Page 98 of No Way Home
Abilene
If you really wanted to be talked out of this, you’d be texting the C.O. right now, not your morally gray, wishy-washy side-kick.
Somewhere in the distance, I heard an omniscient narrator say:bingo.
Abilene
Did I strike a nerve?
I shoved my phone in my purse and drove home.
Chapter Thirty-Four
BOWEN
When I pulledinto work the next morning, Magnolia’s car was already there. Nerves coiled in my stomach. Thankfully, I’d been given enough notice about working at a different site yesterday, that I’d had time to make arrangements. Arrangements that had hopefully kept Topher from making trouble. But with a guy like him, nothing was guaranteed.
He was waiting for me—what’s-the-password-style—arms blocking the doorway. “Did you harass Magnolia this morning?” It came out a touch threatening.
Fear flashed in his eyes before he narrowed them. “No, that obviously doesn’t work with her. But you lied. You two aren’t a couple.” Had she told him that? “I checked both of your socials. You haven’t posted anything together. As a matter of fact, it looks like your cousin is the one dating her.”Freaking Liam. “My dad says I only have to stay away from her if she’s with a Dupree. And since we both know lover boy will be with someone else by this weekend, she’s fair game again.”
Just then, Magnolia came up the hall, behind Topher. My heart sped up, so happy to see her—which just shows howwhipped I was. I should not be excited after the way she shot me down on Saturday. Had my letter softened her at all? She leaned against the wall, expression blank, watching to see how this was going to play out.
I pretended not to see her and chuckled, belying the twist in my gut at having to deal with Topher’s nonsense so early in the morning. “Liam and Magnolia were just being funny, trying to get under my skin. Teasing me. You know how cousins are.”
“No, I don’t,” he barked. “I hate my cousins. They’re pompous brats who always have to get their way.”
I bit back the wordsmust run in the familyand cocked an eyebrow. “So you’re saying you don’t want backstage passes to Ford’s next concert for you and three of your friends?”
He snorted. “Why would I care about that old fogey?” Old fogey? “His music is ancient.” There was a hitch in his voice that sounded like he was trying to convince himself.
I quirked an eyebrow. “I think you might be the only person in America who feels that way. Ford’s new album has been number one on the Billboard charts for fifty weeks straight now.” Topher’s eyes widened like he was rethinking it. “C’mon.” I grinned. “You know you belt 'Love Like a Wildfire' at the top of your lungs whenever it comes on.You were lightning in the summer, I was dry July,” I sang. Magnolia bit back a smile. “We burned down everything?—”
“Not hardly,” Topher snapped. “It’s twangy and grating.” I opened my mouth to bargain with tickets to Cash’s next concert, or one of Liam’s football games, but he cut me off. “I’m not taking your bribes. My buddies and I discussed it and we don’t want your charity. Magnolia is the real prize.” My teeth ground together at the way he talked about her like she was property. “And if she’s really your girlfriend, you wouldn’t need to bribe me to stay away.”
I’d tried to be nice but I was done. My fists curled as I took a step toward him.
At thatmoment, Magnolia ducked under Topher’s extended arm. He stumbled backward.
“Hey, you,” she murmured, pushing up on her tiptoes, getting right in my face, blocking Topher from my view. She widened her eyes likebe chill.
I gazed into her green eyes for a few breaths, stomach relaxing with her so close. Peace infused my bloodstream, same as always. Her hair was pulled back into a high ponytail, showing off her cheekbones. Her freckles were particularly adorable this morning. Her long lashes fluttered against the tops of her cheeks.
“Missed you yesterday.” She kissed the tip of my nose, making my head spin. She rocked back on her heels and reached for my hands, intertwining our fingers. Warmth spread like sunlight, up my arms, settling low in my gut. “Are you still mad about Liam?” she murmured, but I couldn’t answer. I’d forgotten how to speak. How to work my muscles. She let go of my hands and ran her palms up and over my shoulders, lacing them behind my neck. She smirked a little when my breath hitched. “You know, we were only kidding.”
Finally, I got myself to move. I slipped my hands over her waist and pulled her into a hug, my body folding around her. Oh man, this was…more than I deserved. Way more. “I know.” I put my mouth next to her ear. “Don’t let it happen again,” I growled. She tilted into me, letting out an adorable moan. I smoothed her hair and pressed a long, gentle kiss to her temple. She buried her face in my neck like she really had missed me.
Topher’s face was hot. From humiliation or irritation, I wasn’t sure, and I didn’t care. I flicked my brows up and grinned.
He huffed and stormed away.
When he was around the corner, I let the hug linger a little longer, then I reluctantly let go. “Okay, he’s gone.”
Magnolia took a step back, her eyes turned down withworry. “Only two more weeks and it’s over.” All I heard was, only two more weeks to convince her I wasn’t going to hurt her again.
She whirled on her heel and walked inside. Luckily, I was right behind her, because just then Topher popped his head around the corner, trying to catch us in the act of not being a couple. My hand fumbled, finding hers in an instant. She squeezed and turned to smile at me, smooth and believable.
He disappeared again. But he’d probably return. I motioned for her to step into exam room three.
