Don't Refuse Me, Daddy

Chapter 3 The Fortune Teller

Evelyn was convinced that mature women gave off a sweetness, like the scent of fruit just on the edge of ripeness. She'd sniffed close to me once, then pulled back with a grin. "But you—you still smell like innocence. You've got a long way to go."

Each time, I’d force a smile to cover the secret I kept hidden deep inside. Those secrets always made me feel like I was worlds apart from the other girls my age.

Evelyn was my best friend. With her wild curls, slight plumpness, and a dusting of freckles across her cheeks, she could make me laugh like no one else. After everything I'd been through, talking to strangers was hard, so I didn't have many friends at school. Evelyn was my anchor, and we stuck together like glue.

We spent our lunches chatting, swapped notes on what we learned in class, flipped through the latest magazines, and, most importantly, she was the only person I could share things with that I could never tell Tyrone.

For the longest time, I thought I could share anything with him and that he and I would always be close.

But then, a few years ago, my body started changing.

One night in the bath, I noticed the gentle curve of my chest beneath the steaming water. They were slightly flushed from the warmth, and as I touched them, a tingling rush went through me. I closed my eyes and kept rubbing them when Tyrone's face drifted into my mind. I thought of his muscular figure, imagining that the hands over my chest were actually his. The thought alone sent a wave of heat down my body, a strange, thrilling sensation pooling between my legs. Then, all at once, I realized what I was doing, and shame flooded me. I stopped, sinking deeper into the water, trying to drown the flush in my cheeks.

After that, things with Tyrone changed. I didn't tell him everything anymore. Secrets formed, growing heavier as I kept them to myself. Tyrone seemed to sense it, too—he'd sometimes look hurt, as though he could feel the widening distance between us, but I didn't know how to explain.

How could I face the way he made me feel? Every time he touched me, spoke to me, or even just looked at me, I had to press my legs tightly together, holding back the rush of sensation that threatened to spill over.

I'd lie awake at night, dreaming of him, only to wake up in tears. If Tyrone ever discovered the crazy thoughts I kept locked away, would he despise me for it?

What stung most was hiding all this, only to see him with someone else. Each time he brought home a girlfriend, I had to lock myself in my room, slip on headphones, and try to lose myself in a book, hoping it would drown out the jealous ache that gnawed at me.

After wrestling with these feelings alone, I finally told Evelyn.

"You're kidding." Her ice cream cone nearly slipped from her hand. "You're saying you're in love with your... your father?"

"He's just my guardian," I corrected. "I never call him father."

"So..." Evelyn took a big bite of ice cream, mulling it over. "And how does he feel?"

"I haven't asked him," I admitted, slumping. "I don't know why, but I can't bring myself to."

Evelyn sighed with a frown. "Listen, Zoey, you're seventeen. You're practically a peach in bloom. Every guy in school would die to be in Tyrone's place! He's a grown man. He can't possibly ignore how you've changed."

I tugged at my collar, looking down. "But it's like he still sees me as the little girl who clings to her stuffed puppy and can't sleep without a bedtime story."

A mischievous glint sparked in Evelyn's eyes. "I've got it! There's a way to find out without asking him directly." Her voice dropped to a whisper, taking on a mysterious tone. "There's a fortune teller near the school. We could go see what she says."

A fortune teller? Images of Professor Trelawney from Harry Potter and the wicked witches from horror movies danced in my mind.

Could they really read the future with a crystal ball or tea leaves?

With Evelyn tugging me along, we navigated a maze of alleys until we came to a dingy green door tucked away at the very end.

She knocked, and a raspy voice called from within.

"Come in, children."

The scent of heavy spices hit us as we stepped into the dimly lit room. Evelyn lifted a faded curtain, revealing a small, narrow table. Behind it sat a figure cloaked in a hood, a gauzy veil obscuring her face.

The only light came from a lone bulb hanging from the ceiling, surrounded by flickering candles. As we entered, the breeze made the candle flames dance.

On the table, a crystal ball sat under a cloth, mysterious and enticing.

The fortune teller rubbed her hands together, her voice crackling. "What would you like to know, my dears?"

Evelyn nudged me forward, and I swallowed, nerves suddenly jangling.

Exposing my secrets to a stranger was challenging, but I managed to force out a few words.

"I... I want to know about... Well, my relationship..."

"There's no need to explain further," the woman said, placing her hands over the cloth.

Something felt off. Her hands looked far too young for her cracked, ancient-sounding voice.

She closed her eyes, swaying slightly. "I can see it all—your past, and your future together"

She raised a hand, pointing first at me.

"Yours is a love that defies convention. It's not the ordinary kind."

A sudden rush of panic tightened in my chest, and I instinctively gripped Evelyn's arm.

"You two... you'll have a wonderful future," the woman muttered, her head shaking slowly. "But there are too many obstacles right now. I saw it... in the crystal ball... the man you love, he's with another woman... making love... but it’s not you."

Her voice trailed off, her eyes closing as if she were lost in her vision.

At her words, a deep furrow creased my brow. This wasn’t the answer I wanted to hear, especially the second part.

"I saw fire… fire breaking through the roof, ropes, chains, and someone locked inside a room."

The woman opened her eyes, and I was struck by the sharp brightness in them, as if she could see straight through me.

"You need to be careful," she said, her voice low, almost a whisper. "Be wary of those who approach you with good intentions. And when you... pleasure yourself... make sure no one catches you."

My face flushed instantly at her words, and my mind raced back to the moments she was referring to. I glanced at Evelyn—thankfully, she was still focused on the woman, not noticing the sudden heat flooding my cheeks.

The woman then turned her gaze to Evelyn. "As for you, child... you will meet someone who loves you sincerely. But it won't end well, unless you can figure out who this person truly is."

Evelyn and I exchanged a look. Neither of us understood what the woman was talking about. Not a word of it made sense.

We were about to ask more questions, but the woman was already stretching her hand out.

"Your payment for the reading," she said, her voice firm.

Fuming, Evelyn and I stormed out of the hut. The fee she charged was outrageous—half of my month's living expenses gone in an instant. Yet, her so-called reading had barely offered any clarity.

Maybe she was just another con artist, spinning tales for money.

Relying on others wouldn't get me anywhere—that was the only lesson I took from this failed fortune-telling session.

Maybe it was time to gather my courage and finally talk to Tyrone. After all, how would I ever know the answer if I never dared to ask?