Page 71 of No Way Home
Magnolia glanced at me, fear on her face.
“Good morning, Billy,” I sang.
“That’s Dr. Adams, to you,” he clipped. “And again, what is wrong with all of you? Why are you making those ridiculous noises?”
“Oh, that?” I said. “We were just trying to get into the building. Apparently, there’s a password, and unfortunately, Magnolia and I don’t know it. If we did, we would’ve been inside five minutes ago. Noise free.”
Billy’s face twisted in fury. “That is the stupidest thing I’veever heard.” He looked at Topher. “Did you tell them there’s a password?”
“Pshaw, no.” Topher’s red face matched his dad’s. “That’s…idiotic.”
Billy glowered at Magnolia and me like we were dumber than a box of rocks. “Itisidiotic. There’s no password. Stop making crap up and get in here,” he barked. “You’re letting all the A/C out.”
Finally, Topher flattened himself against the wall and let us by.
Once we were around the corner and Topher was getting chewed out by Billy, we broke into a quiet laugh.
“Oh, my gosh,” she whispered, thrusting her fists in the air. “That felt so good.”
I had to resist the urge to wrap my arms around her waist and hug her.
I grinned. “It really did.”
But then her shoulders sagged, the fight draining right out of her. “This is going to be exhausting. Isn’t it?”
“No worries.Wewill break him down, little by little.”
“No!Iwant her,” Topher pouted like our robot shouting hadn’t fazed him at all.
Magnolia groaned. I exhaled a curse word. What was wrong with this kid?
The door shut and their footsteps moved in our direction.
On pure instinct, I shoved Magnolia behind me. In frustration, she beat her forehead against my shoulder. I wrapped my arm backwards, encircling her waist, and I didn’t let myself think about everything that having her against me was doing to my internal organs.
“I said no,” Billy seethed. “And no means no.” He sounded like he was talking to a toddler, but honestly, he probably had to speak a language Topher could understand.
“He needs to learn the bro code,” Topher whined, their voices coming closer. “I called dibs, so he has to backoff.”
“You listen here,” Billy snarled. “We don’t mess with the Duprees. Do you hear me? They are off limits. If Bowen wants Hollis, Bowen gets Hollis. Am I making myself clear?”
“Why are you so afraid of them, Dad?” Topher asked, tone challenging. “Why don’t you ever stand up to that family?”
I bit back a laugh. I knew exactly why Billy was afraid of my family.
“Mind your own business,” Billy ordered.
“Well,” Topher sniffed. “I’m not sure he actually wants her. Or that they’re a couple. So…”
At those words, I snapped, not caring anymore. I spun, caging Magnolia in, my palms slamming flat on either side of her head. She let out a little gasp, but her hands came up, featherlight on my biceps. Her wide eyes locked on mine, and her lips parted.It’s just for show,I reminded myself. But my body wouldn’t listen. When her hands slid up my arms and gripped my shoulders, nails biting through my shirt, I couldn’t stop myself. I leaned closer, nose skimming up her cheek. Man, I wanted her. So much. Even two years later. This attraction, this intensity? It hadn’t faded at all. Might’ve even been stronger.
As Topher and Billy came around the corner, I stumbled back like they surprised me. But I’d purposely hooked one finger through the ties on Magnolia’s scrub pants. I yanked it free like I hadn’t meant for them to see.
Magnolia’s cheeks heated, but her gaze burned into mine with a silentthank you.
Billy swung his expression to Topher. “See.” They disappeared into the break room.
Magnolia and I collapsed. My hands caught me again, trapping her in.
