Daniel couldn’t believe how perfectly this was playing out.

Amy Tucker had appeared out of nowhere, giving his formerly dreary day an unexpectedly wonderful turn. She was now seated right next to him, hip to glorious hip, gazing at him with those dark, magical eyes. That shy smile and hopeful look on her lovely face held the promise of something amazing. It was like they were picking up where they’d been cut off ten years ago.

He brought his foolish grin mostly under control as he replied,

“It’s good to see you, too.”

Dan could feel his heart racing and breath quickening. He fought back a sudden, ridiculous notion to smoothly put an arm around Amy’s shoulders. He had to forcibly reminded himself,

‘Be calm. Let the lady lead.’

Before he could do anything smooth or foolish, Amy twisted away. She pressed her back firmly against the window, making a clear line of sight to the two women sitting behind her.

“Bri, Kim, this is Daniel Higginbotham. We met each other when I was in high school.”

Right, the flashy friends.

Dan made a quick wave and a ‘hi’ as the taller, darker friend gave a ‘hey’ and a nod back. The shorter, showy woman in front managed a cheerful ‘mm!’ through the muzzling hand of her friend. A feeling of movement on Dan’s legs prompted him into instant reaction. He grabbed his forgotten romance novel right before it fell onto the floor. And score! He hadn’t damaged any pages.

But he’d lost his place in the story …

He shoved the book in his satchel, all while missing the start of Amy’s introductions.

“ … is Dr. Brigid Murphy.”

The shorter, soft friend in front had been released to say, “call me Bri!”

“And the cool warrior woman keeping Bri in check is Dr. Kimberly Sanders.”

The taller, dark friend in back gave Dan another wry grin and nod.

“Kim will do.”

Before Dan could regain Amy’s attention, Kim asked, “and what’s with the Doctor Sanders?”

“You do have a doctorate in magical practice. It gives you the right to the title.”

“Yeah, but Doctor Sanders?”

The banter and apparent inside jokes sparked a longing in Dan’s heart. It had been ages since he and his dwindling circle of friends had jabbed playfully at each other like this.

“Colonel Sanders, then?”

In response to Amy’s light retort, Kim gave her a look that was part humor, part promise of violence. Dan suspected he never wanted to be on the receiving end of one like it.

“Very funny.”

Before any trouble could continue brewing, Bri moved to block the path between her friends.

“So Mr. Higgy, are you from Charleston too?”

Mr. Higgy?

“Well, I did graduate from Eastern, but no …,”

He couldn’t resist lowering his voice and switching to a ridiculous, fake accent.

“I’m, from Paris!”

Amy gave a short, disapproving snort, and Kim raised her eyebrows questioningly. Surely his ridiculous grin was giving him away.

“Oooo! Say something in French!”

Apparently not.

Bri’s open mouthed gasp of awe and hands clenched in expectation under her chin said otherwise. It had been ages since anyone had fallen for this old gag. No sense not continuing the fun …

“Zomezing in French.”

Bri’s smile drooped in disappointed confusion.

“Wha?”

Amy turned and gave Dan a lowered chin stare of pure disapproval.

“Paris Illinois.”

Dan’s brief worry faded at the glint of laughter in Amy’s dark eyes and her trembling effort not to turn her frown into a smile. He straightened his shoulders proudly and sat up as tall as possible.

“Go Tigers!”

The sudden slowing of the train pulled all of them forward. Dan braced himself against the wall behind him while the three women leaned backwards into each other. When the final braking forced them the other way, Bri shoved Amy (with some help from Kim) into Dan’s welcoming arms.

Amy looked up with a defiant smirk as she countered,

“Charleston High School, fight, fight, fight!”

As much as Dan wanted to keep his arms around Amy’s delightfully toned shoulders, the instant she pulled away, he released his hold. After the train left the station, Amy returned to sitting while he twisted to lean against the side wall. Despite the distance now between them, Dan still felt the lingering warmth of her touch.

And damn, what a touch!

He remembered her being strong and firm back in high school. But now he could totally tell that she was rock solid. Awesome! He wondered if she was into body building. Hopefully she wouldn’t be turned off by his recent slacking off on exercising. Maybe she’d be up to working out together.

But first things first.

“So, I’ve been wondering.”

“Hmm?”

Dan couldn’t help but notice that Amy seemed as distracted as he was. She kept alternating between brushing her hair back along her neck and running her hands across her lap. At least the shy smile hinted that any nerves were mixed with attraction rather than fear or annoyance.

“Why didn’t you meet me after the game? I waited as long as I could.”

Amy gasped before looking down and smoothing out her skirt for the dozenth time.

“I’m so sorry. I didn’t know you were waiting for me. I figured you wouldn’t be there.”

Dan tried to ignore the tight, worried feeling in his chest.

‘Easy now. Even breaths.’

“Of course I waited for you. Why wouldn’t I?”

Amy grabbed two fistfuls of skirt and clenched tight.

“I thought you might hate me.”

Dan blinked in confusion.

“Hate you, why would I hate you?”

 Amy looked up with an anguished expression that threatened to overwhelm Dan with its depth.

“Because I messed up disenchanting that potion so badly! I made your entire team sick, especially you. And I left you with the responsibility of metabolizing the after-effects of the casting. I know now that it wasn’t life threatening, but at the time, I thought you’d almost died!”

Bri and Kim were both staring at them wide-eyed. Thankfully, no one at the other end of the train car were paying them any attention.

“Almost died? Are you serious?”

Amy had grabbed one of his gloved hands and was holding it tight with both of hers.

“I tried making a connection, but I felt you pushing me away. I was sure it was because you hated me.”

“I would never push you away. I … that’s not how I remember it at all!”

“I wanted to get down on the field to help you, but the Browns wouldn’t let me. They were already angry with me as it was.”

The mention of that name triggered a memory.

“The Browns … aren’t they the awful foster parents that kicked you out?”

“Yes, they … how did you know that?”

Before Dan could explain, Kim leaned forward to interrupt.

“Better not get too caught up in reliving old times. Our stop will get here before you know it.”

Bri added, “And if you’re worried about Mr. Higgy suffering any lasting effects, we could always get his permission to scan his aura. May we scan you?”

The thought of those star filled eyes gazing upon him once more gave Dan a thrill of excitement.

“Yes, go ahead and scan me.”

While Amy closed her eyes and took a deep breath, Dan held his own.

“See Aim, he looks totally fine.”

But when Amy opened those wonderful, sparkling eyes, her second opinion was completely different from her friend’s.

“Oh Daniel, you’re in so much pain. What’s happened to you?”