falls on me, and I feel slightly unsettled. They look at me like it’s not the first time they’ve seen me, like they know that I came here with the sole intention of meeting them today, to see if they have any real abilities worth stealing. There’s anger in their gorgeous features. And amusement.

“Ten each,” they say at last, not leaving my gaze.

“All right, let’s do this,” Norma says in a tone that clearly aims for lightness, but the mood is nothing but tense. My bad.

“I read only one at a time,” the fortune teller says. They point at me, chipped fingers painted black. “She’ll go first.”

Jaden gives them a crumpled ten-dollar bill that they slip in a hidden pocket of their long, burgundy robes. “And please don’t hold back any of the harsh truths for the sake of the feelings you think she might have,” he says. “I assure you, they’re all fake.”

He walks away without even looking at me. I glance at Norm, hoping she’ll take my side on this one. Her mouth hangs open for a second, and then, to my utter bewilderment, she goes after my brother.

“What the fuck is wrong with them?” I mutter.

The fortune teller stares at me. “Seems like you’re alone anyway,” they say, one eyebrow arching up gracefully, then they disappear behind the glittery flap.

I’m not even sure I want to do this anymore, but it’s better than having to go back to Jaden when he’s in that mood. So I glance one last time at the beautiful stars above, take a deep breath of the cotton candy breeze, and walk inside the tent.

The thick smell of smoke fogs my mind immediately, making it hard to see anything inside. Just like that, my feeling of invincibility slips through my fingers like ashes through the wind.

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