Chapter 35
Chapter Thirty-Five
MAGNOLIA
But I wasn’t going down that easily.
He leaned over, hooking me with those eyes, cologne wafting up my nose. “Are you COPD?” he purred.
Really? He had not memorized medical pickup lines to flirt with me. Just say no. Just say no. Just say no! I chanted in my mind, like he was a drug habit I needed to kick.
I pursed my lips. “Why? Because I take your breath away?” He deflated a little. I tipped my head and smiled. “I’m a third-year med student. I’ve heard them all, my friend.”
It was like the word was nonsensical. The same way The Swedish Chef from The Muppets didn’t actually speak Swedish, Bowen did not comprehend the language of friendship. Not with me.
“Okay.” He smirked—and it was so cute that my cheeks flushed. “Careful, Magnolia. You keep looking at me like that…” He paused for dramatic effect, waiting to see if I knew this one. “And I’m going to need a crash cart.”
I swooned in my head. But I huffed out a laugh. “Fine. I’ll give you two points for that one.”
His brows flicked up. “Only two? I thought it was a solid five-pointer myself.”
My neurons must’ve staged a mutiny, because my hand decided to flirt without me. Suddenly, it wasn’t in my lap. It was lying on the seat next to his.
He grinned, triumphant, and hooked his pinky around mine. The tiny amount of contact zinged through me like a full body caress.
“Incoming call,” the digital voice in Cash’s Beamer announced. “From Flameo Hotman.”
Flameo Hotman? Like from Avatar the Last Airbender?
Bowen went stiff as Cash tapped the green check on the touchscreen dash.
“What up, Griff?” Cash hooted.
I scrambled upright just enough to put some space between us. I tried to yank my hand away, like Griffin could see. But Bowen had expected that and clamped down, keeping it there. He gave me a tight-lipped smile as his pointer finger made a quick swirl over the center of my palm.
“’Sup,” Griff said, happily, putting a lump in my throat. It was the first time I’d heard him speak in two years. “What are y’all up to?” he asked, laying his accent on thick.
“Not much.” I saw Cash grinning in the rearview mirror. “Just heading to the movies with—”
Charlie slapped a hand over Cash’s mouth at the same time that Cash realized what he’d almost done.
He moved the call from speakerphone. Pressing it to his ear, he went on like he hadn’t almost blown our cover.
But there was guilt all over his face. “Just heading to the movies with Charlie. We’re going to see the new Pixar. ”
Finally, Bowen’s hold loosened, and I jerked my hand back to my lap. I slunk down in my seat like I could hide and focused on taking soft breaths.
“Yeah,” Cash said. “I really want to hear about it, but we just got here.” He flipped the blinker and pulled into the theater parking lot. “Call you when we get out?” They hung up just as Cash put the car in park.
I reached for my door handle, ready to eject myself from the vehicle.
“Hold up,” Bowen ordered, not seeming ruffled by the phone call at all. Then he hopped out to open my door. Cash did the same for Charlie.
Charlie turned in the passenger seat to talk to me. “Bowen missed your friend disclaimer, didn’t he?”
I sighed, shaking my head. “One hundred percent.”
My door whipped open, and Bowen extended his hand, eyes tangled with mine. Friendship, my foot. He thrust his hand closer, insistent.
Fine. He could play gentleman—basic chivalry felt like the least he owed me.
Once I was on my feet, I shoved my hands into my pockets for safekeeping. His expression fell and his shoulders hunched. I felt bad about that, but I would hand over my heart only when I knew it was safe.
A crack of thunder boomed, and one Mississippi later, a bolt of lightning lit up the sky, promising an epic thunderstorm headed our way.
We jogged across the parking lot and under the awning where tickets were sold.
“Two for the new Pixar at 6:10,” Cash told the cashier. Once Cash and Charlie had their tickets, Cash tipped his head toward the lobby. “We’ll meet you by the popcorn.” Then they were gone.
I stepped in front of Bowen really fast. “One for the new Pixar at 6:10.” I slid a twenty through the hole in the glass.
The cashier ogled Bowen, eyes in full cartoon mode, like I was invisible.
“Magnolia.” Bowen chuckled behind me, the sound making goosebumps spring up on my neck. “I’m buying your ticket.”
I pretended not to hear and tapped on the glass to get the girl’s attention. “One for Pixar, please.”
Bowen reached around me and slid his credit card through. “She’s mistaken. Two for Pixar. Thanks.”
The cashier’s eyes volleyed between us, uncertain what to do.
“We’re friends,” I tossed over my shoulder. “Remember?”
“Chivalry,” he said, like it was final.
“Boundaries.” I stomped on the toe of his shoe.
“Woman,” he said. “I’m trying to atone.”
“You can atone from the friend zone,” I huffed.
“Here you go,” the cashier said with a sweet smile. She slid Bowen’s card, two tickets, and my twenty back through the hole.
Bowen hooted triumphantly.
“Enjoy the show.” The cashier looked at me like I was nuts—and like if I didn’t want this hottie to spoil me, she’d gladly take him off my hands.
As we walked to the concessions, Bowen exaggerated a limp, wincing with each step, as if I’d crushed his foot.
I glared at him once we were behind Cash and Charlie in line. “That’s what you get.”
His face smoothed, and a smirk appeared, looking perfectly fine. “Sorry, not sorry,” he whispered, spearing me with those intense eyes. “I’ve waited years to sit through ninety minutes of cartoons with you. Let me have this one, please.”
Heat crawled up my neck, and my heart stuttered so hard it felt like everyone in line could hear. “Okay,” I said weakly.
His smirk grew into a sexy, knowing grin, making my heart race even faster.
Charlie hugged their popcorn bucket, Cash scooped up their large soda and some napkins, and they moved to the side.
“We’re gonna go make out before the previews start,” Charlie said, no shame.
Cash gave us a dopey, lovesick grin before leading Charlie away.
Bowen chuckled as we stepped up to the counter. “We’d like the collector’s popcorn bucket with butter, a box of Goobers, and two waters, please.” He glanced at me. “Did I miss anything? Or do you want soda?”
“No, water is fine. But I don’t need Goobers. I’m still full of See’s.”
“Goobers or not?” the man clipped.
“We want the Goobers.” Bowen’s brows waggled at me. “Chocolate-covered peanuts are my favorite too.”
I actually knew that, but I wouldn’t let him know. It’s not inappropriate to pick up on little things your boyfriend’s brother likes.
The man stalked off to complete the order.
I noticed a guy videoing us over by the arcade and nudged Bowen.
“I know,” he said, not looking at the guy. “I see him. It’s nothing new.”
Wasn’t he worried we would end up on social media and Griffin would see? Crap! My dad! I hadn’t planned to say anything unless I was positive this was heading somewhere. I moved closer to Bowen, letting his shoulder shield my face.
He leaned over and whispered, “Admit it, you’ve been waiting years to—”
I never got to find out how he was going to finish that sentence because right then, a woman gasped behind us and spoke over him. “Bowen? Is that you?”
Great. A Dupree groupie was going to fawn all over my ‘friend’ date, right in front of me. Just awesome.
I glanced over when I realized he wasn’t turning. Had he not heard her?
No, he had. He was super stiff, eyes wide like he’d just seen—or in this case, heard—a ghost. But he didn’t acknowledge the woman. Instead, he slid his arm around my waist, his fingers pressing into my side with a warning. His side-eye begged me to play along.
I nodded ever so slightly and reciprocated, snaking my arm around his back. Apparently, this is what Bowen and I did—fake date each other out of uncomfortable situations.
The woman huffed, annoyed, and tapped him again, too hard for him to ignore. “Bowen Dupree,” she said, tone sweet but demanding.
He quickly blew out his breath and turned, bringing me with him.
My eyes widened when I saw her. She was pretty…
and she knew it. That was obvious. But it was the way she was looking at him that made my skin crawl.
She sized him up like a prize, slow and deliberate.
Like she was imagining him beneath her, and she didn’t care that I was tucked against his side. The nerve of some women.
She tossed her hair back. “Aren’t you going to say hi?”
“I’m sorry.” He scowled. “Have we met?”
She giggled, but it was all for show. The clamp of her lips and the heat in her eyes told the truth. She was going to pry an acknowledgment out of him. “Fine, I’ll play your little game,” she trilled. “I dated Griffin in college.” Her head cocked to the right. “Selene, remember?”
A yelp of shocked surprise stuck, muffled, somewhere between my ribs and my throat.
I’d heard that name before, right after the Spartan race kiss, when Griffin yelled it at Bowen. It had made Bowen cry. I’d racked my brain for weeks, trying to figure out who she was and what she’d done to cause so much pain between them. I never had, and I could worry about it later.
Right now, all I knew for certain was that Bowen did not want to be here, talking to her.
I peeked over his shoulder, checking on our order. How long did it take to put butter on a bucket of popcorn?
“Oh, yeah. I remember,” Bowen said, but it was quiet, no fire, like he was wrestling his fight, flight, or freeze instincts. “Vaguely.” His eyes darted to the hallway leading to the theater where Charlie and Cash were macking, oblivious to our situation.
Selene smiled but rolled her eyes, nostrils flaring. “Aren’t you going to introduce me to your friend?”
“N-no.” Bowen’s voice cracked. “I’m…good.”