Page 61 of Magic or Madness

“My gentlemen,” I whisper, kissing him quickly before jumping down.

“You can face this, Bambi. I believe in you.” He walks a step ahead of me, holding the lobby door open and escorting me inside.

We take the stairs slowly, my way of stalling as long as possible, but I find comfort in the way his arm hovers near my lower back. Small gestures of affection –and protection– are Ozzy’s bread and butter, one of the very many reasons why I’m falling for him so hard.

It’s the only way I can rationalize what I’ve been doing, why I essentially ditched my entire life for a man who was a stranger, and I would be concerned, if it didn’t feel like the exact trajectory my life is supposed to take.

Falling in love –absolutely free-fucking-falling off the face of the Earth– with Ozzy is both the simplest, and most complex, form of pleasure I’ve experienced.

I’ve transformed since meeting him, blossoming into a stronger version of myself that I never knew was possible, and now, I find myself channeling that same strength.

With him beside me, I’m ready to face one of the hardest things I’ll ever have to do: walk away from the only family I’ve ever known. My decision has been made, and I believe it’s for the best – for all of our sakes.

“Let’s do this,” I whisper, turning my key in the lock, and entering enemy territory.

Ozzy is one step behind me, closing the door, and acting as my protector.

“Hello?”

Mick comes out of her room, hands on her hips, with papers tucked by her side.

“You brought him?” She rolls her eyes, slightly laughing, and calling for Rae to join us.

“I did, yes. He’s got every right to witness whatever it is you two have up your sleeve.” I lean against the counter, tapping my fingers on the granite while we wait for the other half of the firing squad.

“Hi, Fal! Ozzy.” Rae smiles, bringing us both in for quick hugs.

“So, what did you guys want to talk about?” I cut right to the chase, not interested in watching the good cop, bad cop routine they’re putting on.

They exchange a look, darting their eyes to Ozzy, but there’s no way he’s leaving when I need him here for support.

“Where’d you go the other night?” Mick asks, getting straight to the point and all eyes fall on me.

I run my hands through my hair, sweeping the smaller pieces from my eyes in an attempt to mask them from rolling right out of my head.

“I helped him at work, like I said,” I say sternly, holding my ground, but Mick shakes her head.

“Kevin and Keith are my cousins, Fallon, did you forget who got you the job?” She spits, and I put on my best acting face, not giving her the satisfaction of being right.

“I know that, Mick. Why are you throwing that in my face after all this time?” I ask, and Ozzy takes my hand, squeezing gently.

Just then, itclicks.

They know what happened at the shop, and are accusing me –us– of being responsible.

“Did you steal a motorcycle from Keith’s, Fallon?” The room is silent, and I swallow the lump of bile forming in the back of my throat, knowing the fact that I’m a shit liar.

“Mick, you claim to know Fallon so well, do you think she’s capable of stealing from her job, and then continuing to show up for work?” Ozzy steps forward, defending me from the attack.

Rae looks around nervously, hating all the confrontation, but Mick is still in the center of the room, a look of disgust on her face as she latches her claws into Ozzy.

“This doesn’t concern you, and everything that’s wrong with her right now is because of you!” She yells, slapping the stack of papers she’s been holding on the counter with a smug look on her face.

We all fall silent as the sound echoes through the apartment, and there’s almost no room for her ego, it completely absorbs every inch of this place while she relishes in thinking she has the upper hand.

One thing about Mick is she can’t stand to be wrong, and I’m about to rain all over her fucking parade.

“You’re a fucking criminal. Should I read these aloud, or would you rather keep your past a secret?” Her eyes narrow, and she has a slight smile tipping up in the corner of her lips, thinking she won the battle by simply looking up Ozzy’s name on the internet.

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