never til now • alex bowman

chapter 5

"Hey, sister. It's been a hot minute." A brunette approached the blonde, scrolling through her phone on a lounge chair by the pool overlooking Lake Norman.

"It has. I'm sorry; race weekends and babysitting Denny's girls somehow got ahold of my life again." Magnolia chuckled up to her best friend, Veronica.

"Girl, it's okay. You started going to the races again with Denny?" Veronica asked as she sat in the other chair next to the blonde.

"I did...and then I met someone." Magnolia huffed, waiting for an explosive reply from Veronica, but was only met with a chuckle.

"Alex Bowman," Veronica stated. Magnolia looked over to her best friend, who was grinning ear to ear.

"How do you know?" The blonde asked, lowering her sunglasses.

"You posted it on your story, and he had a picture of you guys on his," Veronica replied, making Magnolia shake her head in embarrassment for even asking.

"Yeah, instead of hanging with me like she was supposed to." The comment made both girls turn around to see Denny in the doorway of the sliding glass door, a slight grin on his face.

"This is an A and B conversation; C your way out," Magnolia stated, flipping her brother the bird with a chuckle. He laughed and closed the door behind him, making the girls turn around to face each other.

"So, how are you feeling with Alex?" Her best friend eyed the facial emotions that should cross Magnolia's face. The blonde sighed, running her hand through her hair.

"I-I don't know, Ronnie. Like, he makes me feel so comfortable around him. We are so close, but I am so scared." Magnolia said lightly, shaking her head.

"Scared of what?" Veronica asked, tilting her head slightly.

"I've had one foot out the door my entire life. You know I've only had one relationship in high school. Even then, I didn't feel the way I do now. I've always been on the run, so I feel I will screw up and ruin something with this perfect boy. I..don't want to break his heart." Magnolia spilled, tears slightly peaking in her eyes.  Veronica's face twisted to sadness for her friend beside her, letting out a sigh.

"Mags, high school was different. You both were not ready. He ruined your confidence. You cannot always think that's what's wrong with you." Veronica shook her head, taking a drink of her water.

"That's what I'm saying. I have never felt this way before, and I'm scared I'm going to screw it up. I can't do that, especially because he races the same races as my brother." Magnolia tried to reason with herself, taking another sip of her wine and sighing straight after.

"You won't know if you don't try. By the sounds of it, he sounds like a great guy. I'm not telling you what to do, because it's up to you and your heart." Veronica shrugged slightly, making the blonde turn to look at her.

That thought never left her head as she pondered on what to do. Veronica ended up leaving a few hours after and left Denny, his kids and Magnolia all together. Richmond was this weekend, and that's basically the Hamlin's home track so Jordan was letting the girls spend the few days with their dad to go home to see family on his side.

"Aunt Mags." Taylor's voice brought her out of her thoughts, looking at the brunette in front of her.

"I'm sorry Tay. What's up?" Magnolia sat back on the couch, Taylor showing her a braided hairstyle that she had pulled up on Magnolia's phone.

"Can you braid my hair like this this weekend?" She asked looking to and from the phone.

"Of course. I can add ribbons too to match daddy's colors." She replied making Taylor giggle excitedly. At that moment, a notification dropped at the top of the screen that made her heart skip.

Alexander
Hey, wanna come take the dogs on a walk with me?

"Is that your boyfriend?" Taylor giggled, making Magnolia's face blush red as she took the phone into her own hands to reply to Alex.

"Nope. He's just a friend." Magnolia chuckled as she typed, trying to get the heat from her face. She sprung from the couch to tell Denny she was leaving and headed out the door to head to Alex's place.

Upon arrival, he was already outside with Roscoe and Finn, who were excited to see the blonde as she approached.

"Hey my favorite babies." she chuckled and kneeled down to let them attack her with kisses as she giggled.

"And your favorite human right?" Alex pouted making her look at him and laugh.

"If it makes you feel better." She joked, making him grin and shake his head. She stood up and waited for Alex to start walking, following right next to him as the dogs explored in front of him. She knew it was just a small reason for her to come over, but it was definitely okay with her and she was going to take the opportunity. She studied him again as he walked and talked, trying to figure out her own feelings about him.

"You good?" Alex asked, making her drift out of her thoughts to paint a toothless grin on her lips to him.

"Yeah, just thinking." She said and caught back up to him as they walked back to the house.

"Thinking about what?" Alex asked again after they both walked into the house, making he eyes slightly widen trying to find an excuse, or to tell him her feelings towards him.

"Just trying to find out why you invited me here just to walk around the neighborhood." Magnolia chuckled, making Alex stop in his tracks and turn back to look at her. She could tell he was trying to form words to explain himself, which made her stiffen to prepare for the worse.

"Well, Mags. I like you. You are super fun to hang out with, and I'm trying to get to know you more." He said making her heart swoon slightly when he said it. She didn't pursue it, just giggled and walked over to give him a hug.

"What else would you like to do?"

gosh, that was bad. Just need some filler chapters to make this book last a little longer haha I promise I'll get better!