Page 32 of Magic or Madness

“Hit me.” He doesn’t skip a beat, playing on the moment's suspense as long as he can before I’m practically begging for him to spill.

“Okay. A large Oak tree can drop over ten thousand acorns a year,” he grins, raking his hands through his hair, almost like he’s nervous to hear my response.

“I’ll one up you – acorns are considered a fruit,” I smirk, and he shakes his head in disbelief.

“There’s no way that’s true,” he quips, but I always come with backup.

“Well, they’re the fruit of an oak tree. They can be eaten by squirrels or birds, but there are also seeds inside that can be planted to grow a new tree.” I smile, watching as he mulls over my facts and explanation.

“God, Fallon. You make being smart so fucking sexy.” He bites his lip, the words coming out breathy, sending my body into a full tremble.

“Well, you’re kind of dumb, Oz, you smashed your phone and threw it in the river.” I laugh nervously, twirling a stray hair around my finger, but he just shrugs.

“Lex has a cabinet full, I’ll hook up a new one.”

“Of course you will,” I tease, and he stands up, reaching for me.

“You feeling better,my beautiful girl?”

“Take me home? I’m freezing,” I say, a full body chill working its way through me, and without hesitation, he rips his hoodie off.

He slips it over me, not leaving me any choice, and takes my hand wearing only a thin, black t-shirt.

“You didn’t have to do that.” He shushes me with a finger to my lips, and I obey, knowing that he does the little things for me because he cares.

It’s not a ruse to get me into bed or an act he’ll drop once he’s got me wrapped around his pinky. He truly cares for me, and I have a feeling he’d do just about anything to keep this dumb, girlish grin plastered on my face. We walk hand in hand back to the truck, and when I steal a glance at him, he’s smiling, but not at me. He’s lost, looking out at the river, leading me by half a step, and smiling as if the sun is shining, just for us.

In a way, I feel like it is.

Every day we’ve spent together has been perfect, and this is only the beginning of the story of Fallon and Ozzy.

If I had any doubts about the validity of our connection, how fast we’ve been moving, or the fact that I was jumping into bed with a stranger, those are gone now.

He’s the most important person I’ve ever had in my life and I say that with that utmost certainty. I’m fully convinced that I’ve met my perfect match, the soul to my mate, and I’d do just about anything to keep him beside me, for all time.

OZZY

My emotions have beena rollercoaster today, and I never have days like this.

From waking up blissfully happy with Fallon's body tucked into mine, to the crippling fear that stole all control when I envisioned her on jobs with us, leading up to the absolute gut-punch that hit when she described the past with her step-father, I’ve been through it all today.

Now, she sits beside me on the couch, eating pizza and listening as the guys trade stories from our pasts. She fits right in here with us, laughing at everyone’s expense and trading insults when that smart-mouth of hers outwits them all.

“Fallon, has Ozzy told you the story of when he broke jaws in a bar fight?” Oliver asks, and the whole crew laughs.

Not one of my best moments, but makes for a great story.

“Jaws, like multiple? Let me hear it.” Her eyes widen and she smiles up at me, squeezing my hand.

“Some asshole and his friends were harassing the smoking hot bartender all night, so Doc started hyping us up, saying we should show them how to treat a woman properly,” Oliver recalls, with all eyes on Fallon.

“Journey slapped the beer right out of one guy’s hand, and the macho man started yelling, his friends all gathering in a circle around him. Naturally, we all form a barrier behind Journey, and once one punch lands, we all start brawling,” Oliver pauses, ushering Max to finish the rest.

Everyone’s attention is fully immersed in this story as if they haven’t heard it a million times before, but I love watching all their reactions.

“One of the dudes was massive, probably pushing three hundred pounds, and Ozzy walks right up to him, taps him on the shoulder, and punches him right in the nose when he turns around. This dude is crying immediately, laying on the floor of the bar, and Ozzy just drops a kick into his jaw, destroying the bone,” Max explains, and everyone is on the edge of their seat, waiting for the payoff.

Fallon isn’t phased while hearing about the more violent side of me, and her attention hasn’t shifted, either. I gently rub her shoulder, and she smiles at me, the radiant one that shows off her dimples, and my heart melts.

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