Page 6 of Charmed, I'm Sure
As soon as I walked through the door, I spotted her cotton candy hair in waves down her back, standing out like a beacon among the mundane. But I forced my feet toward the bar and ordered a drink. She was smiling, and I’d be damned if it wasn’t brighter than the moon on a clear night. The moment the dance spun her to face me, though, that smile vanished, replaced by a mask of pure annoyance.
It seemed there was more to Ms. Bellevue than I had originally thought. She’d traded her cutoffs and snarky tee for dark, high-rise bell-bottom jeans and an ivory off-the-shoulder sweater that let her tattoos peek over the neckline. A complete contrast to the dark grunge look from earlier. A softer side. Despite that, her hardened glare burned its way into my soul.
Deciding that looking like an idiot twice in one day wouldn’t kill me, I pushed away from the bar and crossed the crowded space to the dance floor.
“Maggie,” I greeted when I stood in front of her. Crystalline blue eyes, with sunbursts of gold, locked onto me as her friends stood behind her in solidarity, arms crossed and lips pressed into thin lines.
Magnolia rolled her eyes and huffed. “It’s Mags or Magnolia, never Maggie.”
“But Sophie—”
“Sophie’s a two-bit nobody who needs to mind her own damn business,” chimed in the friend from the shop earlier.
“And you are…?” I asked, raising a brow.
“Jaelyn Jackson. We went to school together… but you probably don’t remember me, since you and your cronies were too busy being asshats and bullies.” Jaelyn’s eyes narrowed, and if looks could kill, I would’ve been ash and dust. It seemed I had my work cut out for me with more than just Magnolia.
Smiling, I turned my attention to the other woman. “I suppose you hate me as well?”
She tilted her head, lips pursed in contemplation. “Hate’s a strong word, Mr. Hallows. I’d prefer ‘loathe,’ ‘despise,’ or ‘wouldn’t blink if you happened to disappear.’” Her smile curved like the Cheshire cat’s, sending a chill down my spine. I rubbed the back of my neck to shake off the feeling.
A nervous laugh escaped as my eyes flicked between the women. “So, uh, might I have the name of the person probably planning my demise?”
“Madison Bellevue.”
“Ah. Makes sense.”
An uncomfortable silence fell over our small group, but Magnolia’s gaze flicked up toward the ceiling as a new song started playing. A smug smile spread across her face as her eyes returned to me. “Fitting, don’t ya think?”
“What is?” I asked.
“The song,” she gestured toward the speakers. “It’s calledMy Barby Priscilla Block.”
I couldn’t help the grin tugging at my lips. That was the second time today she’d sassed me into silence.
Magnolia: two
Me: zero.
As people paired off and began two-stepping around us, two men I didn’t recognize swooped in to ask Madison and Jaelyn to dance. They agreed, but only after Mags said she could handle me on her own. The way she said it, with eyes lit with fire and a wicked grin on her lips, had my blood heating. I was in deep shit.
She turned on her heel to leave, but she didn’t get more than a few steps before I was in front of her again. I smiled sheepishly when my brain caught up with what my feet had done. “Dance with me?”
“Why would I do that?”
“Why wouldn’t you?” I flashed my best smile, but she only quirked her brow as if to sayyou’re joking, right?
“Aww, bless your heart—”
My heart dropped. Not bless your heart. I’d almost prefer her telling me to fuck off. Bless your heart was worse. So much worse.
“You and your cronies made my life a living hell. Why would I give you the time of day?”
“Ah-ha, so you do remember me.”
“Excuse me?”
“This morning, when Sophie introduced us, you said you didn’t remember me. Clearly, you do.” Magnolia crossed her arms over her chest, shaking her head as her eyes rolled. “It’s just a dance, Magnolia. We’re already on the floor. Humor me.” I extended my hand and waited.
