Magnetic by Robin Alexander

us.”
    “Layne, why don’t you and I go shopping in Apalachicola tomorrow?” Ronnie said. “Stacy wants to do some sketching, and I thought you and I could pick up a few souvenirs, then maybe sun on St. George.” Ronnie looked at Molly and Jenny. “Y’all are welcome to join us.”
    “That sounds fun,” Molly said brightly. “Jen, doesn’t it?”
    “Oh, yeah, shopping. Fun, fun, fun,” Jenny said as she perused the dinner menu.
    Molly rolled her eyes. “Layne, what do you think?”
    “That sounds fine,” Layne said, relieved that she’d have something to do to make the time pass quicker. That Stacy wouldn’t be joining them made the idea all the more appealing.
    “Great, and maybe that cute cowgirl will drive us.” Ronnie winked at Layne and looked around. “I’m sure we’ll run into Stick at the dance, and, Layne, you can tell her we want to go first thing in the morning.”
    “I’m not going to the dance tonight.” Layne rubbed her brow. “I have a headache that I hope to numb with the margaritas, then I’m going to pass out.”
    “Do you need some Tylenol?” Molly looked concerned. “I have some back at the cabin.”
    Layne smiled at her. “No, I’ll be fine, but thank you.”
    Molly looked at Stacy. “What’re you going to sketch tomorrow?”
    “I don’t know.” Stacy set her menu aside. “I’ll walk around until I see something that catches my eye.”
    Jenny draped an arm over Molly’s shoulders. “So you paint and draw?”
    Stacy nodded. “I prefer to paint, but that’s too much to pack around.”
    “Do you sell any of your paintings?” Molly asked.
    “No, it’s mainly just a hobby.”
    Molly propped her chin in her hand. “What kind of work do you do?”
    “I—”
    “Ladies, two pitchers of margaritas,” the server said with a smile as she set one directly in front of Layne. “I brought you a glass just in case you decided to share with your friends.” She set it next to Layne’s pitcher along with a straw. “Have you decided on what you’d like to have for dinner?”
    Layne watched Stacy out of the corner of her eye as everyone ordered. She laid a hand on the table, and Layne was reminded of how talented her hands could be. She blinked as she recalled how those fingers had brought her to dizzying heights. How they’d soothed and stroked her when she could take no more and felt herself giving into sleep. She remembered the night vividly, but as she regarded Stacy, it seemed like a dream. She didn’t know anything at all about the woman sitting across the table from her, but she did know what she sounded like in the throes of ecstasy, what her kisses tasted and felt like.
    “Layne?”
    “Yes?”
    “Are you going to eat or just drink?” Jenny said with a laugh.
    “Oh, I’ll have the margarita chicken, may as well keep with the theme,” Layne said, smiling up at the server.
    “There’s Stick,” Ronnie said when she approached the table. “We were just talking about you. Why don’t you join us?” Ronnie nodded at the empty chair next to Layne.
    “Oh, I see you’ve begun with the mayhem margaritas,” Stick said as she sat. “They’re very potent.”
    Layne filled her glass and inserted the straw. She sucked hard, hoping it would go straight to her head so she could sleep soundly and soon.
    Ronnie leaned up on the table. “We’d like to go shopping in Apalachicola tomorrow, then go to St. George.”
    “Well, you may want to go light on the margaritas because you’ll have to be here at the main house at eight in the morning.” Stick grinned at Layne. “Be sure to remember your sunscreen. I’ll have you out all day.”
    “Tell us about Apalachicola,” Molly said. “What’s there to do?”
    “The strip is small. We park on one end and you’ll be able to walk to all the shops and restaurants. It’s a very pretty little town. I grew up there.”
    “So you can tell us all the good places to go for souvenirs.” Molly nudged Jenny. “We