Page 119 of Charmed, I'm Sure
Hell, thewhole storescreamed Magnolia, and it had been a struggle to settle on just one piece. But when I saw their Sol collection, I was sold.
It wasn’t anything extravagant—just an open, sterling half-sun pendant with a black opal and mystic topaz charm hanging in the center. I didn’t know much about gemstones, but Ididknow they mattered to Magnolia. So, I did the only thing I could think of—asked the internet.
Did you know black opal was supposed to protect against negative energy?
Yeah, me either.
And after all thenegative shitthat had been happening lately, I figured it couldn’t hurt.
“You’re just mad that I was right,” Addy chided playfully as she buckled her seatbelt.
“No, I’m annoyed that you’re rubbing it in.”
I couldn’t help but laugh when she stuck her tongue out at me.
“Thank you, Addy. Really.” My fingers tightened around the bag. “I just hope Magnolia gives me the chance to actuallygiveit to her.”
Addy was silent as I backed out of the parking spot, merging into the thick holiday traffic of New Orleans.
“She will,” she said, her voice laced with a confidence I didn’t feel.
But the smile she gave me sparked the tiniest flame of hope in my chest.
Things would be okay.
Theyhadto be.
I wasn’t giving the universe—or any higher being—the option otherwise.
“Ten hours down, two to go,” I mumbled as I sank into my chair at the nurses’ station.
“You got any fun plans for the holidays?” Chelsea asked, tapping away at a patient’s chart.
“Not really. Just looking forward to a few days off. You?”
“Yeah, heading to my parents’ house for Christmas Eve, then just doing the family thing with the kids on Christmas Day. You’re not doing anything with that new girlfriend of yours? Magnolia, right?”
I pressed the heels of my palms into my eyes and groaned. This was exactly why I didn’t bring up my personal life at work—people in the medical field were nosey. All it took was one person overhearing a conversation, and it spread through the department like wildfire.
Taking a deep breath, I said, “No, we don’t have any plans.”
Chelsea quirked a brow.
“It’s complicated.”
“Well, uncomplicate it, doc.”
She said it so bluntly that my head snapped in her direction, eyes wide enough to pop out of their sockets. “I didn’t complicate it.”
Chelsea huffed, unconvinced, and turned back to her computer, her nails tapping away at the keyboard.
“Chels—” Before I could get her name out, Dr. Fredmont pulled out the chair between us and swiveled toward me.
“Hey, Taylor, can you take bed four for me?”
“Maybe. What is it?”
“It’s one of the MVA patients that came in on the ambulances. They’re stable, but I’ve got my hands full with the other one right now.” The latter part of her statement was dripping with annoyance—which meant that whoever that patient was, they were being a pain in the ass.
