HOLY SMOKES

thirteen. i love that girl

It felt a little weird not having the ring on a chain around her neck and her hand felt a little heavy. It almost felt like it did all those years ago when he had given her that cheap little Walmart ring.

It had taken some getting used to.

Despite it feeling just a bit odd on her finger again, it had also felt so perfect. Especially when Boone brushed his thumb over the silver band before he intertwined their fingers. He even brought her hand up and brushed his lips against

Both wore dopey smiles as they crossed the parking lot, neither seeing how Hunter had ducked back into his room once he saw them leaving their own room.

Dexter had a map laid out on a table, pointing out things as Dani nodded her head in agreement and Ben just watched. Lily leaned over Cairo as she worked on the wiring, her tongue stuck out a little in concentration. Tyler was leaning against the trunk, his arms crossed over his chest.

He had his sunglasses, but if you knew Tyler, you could tell he was thinking real hard on something.

And Magnolia knew Tyler.

“I should talk to him.” She turned, walking backwards as she looked up at Boone, who wrapped his arm around her waist. He pulled her against him, a smile playing on his lips – the same smile that had been permanent since she said yes.

“Wanna talk to him alone?”

She nodded, her fingers laced behind his neck, “said some things I wanna apologize for.”

“He ain't mad at you, angel. Just worried is all.”

“Still wanna apologize,” she shrugged before stretching up into her toes to press her lips against his. “Mmm.” She hummed against his lips, a smile tugging at the corner of her mouth.

“Sure you wanna talk to him? ‘Cause we can go back to the room.”

She laughed, shaking her head a little as she took a step back, slipping out of his arms. He watched as she turned, her dress fluttering around her thighs that he knew were layered with hickeys. Her boots thumped lightly against the gravel as she made her way towards the cowboy.

Her hair was pulled back into two breads and his red bandana was tied around her neck, hiding more marks that her low cut dress didn't.

And his favorite part, her ring glittered in the morning sun as her hand swung at her side.

Magnolia hummed to herself, locking her hands behind her back as she stopped in front of Tyler.

He looked up, an almost relieved breath leaving him, “you're actually talkin’ to me?”

“Sorry I yelled at you.” She moved, leaning against the truck next to him.

“No, Maggie, you ain't gotta apologize.” He pulled his sunglasses off, looking down at the blonde. “It kinda felt like old times, ya know, you yellin’ at me for being an idiot.”

She chuckled a little, “you do stupid stuff. And you also drag Boone with you. I worry.”

“I know,” he nodded, a soft smile on his lips. “You okay after yesterday? Things got intense.”

She took a breath, closing her eyes for a moment, which she regretted instantly as the events replayed behind her eyelids. “It just scared me is all. And not just ‘cause I coulda died. But because two of my favorite people were also in that truck. Also, there was Ben.”

He chuckled, shaking his head a little, “we're all fine.”

“I know.” She nodded, reaching up to toy with her necklace only to find nothing under the bandana around her neck. “Just hard to wrap my head around, ya know? Y'all do this kinda stuff all the time, and even if everyone was okay this time-”

“Maggie,” he sighed softly, wrapping his arm around her shoulders and tugging her closer to him. “That almost never happens.”

She simply nodded, her eyes searching for Boone, who was next to Lily. He held his finger out pointing at something only for the girl to smack his hand, making him pout as he held his hand to his chest

“I just got him back, Ty-”

"Wait-” he stopped her when he caught the glimpse of a silver band around her finger. She’d been fidgeting with the ends of her braids and the sun had reflected off of it.

“What-”

He grabbed her hand, holding it up as he looked at the ring that was placed on her ring finger. “What the hell is this?”

Her cheeks flushed because she wasn't sure if they were telling people, “it's a ring, dummy.”

“This is the ring he bought you in high school, I thought you stopped wearin’ it. Had it on your necklace.”

“Yeah, well…”

His eyes went wide when it finally clicked in his brain. “He asked you, didn't he?”

Her cheeks burned brighter as she nodded.

A wide smile tugged at his lips before he bent down and wrapped her arms around her, lifting her off her feet, “it's about damn time!”

She laughed, her hands on his shoulders to steady herself. “Tyler!”

“I'm so happy for you guys,” he put her on her feet and patted the top of her head and she swatted at his hand, her cheek burning red. “Now, when am I getting a nephew?”

She just shook her head, but a smile stayed on her lips. Of course Tyler was supportive, he always had been. Even when he found out she had laid one on Boone at the rodeo. They had missed his ride and he had a concussion but he was happy for them.

“Or a niece, either one.”

“Oh my God, Ty.” She drug her hands down her face with a soft groan.

“What? It’d be cool to have a little baby Tornado Wrangler runnin’ around.”

She shook her head, her eyes on her boots as she kicked at the dirt. That was yet another thing she and Boone had to discuss, kids. Sure he had mentioned it once when they were eighteen, it was nothing more than a passing thought about how cute their kids would be. But things were different.

Her job had her traveling on occasion, and his had him on the road almost constantly. Kids just didn’t seem feasible.

“Hey, angel, I got you-” Boone trailed off when Tyler looked over at him, a wide smile on his face. “What? I got something on my face?” He reached up and wiped his cheeks with his free hand, in the other was a bag of food from the diner.

Tyler pushed himself off the truck and pulled Boone into a bro hug, patting his back, “congratulations, brother.”

“Oh,” realization kicked it, and Magnolia chuckled as a smile tugged at his lips. “I’m just surprised she said yes.”

Tyler stepped back, clapping him on the back, “I never doubted that she would. Now, when am I getting a nephew, or a niece?”

“Tyler,” Magnolia got his attention and he looked over at her, she shook her head. “No.”

“What? I’m just curious.” He shrugged, before something caught his eye. He turned a little, watching as Kate crossed the parking lot and a smile tugged at his lips. “So happy for y’all.” He mumbled, patting Boone’s back before he walked away from them, sliding his sunglasses back onto his face.

“Hey, baby,” Magnolia took a few steps toward Boone, wrapping her arms around his neck as she stood on her toes.

“Hey, angel,” he leaned forward, pressing a kiss to her lips as his free hand landed on her waist and tugged her closer to him. “I got you some pancakes.”

She grinned, playing with the hair at the nape of his neck, “I love you.”

“I love you more.” He mumbled, leaning in to press his lips against hers as he took a few steps, walking her backwards until her back hit the side of Tyler’s truck.

“Not possi-” her own soft, barely audible moan cut her off when he tugged the bandana down and brushed his tongue over the red mark he’d left just before they left the room that morning.

He chuckled as he pulled back, fixing the bandana as he smirked. “Come on, you should really eat something.”

She nodded, following him to the table where Dexter, Dani and Ben sat, Boone sat down, pulling her into his lap as he put her food on the table. She pulled out the to-go box and opened it, half listening to Dexter as she cut up her food and took a bite. She picked up another triangle she had cut and offered it to Boone, who smiled as he leaned forward, pulling the pancake off of the fork.

“Pack up the burritos. We got a winner.” Tyler rushed out as he neared them.

“I just started eating,” Magnolia mumbled, frowning at her food.

“Maybe if you and Boone hadn’t been locked in the room all morning, you’d have time to eat.” He shrugged, a teasing smile on his lips, then he moved on.  “Lily, get your drone in the air. We need your video stream. Ride with us.”

“Gotta get up, angel,” Boone patted her thigh and she grumbled as she stood up.

“Northwest, ten o’clock?” Dexter asked.

“That’s the one,” Tyler nodded, “Let’s ride. Maggie?”

“Imma ride with Dex and Dani today.” She told him as she packed up her food.

“Maggie.”

“She said no, T.” Boone told his best as he picked up Cairo.

“Okay,” Tyler nodded, making his way to his truck as the other loaded up.

“Showtime, baby,” Boone mumbled before checking behind him, and Magnolia watched, leaning against the side of the caravan. “Clear!” with that he threw the drone into the air, both him and Lily cheering.

“Alright, come on, Cairo!” Lily cheered and Boone ran over to Magnolia, wrapping his arms around her.

“See ya in a bit.”

“Be careful, please.” She leaned up and pressed her lips against his. “Now, go.” she pulled back, dropping to her heels and he pecked her lips once more before he ran towards Tyler’s truck. She smiled, trying to ignore the sinking feeling in her gut as she watched him go. Then she made her way around the caravan and climbed in, leaning over the back of Dexter’s seat as they followed Tyler out of the parking lot.

Dani looked back at Magnolia, who was chewing on her bottom lip and twisting her ring around her finger nervously. “Hey, you good?”

“Not really,” she mumbled.

“They’re gonna be fine,” she reached back and patted the blonde’s shoulder, getting a smile in return. “That’s a nice ring,” She noted.

“Oh, oh, yeah.” Magnolia mumbled, still twisting it as her cheeks flushed. “Figure it was time to start wearin’ again.” she mumbled, not wanting to tell everyone watching that Boone had proposed, not yet at least.

“Damn,” Dexter muttered as one of the StormPAR trucks passed them but his irritation soon faded out as the funnel formed and started reaching for the ground. “Look at that,” he grinned.

Magnolia swallowed hard, but even if she was terrified she couldn’t deny that it was beautiful.

“Hey, people wanna know why you ain’t in the truck today,” Dani looked back at the girl after reading some of the comments that had already rolled in.

“Oh, um…” she looked from Dani to the camera closer to Dexter. “Just needed a bit of a break after yesterday, but don’t worry. I’m sure I’ll be back in the truck soon enough.” She smiled. And she meant it.

She actually really liked it, when giant fans weren’t trying to crush them that is. And she knew that sooner or later, Boone would convince her to get back in the truck.

“Gotta another asking if you’re gonna join us permanently?” Dani asked, a smirk tugging at her lips as her eyes flickered to the ring for just a moment.

“Well, um… I don’t know. Still got my job and all. And it’s very important to me.”

Dani looked right into the camera, “we’ll see.” Then she winked and Magnolia chuckled as she shook her head a little.

“Look, look, look!” Dexter grinned, nearly shouting at the two as another smaller tornado formed. “They're rotating. Wait, there’s a name for that. There’s a name. There’s a name for that.”

“Shh.” Dani tried to stop him. “Just, hey, just watch it. Just enjoy it, man!”

“That’s insane,” Magnolia mumbled, her eyes wide and a smile on her lips. And just like that, the fear she had felt was washed away. “You mind?” She asked Dani, motioning to the window. Dani gave her a confused look, but nodded. Magnolia moved and leaned over Dani, rolling down the window before crawling over Dani’s lap until she pulled herself out and sat on the door.

“Fujiwhara effect!” Dexter shouted as Dani held onto Magnolia’s legs as the blonde held up her phone as she filmed it.

In Tyler’s truck, he caught a glimpse of the girl in the rearview and a smile tugged at his lips, “Boone. Boone, look at Maggie.”

“What?” His brows creased.

“Look behind us,” he told him and Boone turned, just barely able to see her out the back window of the truck.

“Holy shit,” he rolled his window and pulled himself out with his camera raised.

When she noticed him and the camera, she waved and put her phone away, then she blew him a kiss before sliding back into the window, with Dani’s help.

“I love that girl,” Boone mumbled as he slid back into the truck and rolled up his window. Tyler glanced over, seeing an almost dopey smile in Boone’s face and he chuckled as she reached over, shaking his shoulders. But he didn’t say anything about them finally getting engaged. He knew that was for them to tell people, not him.