Page 55 of Weather the Storm

“You know he loves their chicken salad.” Seraphine murmurs her agreement.

Excited, I dial up the coffee shop and place my order. The barista tells me it will be ready in fifteen minutes, which is perfect, because Simon will be here in twenty.

Seraphine and I kill time playing around on the internet, watching cat videos. When it’s time for me to run across the street, my cousin asks, “Do you want me to go with you?”

I know she’s asking because of the possibility of Grant still being around. No one really wants me to be alone, but it’s just across the street. “Nah. Just watch from the window. I’ll be fine.”

Seraphine hesitates. “Are you sure?”

“Absolutely positive.”

I can feel Seraphine’s eyes boring holes into my back as I skate across the street. I walk up to the beautiful industrial wood order counter. “Hey, hey,” the barista greets me. “Your order is almost ready.”

“G-great. Can I add two iced coffees to it?” I ask, sucking my bottom lip between my teeth.

“Sure thing. I’ll give you a holler when it’s ready.”

I move off to the side so other patrons can order. The sound of my phone trilling in my purse distracts me. I slide it from the exterior pocket and see a text from Simon letting me know he’s running five minutes late. I shoot him a text back telling him that’s fine.

“Magnolia!” the barista calls out. Thanking her, I collect my to-go bag and drink carrier. I exit the coffee shop and look both ways before crossing Main Street, which is unusually empty for this time of day.

Something feels off, but before I can put my finger on it, there’s a hard blow to the back of my head and everything goes black.

Chapter Twenty-Nine

SIMON

Even being a half day, the last day of school is shockingly exhausting. The kids are riled up and ready for break, and getting them to listen is about like herding cats. So, needless to say, I’m ready to see my girl and spend a bit of time lost in her.

I pull my truck to a stop in front of Dream Beans and hop out. I check for traffic, and my eyes are immediately drawn to a takeout bag lying in the middle of the damn street, its contents scattered about. “I swear, some people just don’t care,” I mutter as I bend to pick up the mess.

I stalk into the salon, agitated that some assclown left their trash in the middle of the road. As the door closes behind me, I catch the tail end of Seraphine’s phone call. “Yes, ma’am, I have you down for the sixth of June with Azalea. Yes, we do take credit cards. All right, thank you.” I snicker at her exasperated tone.

She hangs up the phone and turns her icy glare on me. “You hush up, Simon McAllister.”

Ignoring her reprimand, I toss the garbage I’m holding into the can under the desk and ask, “Where’s Magnolia?”

“Oh, she…” Her words trail off and she glances down at the time on the computer screen before looking out the window.

“Seraphine, where is Magnolia?”

“She ran to Dream Beans to pick up lunch for y’all. She…she, um…hasn’t made it back.”

Dread slithers down my spine. “How long ago?” I grit out.

“Um, like ten or so minutes ago? I think…”

“Alone? She went alone?”

“She said she would be fine. I was keeping an on eye her through the window, but then the world’s most difficult client called.”

I don’t wait for her to say anything else. I haul ass out of the salon, plowing across the street and into Dream Beans. Bypassing the two people waiting to order, I ask the girl behind the counter if she’s seen Magnolia.

“Yup, she was here a bit ago grabbing a to-go order.”

“How long ago?” I bark out, my worry making me sound like an angry asshole.

“Um, maybe fifteen minutes?”

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