Free Vision in Trust (Legends of the North #2) by Liz Bower

vision—nightmare, whatever you wanted to label it—she'd not bothered much with sleep. Anne had been a bitch about her being short with the customers. And she'd never heard the end of the fact that she'd asked for an hour off so she could have an interview—not that Anne knew that was the reason, of course. An interview she still hadn't heard back about, and she really wanted that job. It would be the first step to working with others, actually helping people overcome issues in their lives, not making bloody sandwiches for them.
    "Jess?"
    "Okay, Emma. But at least let me get changed, and get rid of the bags under my eyes."
    An impressive half an hour later, they were seated in a booth facing the bar, waiting for Vicky to show up.
    "So, what's Matt up to tonight?"
    "I think Rob's supposed to be coming round after he's finished his shift."
    "Coming round?"
    Emma turned from watching the bar to look at Jess through narrowed eyes. "To Matt's house." Emma tilted her head. "Why, where did you think I meant? Here, hopefully?"
    "God, no." Jess would be happy never to see Rob again after her vision. She knew it wasn't real, but God, it had been embarrassing. "No, not here, Emma. Are you trying to set us up? Because if you are, seriously, you couldn't be further off the mark."
    Emma raised her eyebrows, scepticism written across her face. "Really? So I've just imagined those smouldering looks between the two of you?"
    Jess snorted. "Smouldering? What books have you been reading lately, Emma? And yes, you have imagined them. Just because you and Matt are loved up doesn't mean the rest of us are going to, or need to be."
    "Here, here," Vicky said, as she slipped into the other side of the booth. "Singledom is much more fun. Who needs the hassle of a relationship?"
    "It's not a hassle," Emma exclaimed.
    "Give it another month or so, when the honeymoon period has worn off, and tell me that again. Or when you move in together and start doing his laundry, picking up after him. Tell me then it's still all hearts and flowers."
    Jess knew there was a reason she liked Vicky and grinned at her.
    "Just wait, you'll both see. When you meet—"
    "The right man," Jess and Vicky joined in with Emma, before laughing.
    "Oh, Emma, there's no such thing. You just convince yourself the man you're with is the right one. Until you find out he's not. Remember Ben? You said he was the one until you found him in bed with Sarah."
    Emma scowled at Vicky, but Jess didn't hear her response. She was too focused on Rob, sitting at the bar. With a blond woman. She shut her eyes, trying to block out the sight, but the image from her dream flashed before her closed eyelids, and she felt her cheeks flush. When she opened her eyes, he had his arm around the woman’s shoulder, whispering something in her ear. He helped her down from the bar stool, and his eyes met Jess’s. She glared at him, unable to tear her gaze from his until he did, when he turned away as he helped the blonde out of the pub.
    Emma grasped her hand. "You know it doesn't mean anything."
    "Oh, don't I ever."  
    Jess forced the conversation to other subjects until Rob walked back in, about half an hour later, with Matt in tow this time.
    "Mind if we join you?"
    Emma smiled up at Matt and slid closer to Jess. Rob sat next to Vicky, as Emma introduced them both . Yes, Rob, another blonde. Please, don't stop yourself from hitting on her. Why not make it two in one night? She'd had enough. Finishing off the wine in her glass, she dragged Emma to the toilets with her. "I'm going home; I've had enough for one night."
    "But it's still early, Jess."
    "I've not been sleeping well. The visions." Jess felt bad, using it as an excuse, but she knew it would work.
    "I'll get Matt to walk you home."
    "No. I'm fine. Go, enjoy the rest of your night." Jess walked the long way round to avoid their booth and pushed open the door, out into the cold night. She'd only managed to cross the road when she heard Rob shout