Page 63 of Charmed, I'm Sure
“It’s coffee, chocolate, dairy, and caramel. It’s basically all the food groups.” A slurping sound punctuated her statement as Meredith’s eyes bore into mine, holding a challenge akin to her sister’s.
I had just opened my mouth when I heard the soft click of boot heels. I still hadn’t closed it by the time Magnolia stepped into view, rendering me speechless. Her jeans hugged her curves before gently flaring around her feet, and the purple sweater somehow made her eyesshine even brighter. Those incandescent blues seared into mine, a faint pink coloring her cheeks as a teasing smile lifted her lips.
“You’re gonna let a fly in, cowboy.”
I snapped my mouth shut, and when I smiled back at her, the pink in her cheeks deepened.
Jaelyn’s laughter was barely muffled as she buried her face in her arm on the countertop. From my periphery, I could see Meredith cover her mouth with a hand before composing herself.
“So, wait.” Jae’s head popped up, her eyes wide before narrowing on me and flicking to her friend. “Are y’all…dating?” she demanded incredulously.
“I guess the coffee kicked in,” Meredith whispered to no one in particular.
My eyes widened as the color in Magnolia’s cheeks deepened. Had she not even told her best friend? The look on her friend’s face suggested she hadn’t. When neither of us answered, Jaelyn spun the stool she was perched on, fixing her friend with a look that could only be described as “What the fuck?”
“Magnolia Lynn Bellevue! I can’t believe you didn’t tell me!” Jaelyn screeched.
“Oh, come on, Jae.” Magnolia crossed her arms and met her friend’s gaze head-on. “Youknew.”
“No, I suspected. Butyounevertoldme. I’m disappointed. Hurt. My flabber is gasted.”
“Jae, cut the crap. You knew. I knew. Weallknew. How the town gossips haven’t picked up on it yet is beyond me.” Meredith waved a dismissive hand at Jaelyn’s gaping stare before continuing, “Either way, they aren’t as good at keeping it a secret as they think they are. She—” she pointed an accusatory finger at her sister, “just hasn’t grown the balls to say it out loud yet.”
“Hey!” Mags yelled, hurt edging her voice as her brows scrunched together, glaring at her sister.
“Well? Am I wrong?”
Magnolia’s gaze flicked to mine, and I held it. I watched her take a deep breath, a sheepish smile tugging at her lips as she said, “No, you’re not wrong. Not entirely, anyway. I just wanted to stay in our bubble a little while longer.”
Her eyes never strayed from mine, and though her words were directed at her sister and friend, they felt like they were meant for me. She knew I wanted to tell people. Knew I wanted to take her out where anyone could see, to properly introduce her to my family instead of them just knowing her name because she lived in town. But I understood that she needed time before opening herself up to any potential criticism she suspected would come her way, so I followed her lead and would continue to do so.
“Bubble, shmubble. You tell your best friend who you’re banging,” Jaelyn huffed, taking another long pull from her straw.
Jesus Christ.This was definitely not a conversation I needed to be—orwantedto be—a part of, and by that point, I was pretty sure my face was the color of a freshly boiled crawfish. Thankfully, no one was paying me any mind.
“Jaelyn Marie!” Magnolia and Meredith screeched in unison.
“What?!”
“Sweet baby cheeses.” Magnolia pinched the bridge of her nose and huffed out a sigh. “One, I’m not‘banging’Taylor.” Her eyes cut to mine, and a crimson flush crept across her cheeks again. “Two… I don’t even remember what two was, because what thefuck, Jae?!”
All three women began talking over each other, their voices growing louder as their hand motions became more animated. The conversationwas hard to follow, and after about a minute, I stopped trying to. Instead, I opted to de-escalate… or try to, anyway.
“Uh, Mags?” Eyes full of fire met mine, and it wasn’t the kind I wanted directed at me. Palming the back of my neck, I asked, “You wanna get out of here?”
“Good god, yes.” Snatching her purse from the counter, she shot her friend a withering stare that would have had me shaking in my boots if it had been directed my way, then stormed past me and through the door, her coffee completely forgotten on the countertop.
I caught the edge before it slammed, then turned back to the other two women, who seemed to be having some kind of wordless conversation. When they finally looked my way, I said, “Thanks for the assistance this morning, Meredith. Jaelyn—”
“You comin’, cowboy?” Magnolia called from the hall.
“You better go. She’s all riled up,” Jae said with a sobering chuckle, shooting Meredith a look I didn’t quite understand.
“Right. See y’all around.”
“Good luck!” they hollered in unison as the door clicked closed behind me.
By the time I made it out into the parking lot, Magnolia was already halfway to my car, her fists bunched at her sides, boots clicking purposefully against the concrete. When she reached my Bronco, she yanked on the handle of the passenger side door, and I couldn’t help but chuckle when she threw her head back and groaned because it was locked.
