Free Web NovelChapter 237: Chapter 237 Escape to Elmridge
Christina’s POV
"I don’t care if there’s a corpse in my studio. Go die on the sidewalk instead. At least that’s public property."
Priya pushed him outside, then rushed back in.
"I think he wasn’t faking," she whispered. "He looked genuinely in pain. What should we do now?"
"Call an ambulance, just to be safe."
"On it."
The paramedics came and took him away.
Priya and I cleaned up the remaining mess. Within fifteen minutes, the place looked normal again. Not ready for business, but at least it no longer looked like a tornado hit it.
I stretched my arms, feeling the stiffness in my shoulders and the ache in my back. "Two incidents in less than a week. Maybe it’s time to shut this place down."
I wasn’t joking.
The idea of closing the studio had been on my mind for days, at least temporarily.
The competition series had sold well, flying off the shelves quickly. Now the hype had died down, and orders weren’t flooding in anymore.
I’d finished most of the celebrity commissions I’d taken on.
Priya could handle what was left.
No point dragging things out.
I sighed, looking around. The dent in the doorframe had been fixed, but I couldn’t help staring at it anyway.
After giving Priya the day off, I grabbed my keys and left. With nothing urgent to do, I needed something sugary and buttery to lift my spirits.
I headed to Ysolde’s new pastry shop, parked illegally, and slipped inside. She wasn’t behind the counter.
I ordered a lemon tart and black coffee, found a table by the window, and called her.
"Didn’t you say you’d be at the shop all week? It’s new product launch week. Where are you?"
"You’re there?" Ysolde sounded surprised. "I’m at the dance studio with Cade. He’s rehearsing."
"What? His doctor specifically said no strenuous activity."
"Yeah, well, try telling him that. He’s stubborn. The show starts filming again right after the break. All contestants need to sing and dance. His voice is decent, but dancing... he’s rusty. He wants to catch up before filming starts."
"But it’s a bone injury. He shouldn’t push himself."
"He’s fine," Ysolde laughed. "He’s young, heals fast. Plus, I’m watching him. He won’t suddenly collapse. Anyway, why’d you come all the way to the shop looking for me? Something up?"
"Just needed sugar," I grumbled. "Shitty day. Thought I’d see you, say hi, maybe steal a croissant if you weren’t looking. Since you’re off being a dance mom, I’ll just eat my tart and go."
"What happened?"
I told her everything.
She cursed so loudly my phone vibrated. "That’s ridiculous. "
"My thoughts exactly. Apparently my bad luck is trending."
"Chrissy, this isn’t normal. You need a cleanse."
"Like a spa thing?"
"No, a spiritual cleansing. It’s a mental thing."
I blinked, looking out the window. A pigeon landed on the sill, eyeing my pie.
"When did you get into all that?" I waved at the pigeon, which ignored me.
"Since I started sleeping with someone who burns sage before bed."
"Hard pass."
"Don’t judge before you’ve met her. She’s legit. Told me I’d marry someone five years younger in four years. Spring wedding, April specifically."
"Was your young hot boyfriend in the room when she said this?"
"Coincidentally, yes. But that’s not the point. If you don’t want a psychic, at least go see the scenery. Her shop is in Elmridge, near Highrise Falls. It’s a tourist spot. Waterfalls, forests, vineyards, you name it. Look it up."
"Are you sure you found a psychic and not a witch?"
"Oh shit, I hadn’t thought of that. But honestly, we’re not living in the Middle Ages where witches and werewolves were at each other’s throats. Besides, I’d know if she was a witch."
I had my doubts. Who knows what a witch might specialize in these days?
"Fine, I’ll think about it."
After hanging up, I searched online for the place like Ysolde suggested.
There was Highrise Falls, Echo Grove, The Overlook at Dusk, Pine & Pour Taproom, and Old Bramble Farm. The entire street was packed with psychics, tarot readers, crystal shops, and energy healing pop-ups.
From Instagram photos, half the town looked like a glittering fantasy trip.
I browsed a few posts. Comments mentioned fresh air, quiet surroundings, and food trucks.
Leaving the city for two days wouldn’t kill me. Even if I didn’t see the psychic, I could at least enjoy a good lunch and see an actual tree.
I started looking for hotels.
I was still searching after dinner.
Hudson looked up from the other end of the couch. "You’re going to Elmridge?"
"Yeah, just for a few days."
He sat up straight. "I’m coming too."
"Absolutely not." I locked my phone and headed upstairs. "You need to stay here."
I was halfway up when he grabbed me from behind.
An arm wrapped around my waist, and my feet left the ground.
"Hudson! Put me down!"
"No."
He carried me straight into the bedroom. "You’re trying to ditch me. That’s what this is." freewёbn૦νeɭ.com
True, but I wasn’t stupid enough to say so. "I already made plans with Ysolde. We’re doing a girls’ road trip."
"Ysolde’s leaving too?"
"Yes, she wants her fortune told, find a lucky charm for her boyfriend."
"Cade?"
"Yeah. I want to see if this woman actually has psychic abilities or just does drugs."
I wrapped my arms around his neck.
His skin was warm from being under the couch blanket, with a faint scent of lemon. The stubble on his jaw scraped against my cheek.
He sat on the edge of the bed, pulling me onto his lap.
I ended up straddling him without much hesitation.
"When did you start caring about psychics? "He questioned. freeweɓnovel.cѳm
"My studio’s been wrecked twice in one week, and we’re both starting to think it’s cursed. I figured, why not? You’ll be in meetings all week anyway, so you won’t be bored."
He didn’t look happy. "So Ysolde’s boyfriend gets a lucky charm... and I don’t?"
"Do you want one?"
"If it’s from you."
I leaned down to kiss him. "I’ll buy you the most expensive one she has."
Hudson wrapped a hand around the back of my neck and kissed me harder.
"How long will you be gone?" he asked when we both came up for air.
"Three days."
"When do you leave?"
"Day after tomorrow, early morning."
He moved his hands to my waist and pushed me back onto the mattress.
"Then I better make up for those three days in advance."
