Page 25 of Charmed, I’m Sure (Witches of Bellevue #1)
Alligator or chicken?
Magnolia
I couldn’t concentrate if my life depended on it. Today marked my first day back at CharCutie since the storm, and every—every—inch of the space reminded me of being there with Taylor.
The shop had fared well, thanks to the protective charms and enchantments, but after being closed for a week, I was woefully behind.
I still needed to prepare for two catering gigs booked during the last Meat-Cute—one of which was only three days away.
Jaelyn and I had decided to push this month’s event back a week, but I still had to plan the menu, update my table rental order, and, of course, go shopping for the whole thing.
On top of everything else, I also had to finalize the menu for my storefront. But everywhere I looked, I saw Taylor.
Rolling out and laminating dough for croissants? My mind took that moment to remind me of when he’d been in my bubble, his rough palms sliding up my sides as he kissed me senseless in that exact spot.
Pulling out bowls? I was bombarded with flashes of him chasing after me after I laughed at him while he sat among a pile of those infernal things.
I could see him lounging on the benches in the main area, leaning against the counters with that megawatt smile. I felt him like a phantom’s kiss along every inch of my body that his hands or lips had traversed.
“Earth to Magnolia,” Jaelyn chimed, waving her hand in front of my face, a sly smirk settling on her lips.
Startled back into reality, my rolling pin slipped from my grasp and clattered against the stainless counter. A curse tumbled from my lips as I scrambled to catch it before it rolled onto the floor. “Damn it, Jae. Don’t sneak up on me.”
“Sneak up on you? Girl, I don’t know where you are, but it sure as hell isn’t here,” she said with an amused chuckle, her coils bouncing around her face as she shook her head.
“I’ve been talking to you for the past…” She checked the nonexistent watch on her wrist, her gold bangles jingling as she turned her hand.
“Five minutes? Well, I guess I was more or less talking at you since I didn’t realize your brain had left the conversation. ”
“Sorry, Jae,” I replied with a grimace. My mind was there in that kitchen—it just happened to be focused on a past-tense version of it.
Giving myself a mental shake, I began rolling out the dough until it was a quarter of an inch thick, then folded it over itself twice before starting again. “What were we talking about?”
“I was discussing the menu for the party on Friday. Did you still want to do sauce-piquante? If so, are we doing chicken or alligator? Or did you want to switch to passed hors d’oeuvres?”
After repeating the process twice more, I wrapped cling wrap around the dough with a groan and walked it to the cooler. The trick to achieving perfectly layered and flaky croissants was ensuring the butter stayed cold. It took time to complete all the lamination, but it was always worth it.
When I returned to the counter, I grabbed a wet rag and began cleaning up my workspace. “I should probably call them and see what they want to do. I didn’t even think of that when I called to confirm they still needed catering.”
Though most of my catering jobs revolved around charcuterie boards and pastries, someone occasionally requested an actual meal, and this just so happened to be one of those cases.
I both loved and loathed it. I enjoyed dusting off culinary skills that I didn’t get to use often, but the prep for actual meals, along with everything else, was a lot more work than I had time for at the moment.
With the counter sufficiently clean, I tossed the rag in the sink and walked over to where Jae leaned over the island, scribbling on a notepad while scouring the forms spread across the surface.
“Okay, so if they want to do a full meal, maybe we can simplify it?” she asked, one dark brow rising as her caramel eyes met mine.
“Sauce-piquante isn’t hard to make; it’s just time-consuming.
As long as the number of guests doesn’t increase, it shouldn’t be a big deal.
But we do need to find out if they want alligator or chicken so that I’m not running around last minute.
It’s going to be hard enough to find everything I need as it is. ”
Jaelyn nodded as she swept the forms into a neat pile. “I’ll give them a call and finish up the list so we can grab everything later. You need to pop some Excedrin and chug some caffeine.”
“Get out of my head,” I teased, bumping my hip against hers.
We’d been friends long enough that she could see my migraines coming from a mile away.
It was the little things—a pinch in my brow, the squinting to block out some light, or because my vision would start to blur.
She was always there with a snack, water, caffeine, and some kind of pill that she knew I wouldn’t take unless she watched me like a clucking mother hen.
“I think you need to get out of your own head.” Before I could respond, my phone pinged in my pocket.
Pulling it out, I glanced down at the screen before quickly tucking it back into the back pocket of my jeans.
Apparently, I wasn’t fast enough, as Jaelyn’s eyes widened, her lips pursing as she ran her tongue along her teeth and chuckled to herself.
“Tell Taylor I said ‘hey.’ I’ll go take care of this; you lock up the front and see what Mr. ‘As you wish’ wants. ”
“You’re never going to let him live that down, are you?”
“Not a chance.” She waved over her shoulder as she made her way toward the office.
Slipping my phone back out of my pocket, I swiped the screen and opened my messages.
Taylor
Hey, sunshine. You busy on Friday?
Magnolia
Hey, cowboy. Unfortunately for you, I am.
As I waited for his response, I placed my phone on the front counter and began going through my closing duties: blinds dropped and closed, front door sign flipped, display case lights off.
I had just finished pulling the last tray of leftover pastries from the front case when my phone dinged.
Sliding the tray into a slot on my rack, I dusted off my hands and picked up my device.
Taylor
Oh?
Magnolia
Yeah, I’ve got a gig.
Taylor
I didn’t know you were in a band! That’s so cool; maybe I’ll come check you out *winking emoji*
Magnolia
A catering gig, asshole. *side-eye emoji* You know I don’t sing in front of people.
Taylor
I consider myself special, then.
Magnolia
*raised eyebrow emoji*
Taylor
I got my own personal concert on our first date. Now we just need our schedules to line up so we can have another one.
And no, Magnolia. Cleaning up your yard while you stared at my ass was not a date.
Magnolia
Hey! I helped!
And last time I checked, I caught you staring at MY ass, Mr. Hallows.
Taylor
Can you blame me?
A laugh bubbled up, and I rolled my eyes at my screen as I typed out my response.
Magnolia
I can, but I won’t.
I watched as three little dots popped up then disappeared twice before his response finally came through.
Taylor
So when are you going to let me take you out?
My thumbs paused over the screen as my endless to-do list scrolled through my brain.
I wanted to go out with him; I really did.
But our timing was always off. I still didn’t know what he did, and I kind of liked it that way.
It kept some of the mystery that this town—where everyone was in everyone else's business—severely lacked.
Whatever it was he did, our schedules rarely aligned, and with the holidays approaching, finding time to do anything outside of work would be next to impossible.
Make time, the little voice in the back of my head chided.
I tilted my head to the side, narrowing my eyes on the screen when a thought popped into my head just as Jaelyn poked her head around the corner.
“Hey, I just talked to Mrs. Thibodeaux. They want to keep the dinner and asked for alligator if you can find it, but chicken is fine if not. She also said you’re welcome to use her kitchen so you don’t have to cook it here and then transport it all the way to Baton Rouge.”
My shoulders sagged with relief at Jae’s words. “Thank God for that. Is the rest of the shopping list finished? And can you give Gary a call to see if he can help us out?”
“Yes and yes. You want it?”
“Yeah. I’ll finish up front, and then head out.”
“Do you want me to come with?” she asked, curiosity swirling in her eyes.
“Nah, I just kind of want to disassociate while I shop. Plus, I have a new audiobook I can listen to.” One truth, one lie.
“Uh-huh.” Her eyes narrowed as she asked, “What book?”
Scrunching my brow, I replied, “Uh, I don’t remember the name, but it’s some small-town, age-gap, grumpy-sunshine, something or another that Maddie suggested.”
“Mmhmm,” she hummed in response, her lips pursing in a way that said she knew I was full of shit. “Whatever you say, Mags. I’ll leave the list on the desk. Call me if you need anything or want company, okay?”
“Yep.” I popped the p with a little more force than necessary, and Jae shook her head as she turned back toward the office. “Love you!” I hollered at her back.
“Uh-huh. Love you too, liar.”
Did I hate lying to my best friend? Absolutely.
But I couldn’t break my own ground rule, could I?
Plus, I was about ninety-nine percent sure she knew and was just waiting for me to blurt it out.
After all, she was one of the people who pushed me toward him, so it’s not like it would come as much of a shock if I did tell her.
One step. I made it one step toward the office, determined to spill the beans about me and Taylor—because there was no way I could keep this from her for long—when another text came through on my phone.
Taylor
Mags?
And that’s what we call the universe intervening. Blowing out a raspberry, I looked up toward the ceiling and then typed out a response.
Magnolia
Can you meet me at my house in twenty?
Taylor
Sure.