“I know.” Serafine licked wine off her lip and closed her eyes, like she was replaying the memory in her mind. “And the way he runs. Like a grizzly bear.”

“Because he’s so big. Yeah. He looks like he could smash through a brick wall if he wanted to.”

“Hulk smash, sister. Hulk smash.”

They both laughed, but Via was the first to sober. She cleared her throat. “Evan has a job interview tomorrow.”

Serafine raised an eyebrow but didn’t comment on the abrupt topic change.

“For a software company,” Via continued, swirling the wine in her glass.

“That’s great.”

“Yeah. It is.” The conversation stalled a bit, the way it always did when Via brought up Evan. She knew that Serafine was waiting for Via to ask her why. And that’s exactly why Via didn’t ask. It bothered her that her best friend didn’t try harder to like Evan. And it especially bothered her that Serafine was usually, uncannily, right about these kinds of things. Via stubbornly ignored that. “So, how did the date go with the dentist?”

Safer to change the subject.

It was only because of how well they knew one another that Via caught the look of discomfort on Fin’s face. Though Fin wasn’t a stranger to the occasional hookup, dating was new for her and uncomfortable for reasons she had yet to explain to Via. “Ah, not meant to be. He took one look at my jewelry, heard that I make my living working with people’s auras and he couldn’t hail a cab fast enough.”

“His loss.”

“Exactly. His aura was all wonky anyways. You know I don’t do well with the red ones.”

Via nodded, having had this conversation many times. “Too practical. But what were you expecting, really, from a dentist?”

Serafine nodded her head from one side to the other. “People can surprise you. But maybe you’re right. Maybe I need to start looking for an artist to date. Someone with a nice, yummy green aura.”

Via gulped down some wine, her stomach tightening when she swallowed too fast. “I assume we’re talking about Sebastian.”

“His aura was deliciously green. With just a touch of purple around the center.”

“And what does that indicate?”

“That he’s open, willing to change, to be amazed. That he’s on a journey toward connecting his heart and mind. And there’s a little kiss of orange in there as well. That indicates a lot of passion.” She raised a dark eyebrow. “Of a very specific variety.”

“All right, all right.” Via raised a hand. “He’s my work colleague, I don’t need to hear any more about his passion.” She paused. “You want me to give him your number?”

Serafine hesitated infinitesimally, then abruptly nodded. “If it doesn’t bother you, sister. I think that would be a good idea.”

Via gulped her wine again. “Of course it doesn’t bother me! Why would it? You’re single, he’s single... I think. I’ll definitely pass it along.” She continued to stare at her swirling wine. “Fin? My aura? Is it the same as it was before? Just blue?”