Misfortune and Mr. Right (Only Magic in the Building)

by Savannah Scott

A man always has two reasons for doing anything: a good reason and the real reason. – J.P. Morgan

Somehow, no matter what I do to impress her, she always bristles around me. She’s feisty, stubborn, and driven. But also soft, deeply compassionate, and loyal. I’ve achieved everything I ever set my mind to. Everything but convincing Olivia Pennington that I’m not the devil incarnate.

He’s always got that Mona Lisa look about him—like he’s half smiling, half plotting your death, half constipated. Yes. That’s three halves. There’s more to Logan Alexander than meets the eye. He doesn’t math.

Oh, Logan Alexander. You chose the wrong place to come to work.

Love is a competition with no losers.

Mister Rogers did not adequately prepare me for the people in my neighborhood. ~ Unknown

Under all that animosity, you’re drawn to Olivia. She’s your match. You’ve actually met your match.”

Olivia smiles at Nori. It’s an easy smile, like the one she gave Rhett yesterday. It’s soft and sweet. I’ve never been the recipient of that smile. At this point, I doubt I ever will be.

“The saddest thing is that butterflies can’t even see their own wings.”

“I’m curious about what you told Spike.” “What’s that?” My eyes are still on Olivia. She’s laughing with Megan. They’ve been joined by two guys who played on our football team. “You haven’t found the one?” Gil asks. “I haven’t.” “I think you have.” I turn to make eye contact with Gil.

I extend my hand, and Olivia looks up at me, a note of challenge in her eyes. I smile down at her. I hope she never stops challenging me. I hope she’s always here, with me, extending a dare or holding her ground. I hope we race one another until we can’t run anymore, and then we’ll race with our walkers or wheelchairs. I need her. I’ve always needed her.

“Trust me,” she persists. “The way that man was looking at you—was not neutral.”

She laughs again—at me. I made her laugh.

This kiss has been brewing for at least fourteen years. All the passion and fire we usually reserve for our rivalry has found its way into this kiss. She’s leveling me.

“I did come to thank you,” she says, looking up into my eyes. “I didn’t plan to kiss you.” “I definitely planned to kiss you,” I confess. “I just didn’t know when.” “You planned to kiss me? Since when?” “Ever since our dance the other night … or maybe since I saw you at Barnes that first week I worked there … or the day Jacob and I bumped into you and I discovered you were my neighbor. No. Come to think of it, I probably had the inclination after you gave that speech in our Principles of Marketing class at BU. Nope. It was definitely when you crossed the finish line after our race against Strathmore High during our Sophomore year. You were glorious. Your form was absolute perfection⁠—” “You’ve wanted to kiss me since tenth grade?” Her tone is incredulous. “Maybe I wasn’t always aware of how badly, but yes. You have always had a pull on me, Olivia. And I just recently realized how strong that pull is. I came to my senses Saturday—when you were in my arms at the reunion.”

I definitely planned to kiss you. Those words. He planned to kiss me? What kind of man has that level of desire pent up inside of him—and the equal measure of self-control to bide his time, waiting for me to come to my senses? He waited for me, and he would have continued to endure until I was ready.

I’m like Dorothy, seeing behind the curtain. Only, instead of finding a puny man pretending to be larger than he was, I found the actual wizard, disguised behind a shell of superiority and aloofness.

“That’s what I want too, Olivia. A future with you. I know that’s a lot to say right now, but we’re not meeting for the first time. You’re not just a coworker I developed an attraction to or a neighbor who caught my eye a month ago. You’ve been a part of my life for nearly as long as I can remember. I know you. And I can’t imagine wanting anyone else.” “You don’t mess around, do you, Alexander?” “Call me Logan, just for this.” “I’m sorry. This is just … a lot. I’ve been running away from you as fast as I could. When I finally stopped running, I saw you for who you are. It’s overwhelming, a bit embarrassing, and a little confusing. But also … amazing. If you are all that you seem to be, I can’t even believe you want me the way you do.”

“You are the only woman who challenges me like you do. You’re brilliant, feisty, spirited, but you're also tender, thoughtful, and loyal. I finally woke up to something I’d been dancing around for a long time. You are the only one I want. I know you, Olivia. And you are it for me.”

“After a decent amount of struggle, I’ll always give in to you. Your happiness is my ultimate goal in life.”

Betrayal from someone you allowed yourself to feel vulnerable and safe with stings like treading through a field of nettle. Each pinprick incites a riot of pain, unrelenting and piercing. I did this to myself. I trusted him. He betrayed me. He always betrays me. And he doesn’t even regret it.