Page 24 of Magic or Madness

After my encounter with her friend this morning, I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t nervous to face both of her roommates. But I’m confident in what Fallon and I are building, especially after learning new things about how her mind works, and noticing the small details about her.

We walk into her apartment, hand-in-hand, and I’m in the center ofherworld now.

FALLON

Surprisingly,Mick and Rae seem to have put their claws away for the night. They decide it's best to put in the effort to get to know Ozzy, rather than judging him immediately, and it’s refreshing, considering how nervous I was all day.

How I met Ozzy was unconventional, and honestly, strange. My friends have a right to be concerned about him, my recent behavior, and our situation, but I, on the other hand, am not worried. This is the first time in my life that I’ve felt like what I’m doing is right.

It’s like everything has clicked into place for me now that I’ve found him, and all I want is for my two best friends to see the happiness I’m experiencing. If they can look through the lens that I do, they’ll love Ozzy, too.

Now, we’re sitting at the kitchen island, and Mick is pouring everyone another cocktail creation she came up with.

“What is it?” I ask, smelling the drink before tasting it.

Mick is a bartender and loves to make new drinks thatwow the crowd, as she puts it, which has left Rae and me to be her taste testers.

“It’s a pomegranate and strawberry margarita, nothing too fancy,” she explains, and I take a sip, overwhelmed with the fruitiness.

“It’s lovely, thank you, Mick,” Ozzy says, casually tasting his drink.

His hand is resting on my leg under the counter, and he’s been slowly making his way further up my thigh, leaving me on the edge of anticipation. I’m trying not to react, or let it show on my face that he’s turning me on right here in the kitchen, but the girls don’t seem to notice.

“So, Ozzy, where are you from?” Rae asks, keeping up with the line of questioning.

“All over, I’ve moved a lot since I was old enough to be on my own,” he says, the shortest answer he’s given so far, and I’m curious as to why.

“That’s interesting, are you an only child?” She follows up, almost as if she’s interrogating him.

I raise my eyebrow at her, but she hasn’t taken her eyes off him.

“Yes. But my friends are like brothers, we’re very close.” He smiles, turning up the charm ever so slightly.

“Oh, really? Who are your friends, maybe we know them?” Mick chimes in, and I narrow my eyes at them both.

“They’re new in town, you don’t know them,” I say defensively, catching onto the tricks they’re playing.

Ozzy pats my thigh, signaling me to relax, but I’m wound up. I know how they are, and they’re trying to gather all the info on Ozzy that they can, probably to internet-stalk him later on.

I’m not having it. They can be friendly without grilling him.

“Easy, Fal. We’re just getting to know him,” Mick says softly, and I fight the urge to roll my eyes.

“Enough about me, what do you have on Fallon?” Ozzy asks, changing the subject and both girls laugh.

They’re combing through their memories to find the most embarrassing story they can, and I know there are quite a few of them.

“Fallon’s the best. She holds us together like glue. You’ve found a diamond, Ozzy, and I suggest you treat her as such,” Rae says sternly, but her warm smile lightens the subtle dig.

“On that note, goodnight ladies,” I say, standing quickly and taking Ozzy’s hand into mine.

“Keep it down will ya? I have an early morning.” Mick laughs, waving at us as we disappear into my room.

Ozzy clicks the door shut, locking it behind us, and I let out a sigh of relief.

“That wasn’t so bad,” he offers, but I wince, he doesn’t know them like I do.

“They were interrogating you,” I say, rolling my eyes but he doesn’t seem phased.

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