The Serendipity (Only Magic in the Building)

by Emma St. Clair

“Thank you for always giving me exactly what I needed when I needed it. You’ve been good to me over the years, just as I hope you’ll be good to him.”

Again with that bossy tone. No one speaks to me like this, not even Bellamy, and I find I really like it. At least, coming from her. It makes no logical sense, and yet I find myself obeying her order.

But all day long, the smell of sweet almond sugar cookies lingers around me, just like thoughts of the woman who baked them. And for the first time in years, I find myself truly longing for something sweet.

It’s fine. I didn’t let you know when I was leaving. Just leave them with Archer. If for some reason he’s not there, put a note on the box saying they’re from me. Bellamy Perhaps he’ll even eat some and the sugar will loosen him up. But that will mean I’ll need another order when I return next week.

Bellamy Or you could come drop them off when he’s home. Despite what you might think, he’s lonely.

I’m sure he’d love company. Willa Not mine. Bellamy Especially yours. Willa Most especially NOT mine. Bellamy Between the two of us, I’m the Archer Gaines expert, and I’m telling you he’d be happy to see YOU.

“Don’t downplay your accomplishments. Honor them. Repeat them. Then build on them.”

Kissing Willa feels like the bravest thing I’ve ever done. The bravest … and also the most dangerous. I’ve counted no costs, run no risk analysis. Zero projections for long-term success. The only thought in my head as my mouth moves hungrily against hers is Why did I wait so long? Not as in, so long since we’ve been in this bathroom, but why—and how—did I wait so long in my adult life, how did I live without this kiss? Without Willa?

“I’m Archer Gaines, and I’m going to pretend I’m not nervous to meet you even though I want to run right back out the front door.” With that adorably honest statement, he handed my dad the bottle of wine, let my mom give him a hug, and basically won my entire heart.

Archer passes me my water, squeezing my arm and giving me the kind of pure male look that says, Step aside, little lady. I can handle this.

Mom sighs. “I think you’ve found a good one,” she says. “Definitely better than Trey.”

But Willa has become like my sun. Lighting up corners in my life I didn’t know were shadowed. Reviving things I thought were long dead or didn’t know existed. Like: a true desire for a family of my own. It only took standing next to Willa holding a baby who was gnawing on my hand to stir up paternal instincts I never knew I had.

It only ramps up my urge to protect her. To assure her that nothing she could say would change how I feel. But that might mean admitting exactly how I feel—and I’m a little worried my big feelings might scare her off.

“I’m not him,” I tell her. “You can trust me. Whatever it is, Willa, I’m not going anywhere.” There’s a long pause in which she stares so hard at the rug, I half expect it to go up in flames. “That’s the thing,” she says finally. Miserably. “Neither am I.”

“I thought you were happy to see me eating cookies,” I complain. “No—I was happy to see you break out of the rigidity that made you think cookies were evil. I am less happy to share my cookies with you. You’re the one dating the baker. Get your own.”

It became something of a game when I realized Bellamy was tipping Willa almost forty percent for every box. Not to be outdone, I placed an order and tipped forty-five. He went fifty. I don’t want to admit the current amount, but suffice to say, we both tipped so far above what the cookies actually cost that Willa yelled at us both. She said she couldn’t possibly keep our money and threatened to stop making cookies for us altogether.

“How would you respond if someone you love lies to you?” I only realize what I’ve said after the brief flash of shock Bellamy quickly hides. Love. I love Willa. Not past tense but present.

“You’ve got big plans, hm?” Bellamy sounds amused. “The biggest,” Archer answers, plucking the phone from my hand. “I plan to spend a significant portion of time showing Willa exactly how much I love her.”