Page 137 of The Long Way Home

We start driving.

Taura’s on the songs. Jeremy Zucker. More feelings-y than I want, validating Magnolia’s every thought.

“You’re wearing trousers,” I tell her, trying to break the tension.

I poke her leg. Black leggings. Never wears black. Never wears pants, actually. And honestly, I just want to touch her.

Feel like we recalibrate when we do. Skin on skin and we’ll be okay.

She knocks my hand off of her, doesn’t even look at me.

Fuck.

“Oi, Parks—” Jonah nods his chin back at her after we’ve just gotten on the M40. “You can take those sunglasses off now. No one’s going to pap you in my car.”

She takes a measured breath. Waits a few seconds. Takes them off and looks straight out the window, but not before I clock them.

They look like fucking emeralds, goddamn it.

Must have cried all night.

Jo catches them in his rear view — a decade of friendship, you know your friend’s crying face.

“What happened?” He snaps around to look at her.

“Nothing.” I shake my head.

He stares over at me, annoyed. “What the fuck did you do?”

“Nothing,” Magnolia says, still looking out the window.

I glance over at her.

Jonah shakes his head. “What am I missing?”

None of us say anything. Thank god.

And then—

“I told BJ I love him,” Parks announces.

Jonah swerves the car. “You what?”

Magnolia looks over at him. “I told BJ I’m in love with him.”

Jo catches my eye in the mirror. “What did BJ say?”

Taura glances over her shoulder, gives me an icy look. “Nothing.”

Jo looks at me in the rearview, eyes all wide and murdery.

“What the fuck?” he mouths.

I shake my head and look out the window before looking over at Parks.

“I didn’t say nothing.”

She turns to face me and I know immediately — immediately — I’m in way over my head, because she is ready to go.

---