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dating gods, whatever—was putting him in my path.
    â€œNah, we’ve got some cheap rooms in a small hotel in the French Quarter. Tank knew some people who knew some people.” He shrugged.
    â€œIs he in charge of your group?”
    â€œWe’re not official, not really organized. As a matter of fact, very unorganized. Tank asked if I wanted to come to New Orleans for the summer and do some volunteer work, said he’d secured some beds, and since I had nothing better to do—here I am.” He made a grandsweeping gesture. “At your service. So let me help you with this.”
    â€œBut you’re not geared up.”
    â€œI’ll gear up in a minute. Let’s get this done.”
    Squatting, he grabbed the end of the table leg that was still attached to part of the table.
    I bent over—
    â€œIt’s better for your back if you use your legs to lift stuff,” he said.
    â€œMy toes don’t hold things well.”
    He laughed. “Funny. You grab with your hands, but lift with your legs. See?”
    He demonstrated, his legs doing a smooth pumping action, like a piston. He had really nice thighs. Even covered in jeans, they looked firm. Very firm.
    â€œSo, you’re what? A lifting coach?” I asked.
    â€œNah. I worked for an overnight package deliverer over winter break. Had to watch safety videos.” He shifted the table leg so he was able to carry it by himself and drop it in the wheelbarrow.
    It was only then that I noticed Tank andJenna working together to remove a screen from a window. How it had managed to remain attached, I couldn’t imagine. Most were gone, or hanging lopsided.
    â€œWhere’s Amber?” I called out to Jenna.
    â€œShe went to talk to Sara/Saraphina. I think she wants another psychic reading.”
    â€œNow?” I asked.
    Jenna shrugged as she walked over to me. “She’s still bummed about what Saraphina told her yesterday.”
    â€œYou had a psychic reading?” Brady asked.
    Now it was my turn to shrug. “It’s like eating at Café Du Monde. Something you have to do when you’re in New Orleans.”
    â€œWhat did she tell you?”
    â€œNothing that made any sense. Do you believe in that sort of thing?”
    â€œNot really.” He reached down, picked up a brick, and dropped it in the wheelbarrow.
    Apparently, I had a new partner for the day—whether I wanted him or not.

Chapter 8
    â€œO kay, so her real name is Sara, and Saraphina is, like, her stage name or something. She said it all has to do with marketing,” Amber said.
    It was a little past noon, and we were all sitting on the curb, eating deli sandwiches called po’boys that one of the local eateries had sent over. Apparently some of the restaurants provided food for the volunteers, which made it really nice on our budgets. It also gave us such a sense of being appreciated—not that we were doing any of this for kudos, but still, it was nice.
    â€œSo, did she give you another reading?” I asked.
    â€œNo. She doesn’t give freebies, and shedoesn’t do readings when she’s outside the shop. She’s just a normal person today—or as normal as she can be with two different colored eyes, but whatever. She said I’m trying too hard to interpret what she saw. I don’t know how I can not interpret”—she darted a quick glance at Sean, who was attacking his ham sandwich—“what she told me.”
    I wondered if she thought that since Sean was in college, he had the potential to be the better love.
    â€œIt’s not like psychic-ism—or whatever you call it—is an exact science,” I reassured Amber. “She puts a thought in your mind and then when something similar—”
    â€œSimilar? Red Kansas City Chiefs hat is pretty specific,” she interrupted.
    â€œWhat?” Brady asked, taking off his cap and looking at the logo on the front,