Page 79 of Charmed, I'm Sure
At least it was December and not in the middle of the summer.
Bing Crosby’sWhite Christmasfilled the air as I rounded the house. Strings of white lights crisscrossed the backyard, framing a makeshift dance floor. The oaks at the yard’s edge shimmered under their own strands, and a giant fake tree stood in the living room. They’d really gone all out, not that I was surprised in the slightest.
My dad spotted me first. He gave a quick head shake toward the bar before I could greet him.
I barely turned when my mom’s voice cut through the crowd. “Taylor Michael Hallows, you’re late.”
Sighing, I spun on my heel and met the harsh, disapproving gaze of my mother. “Hi, Ma. You look lovely tonight.”
“And you’re late,” she repeated, her tone still sharp.
Crossing the distance, I kissed her cheek and felt some of the tension ease from her shoulders. “Sorry, I got buried in boxes and lost track of… time.”
I trailed off as a familiar flash of pink and blue caught my eye. My breath hitched.
Whatshe doing here?
“Taylor, are you even listening to me?” my mom demanded and I pulled my attention from where I could have sworn Magnolia was chatting with one of my cousins.
“Sorry, Ma. What were you saying?”
She groaned, threw her hands up, muttering something about no one ever listening to her, as she stalked off.
By the time I looked back, the flash of color was gone. Maybe my mind was playing tricks on me.
Convinced it was my imagination playing tricks on me, I headed toward the bar. If I was going to have to hug and make small talk with a bunch of extended family that I only saw for major life events, I was going to need a drink… or three.
“What’ll you have?” the woman behind the bar asked as I approached. She looked twelve, and I had to bite my tongue to keep from asking her if she was old enough to even be near alcohol.
“Whiskey neat.”
“Can I get a glass of cab, please?”
My head snapped toward the voice. Aqua-blue eyes locked with mine, a sheepish smile tugging at her lips as she held my gaze.
She was stunning.
Her high ponytail fell over her shoulder, the black bow tied at the top making her look effortlessly playful. But her eyes—god, her eyes—had always been my undoing.
“Come here often?” she teased, one brow arching as the bartender handed her the wine.
Before I could answer, Addy’s voice rang out. “Tay Tay!”
Magnolia bit her lip, no doubt hiding a smirk as Addy threw herself into my arms.
“You made it!” Addy beamed before gesturing toward Mags. “And I see you’ve met my fabulous caterer.”
Magnolia’s lips twitched. “Tay Tay?”
“Watch it,Magpie,” I warned. “Only Addy gets to call me that.”
Magnolia’s eyes narrowed slightly, but the ire they’d held the last time I saw her was missing. The lights from the tree danced in their aquamarine depths, and I had the overwhelming urge to kiss her. Right there. In front of everyone I knew.
Instead, I gave her a wink and shifted my attention back to my sister, nearly missing the faint blush that colored her cheeks as I turned. “You look beautiful tonight, sis. You and Mom certainly outdid yourselves.”
“Oh, please. I tried to scale it back, but you know Mama.”
That I did. Our mother couldn’t do anything less than two-hundred percent, and her only daughter’s engagement party—and subsequent wedding—was no exception.
