Page 61 of Charmed, I'm Sure
As I came to a stop sign, I tilted my head back against the headrest and heaved a sigh as the last piece of my pep talk sank into place, which was the only thing that logical me could agree with.
“Seeing Magnolia will make it all worth it.”Yeah, it will.
It was just about a quarter after eight by the time I got back in the car, so I sent a text to Meredith to let her know I was on my way and what time I should arrive. When her text response popped up on my navigation screen, I clicked it and let the system read it to me in its femininely robotic voice.
“Meredith Bellevue says: ‘thumbs up emoji, bring coffee or else.’ Would you like to respond?”
“No,” I answered with a chuckle. I might not know much about Magnolia’s sisters, but it seemed they were three peas in a pod from the limited interactions I’d had with them.
“Okay,” the navigation chimed, then faded out so the stereo could play;Hey Hoby the Lumineers filled the cab as I hopped onto the highway.
Magnolia
I’d never been an early riser or a morning person, and today was no different. After the clusterfuck that was my first full catering job in months and after falling asleep on Meredith’s uncomfortable couch, I was sore. I was crabby. And I was in desperate need of a large cup of coffee.
Sunlight streamed through the windows in Meredith’s living room, but it was the clanging echoing from the kitchen that pierced through my slumber—if you could even call it that.
“What the fuck is going on?” I groaned as I sat up, brushing my messy hair out of my face so whoever was in the kitchen could fully appreciate my annoyance.
“Shutup,” Jae moaned from her spot on the floor opposite the coffee table.
“Both of you shut up. Bunch of whiny babies,” Mer said as she began moving around the kitchen, mumbling to herself.
“What the fuck are you on about?” I asked as I stood and stretched, my bladder waking with the movement and sending me scurrying to the bathroom.
“None of your fucking business!” Mer hollered as I pulled the door closed.
Okay, sononeof us were morning people.
With a roll of my eyes, I did my business and then decided to shower while I was in there. The hot water washed over me, gently pulling the last threads of sleep and exhaustion from my bones, soothing muscles that ached from the lumps in the cushions. I let myself soak in the streams of hell’s finest water for a few minutes, then bathed and grabbed a towel from the hook next to the shower.
I dried quickly, wrapping the fluffy purple towel around me. But as I scrunched the water out of my hair with another towel, I heard the faint sound of a knock on the door.
“Hey, who was that?” I asked as I exited the bathroom, steam billowing out behind me as I walked toward the living room.
“Uh, Mags?” Jae questioned, her brows shooting into her hairline over wide eyes.
“What?” I quirked my own brows as I turned toward the door. There stood Taylor Hallows, holding a cup holder with three huge coffees, all topped with fluffy whipped cream and drizzled in chocolate and caramel.
His wide eyes raked down my frame, a faint pink coloring his cheeks while his throat bobbed as he swallowed. “Hey, sunshine. I thought... uh... I’d bring you some coffee.”
I had to hand it to him—he had a lot more willpower than I did. I don’t think I could have averted my eyes from a towel-clad Taylor as quickly as he pulled his gaze from me. And if it hadn’t been for the way the pink in his cheeks deepened, and the way he cautiously handed the tray of coffees to Meredith as he turned his back to me, I probably would have been hurt.
What the fuck!?I mouthed. My eyes must have been as wide as saucers when they met the gazes of my friend and sister, both trying desperately not to laugh. They both mouthed “sorry” with a shrug, then Meredith flicked her head back toward her room.
Right.
Clothes.
Clothes would be good.
“Uh, thanks. I, um... I’ll be right back.” I had never run so fast in my life. Hand gripping the top of my towel, I sprinted toward the other side of the apartment. Throwing Meredith’s door closed behind me, I sagged against the white wood and expelled a ragged breath.
Why was he here?Howdid he know whereIwas? I mean, obviously, I knew I hadtoldhim I was at Meredith’s apartment, but how did he know wherethatwas?
Panicked, I scrounged through Meredith’s closet, searching for anything that would work for an outfit. We were the same size—though I had her on height—but we werenotthe same person. I tended to gravitate toward jewel tones and dark shades. Granted, there were days I could go for bright colors, but those were few and far between. I liked jeans and comfortable tees, flowy skirts and dresses that toed the line between cottagecore and flirty grunge.Was that a thing? Surely that was a thing, right?
Meredith, on the other hand, was a college student. One who opted for tiny shorts and oversized shirts that covered said shorts, making it look like she wasn’t wearing any.
