AllFreeNovel
Share Us
As he gave me a hug and walked off into the night, I knew I had a big decision to make.
Keep dating him, knowing that in doing so, he would have to give up a huge part of himself.
Or let him go. For good this time.
I knew how he felt about the situation, but I wanted a little more time to decide. Ineededmore time.
“All right, all right. You’re busy, I get it.” He drummed his fingers on the showcase. “But I’m not going to give up easily, Maggie.”
I opened a box full of muffins. My hand was, yet again, shaking. I glanced up at him.
“I’ll wait,” he said, staring into my eyes. “I’ll wait forever if I have to.” He gave a final tap on the showcase. “See you later. I’ve got to go strategize.”
“Strategize what?”
“How to win you over, of course.” With a wave, he walked off.
I watched him go, his voice echoing in my head. My heart thumped crazily.
Little did he know that he’d won me over a long time ago. That wasn’t the issue here.
I went back to unloading pastries, and only a moment later, the front door opened. A warm breeze raced into the shop just ahead of Mark and Trixie Davies.
“Good morning!” I said, my voice a bit shaky. “What can I get for the two of you?”
They were all smiles, dressed nearly identical in loose black trousers, sunflower-yellow dress shirts, and white bow ties. Trixie’s blue hair was pulled up in twin topknots, and Mark’s black hair had zigzag lines buzzed into it. They were jugglers by trade, their daytime schedules filled with school and library visits. Soon, they’d be on stage at Butterfly Fest as well. Everyone loved them.
Rose reappeared at my side, said her hellos, and helped fill the order: two iced mocha lattes with almond milk and two chocolate-nut muffins to go.
Mark said, “Maggie, word is Dez is selling Magpie’s. True?”
My fondness for Mark dropped a notch. I pasted on a smile and felt the beginnings of a headache as I bagged the muffins. “Nope.”
I’d been hoping that the talk would’ve died down by now.
Trixie leaned in and dropped her voice. “Really? Everyone we’ve run into sounds so sure.”
“I’m positive.” I broke down the empty pastry boxes using more force than necessary. I glanced at Rose, who was watching me with remorseful eyes as she made the drinks.
Trixie grinned. “I’m glad to hear it. Do you remember that Mark and I met here? I’d been on vacation with my family when I saw him sitting in the corner with a set of juggling bags. Tall, dark, and nerdy. Be still my heart.”
I remembered, especially since I’d gifted Mark the juggling bags only moments before Trixie had come inside. The bags had been on a curiosity shelf for years at that point, and I’d been over the moon to finally match them.
“You saw me watching him, Maggie, and encouraged me to go over and strike up a conversation.”
They’d been young. In their teens. And oh so adorable.
“You nearly spilled your drink on your way,” I said softly, my irritation about the boat vanishing.
She laughed. “I was nervous. I didn’t just go up to boys, talk to them. But somehow I knew if I didn’t, I would be making the biggest mistake of my life.”
“We had our first date here at Magpie’s, too,” Mark said.
Trixie glanced fondly at him. “It was really more of a getting-to-know-you cup of coffee than a date.”
“She had to make sure I wasn’t a total weirdo before she agreed to dinner.” He laughed.
“Luckily, he’s just a little weird.” She bumped his shoulder with hers, her adoration of him shining brightly in her eyes.
