Chapter Text
New Orleans. You’d fallen in love with the city the first time you’d visited when you were twelve years old. Over the years you and your grandfather had made the trip many times. It seemed as if he knew every bit of history that lived in that city. He had you looking at it with new eyes every time you visited.
This time, however, you were making New Orleans your home. Your ailing grandfather had finally passed away about six months ago. He’d left you everything in an ironclad will. The rest of your family was furious. But they hadn’t been the ones taking care of him as the cancer ate away at him. They barely even came to visit, let alone do anything actually useful. You had acted as his primary caregiver until the very end.
You’d never fit in with the rest of your family. You were your father’s daughter. The byproduct of an affair had in the year before he married the woman you spent your childhood believing was your mother. Your father died when you were twelve and she had wasted no time informing you that you weren’t her problem. And your sister had been quick to help push you out the door.
Your grandfather had been there to pick up the pieces and made sure you knew that there was at least one member of your family that loved you unconditionally. Your sister Emily was his granddaughter as well, but he barely tolerated her. He always said she was too much like her mother. And you guess she’d proved that when he got sick. They certainly showed up when it was time to read the will though. Assholes.
You sighed and gripped the steering wheel a little harder. Reaching over, you turned up your music and let yourself get lost in the rhythm. This move was about making a new start and you didn’t need to worry about them anymore. Your grandfather had made sure of that. You’d sold his house, packed up his stuff and transferred all the funds. You would never have to step foot in that stupid little town again if you didn’t want to.
It wasn’t long before you were pulling up in front of the little house you’d purchased. It needed some work, but you were already in love with it. And you’d never been afraid of a little bit of hard work. Four men got out of a car down the street when you pulled up. You recognized one of them as the mover you’d hired a few weeks ago to help unload the truck. It was good to be home.
***
You spent the majority of the day directing the movers in the placement of furniture and boxes. When that was finished, you made a trip to the hardware store and picked up some of the supplies you needed. There was no point in unpacking a room just to have to move everything to do the work. By the time you’d done all that and made sure your bed was set up, you were exhausted. You’d grabbed some dinner while you were out, but now you wanted nothing more than an ice cold beer. Surely, you’d earned one by this point.
Remembering passing by a bar within walking distance earlier, you decided that would work just as well as anywhere else. You changed your shirt and fixed your hair before grabbing your keys and walking the few blocks to Rousseau’s. The bar was relatively quiet when you arrived, but it was the middle of the week. You took a seat at the bar and a happy blonde came over to take your order. “What can I get for you?”
“Give me a beer, something dark and in a bottle.”
“You got it.” She popped the top off and sat the beer in front of you.
You took a long swallow and closed your eyes as the cool liquid ran down your throat. Yeah, you needed that. “Thanks.” You slipped her a twenty. “For another one of these in a bit. The rest is yours.”
She grinned. “Thanks. I don’t think I’ve seen you in here before. What brings you in?”
“You’ll be seeing a lot more of me. I just moved in not far from here.”
“Well, that’s convenient.”
You nodded. “Yeah. I always look for a bar within walking distance when I buy a home.”
She laughed and held out a hand. “Camille, but you can call me Cami.”
“Nice to meet you, Cami. I’m Y/N.” As you shook her hand, you caught sight of the small triangle marking on her wrist. Everyone was born with three dots somewhere on their wrists or hands. When they met their soulmate, the dots connected to form a triangle.
She noticed your gaze and smiled as she pulled her hand back. She turned her wrist so you could get a better view. “It’s new. We just met a month or so ago, but I think I already love him. Is that crazy?”
You shook your head. “Isn’t that the whole point of a soulmate? They’re your perfect match. I would think it would be weirder if you didn’t feel that way.”
Cami grinned again. “I like you. So, what about you? Have you found yours yet?” She held up a hand to stop you before you could answer. “Hold that thought. Let me get these guys a refill,” she said with a gesture down the bar.
You nodded and finished off your first beer. You hated the soulmate discussion, but it was inevitable. If you were going to spend time in this bar, you were going to run into Cami again so you might as well get it out of the way now. When she came back, she switched out your bottle for a full one.
“You don’t have to answer that question, you know? My friend Haley keeps telling me that just because I found my soulmate doesn’t mean everyone else wants to talk about it. Of course, she found Jackson years ago so the thrill has worn off a bit I guess.” She shrugged.
“It’s okay.” You turned your arm so she could see the five perfectly spaced dots on your arm. If the dots connected as they normally did, that would be three triangles. That mark wasn’t the only thing odd about you, but it was the only one you typically shared.
Cami grasped your arm and turned it so she could get a better look. “What does it mean?”
You shrugged. “No one knows. I’ve heard of people getting another set of marks after a soulmate dies or something, but nothing like this. And trust me I’ve looked.” Your grandfather told you there was a time when such a thing was common amongst your people, but that wasn’t a conversation for a stranger. “My sister says it’s because my mate will reject me so I need backups.”
Cami blinked. “Well, she’s a bitch.”
That pulled a surprise laugh from you. “That she is. You’d think if this meant I’d have three different soulmates over my life that I would have met one of them by now. Maybe it’s just not meant to be.”
“Don’t say that. Your luck is changing, I can feel it.”
You arched your brows. “Can you feel someone coming to help me paint? Because that would be awesome.”
Instead of answering, Cami looked past you as the door opened. A huge smile covered her face. “Hey, you.”
“Hello, gorgeous,” a man said as he leaned over the bar just down from you. Your eyes ran between them as they kissed. He was just as gorgeous as she was. They looked good together.
When they finished greeting each other, Cami turned to you. “Marcel, this is my new friend Y/N.”
The man held out his hand. “Hello, new friend Y/N. As you just heard I’m Marcel.”
You gave a crooked grin. “It’s nice to meet you. I sincerely hope you are the new soulmate or this is going to get awkward.”
He laughed flashing white teeth against dark skin. “That would be me, so no worries.”
“Y/N here was just mentioning needing some help doing some painting. Think you could help her with that?”
Surely, she wasn’t suggesting he help you paint. You’d just met them. Your frown faded as Cami passed him a pen and paper. He scrolled through his phone for a minute before writing something down and sliding the pad in your direction. “Jackson Kenner. He and his wife own a little rehab company. Do a lot of remodeling, construction, that kind of thing. He’ll take care of you.”
You tore off the sheet with the number. After folding it in half, you stuck it in your pocket. “You are a lifesaver, and you two are now my favorite people in New Orleans so far.”
“And how many people have you met exactly?” Marcel asked.
“You guys and the movers.” You finished your beer while they laughed. You grabbed a pen and jotted down your number before you thought better of it. You handed back to Cami. “Just in case you decide you need it for something. I’ll see you around.”
You waved at them before you walked out the door and into the crisp night air. Taking a deep breath, you smiled as you shoved your hands in your pockets. Not bad for your first day in New Orleans. You couldn’t wait to see what tomorrow would bring.