Page 36 of No Way Home
I shrugged. “They’d be more fun if we ever won. And if the stadium didn’t look like a frat house exploded by halftime.”
Magnolia laughed and pointed her fork at me. “Beer cans and Solo cupseverywhere.”
“So, not the football games and not Bodo’s,” Sophie said as she speared a piece of broccoli. “What then? Your roommates? The classes? The Lawn.” She rolled her eyes. “Bowen never stops talking aboutThe Lawn.”
“What can I say?” My brows raised. “It’s a fantastic place for people watching.”
“Okay.” Magnolia’s eyes lit up. “I’ll tell you my favorite thing, but it’s not really UVA related because…well, it probably could’ve happened anywhere.” She waved that away. “Or maybe not. It was something that happenedtome.”
Her sudden shyness made my stomach lurch.
She exhaled. “I had like…a secret…friend?”
“Friend?” Sophie’s brows bounced. “Does Griff know?”
Magnolia squirmed a bit. “Maybe? But Griff and I agreed never to say anything that might make the other jealous. Like if we went on a date or someone flirted with us.” Her nose scrunched. “Ain’t nobody got time to stalk each other on social media when we’re supposed to be studying.”
“You’re the only one who stuck to that rule,” Dad said. “I don’t think Griff did much studying from the looks of his GPA.” He pounded the table. “C’s get degrees, Dad,” he said in a mock-Griffin voice.
Everyone laughed but Dad.
Mom rubbed his back. “He made it. He graduated.”
“By the skin of his teeth,” Dad said.
Sophie tapped the table. “Let’s get back on track. As you were saying.” She gestured at Magnolia to take the floor.
Magnolia shoved a couple of pieces of rice around her plate. “It wasn’t romantic.” She tilted her head, and her hair fell, hiding half her face. “At least, I don’t think it was. It was more like this anonymous fan who was always encouraging me.”
My fingers curled around the edge of my seat.
Sherolled her shoulders back. “I don’t know if it was a girl or a guy but they drew pictures. Of me. And left them in places where I’d be sure to find them.”
Dad looked like he’d just witnessed a murder. Mom was faking a smile, but it was clear she wanted to recoil.
Sophie snorted. “Sounds like a stalker.”
Magnolia giggled. “That’s what Abilene said. But it was just that—watercolor-type drawings of me. On a cold winter’s day in front of a fireplace, laughing when my umbrella flipped inside out during a rainstorm, standing in front of the Rotunda on graduation day.”
My heart was beating so fast I was worried they could hear.
“So this person never told you who they were, and they never asked you out?” Sophie asked like she was investigating a crime.
“Pretty much.” Magnolia smiled.
“Okay. That’s actually…” Sophie’s gaze flicked to me, eyes narrowing slightly. “Really sweet.”
I glanced away.
“It was. The drawings were…” Magnolia chewed her lip. “Really beautiful and inspiring. The first one came on one of my hardest days of undergrad. I’d just failed an Organic Chemistry II exam.” She sat up taller, eyes excited. “So I leave Clemons Library, walk out to my car all defeated, and find a drawing tucked in my windshield wiper—of me as a doctor, with a patient who is laughing through their tears. It was the kick in the pants that I needed. I said, ‘Not today, Satan,’ and got myself back on track.”
Mom pressed her fingers to her lips, expression softening. “Oh my goodness, I love that so much.”
“Bowen draws,” Sophie said casually, like an afterthought. “He’s really good, actually.”
I shook my head ever so slightly, jaw set, eyes hard.
Sophie only smirked.
