Chapter 18
Chapter Eighteen
Magnolia
Monday evening I went to Presley’s house to work on her wedding. I was ready to tell her about Luke, but this was our first opportunity to talk in private.
“I brought refreshments,” I said, holding up a box of llama-shaped sugar cookies when she let me in.
“I happen to know those pair extremely well with a Riesling I have on hand.”
“Like peanut butter and jelly,” I said as I followed her to the sprawling living area that looked out onto the lake.
I’d only gotten to know Presley recently, when she moved to town.
Her story and mine were opposite, with her growing up poor, then making a killing in her previous career, and me growing up with unlimited money, then losing it all.
Something we had in common though was that our father figures, if you could call them that, were manipulative jerks.
That and we’d opened our businesses around the same time and bonded over every challenge and triumph.
“Is West joining us?” I asked as we made a pit stop in the kitchen.
Presley took out two wineglasses as I grabbed a plate for the cookies. “He’s helping Luke tonight,” she said, and my pulse kicked up at the mere mention of his name. “His mom and Thomas took the girls to dinner so I could meet with you.”
“His stepfather’s doing okay?”
“Other than complaining about the diet change, he’s good.”
We took our wine and cookies to the living room and relaxed on the sectional.
“How was your outing with Luke?” she asked before I could get settled. “Should we call it a date?”
I sank my teeth into the vanilla-frosted cookie with sprinkles before I answered. By the time I swallowed the bite, I couldn’t wipe the grin off my face.
Presley’s brows shot up, and she tilted her head. “That’s a telling look.”
“What is it telling you?”
“I could guess, but why don’t you tell me?”
After another bite and some wine to wash it down, I said, “You’re right. Perfect pairing. The wine and cookies,” I clarified quickly.
“What about you and Luke?”
“We went to the Marks to see the wall, like I told you,” I started.
“On a Saturday night. Date night.”
I laughed. “He did convince me to have a drink and an appetizer.”
I launched into the tale of running into Felix and did my best to retell our confrontation word for word.
“You said that?” she said, her voice climbing to a high pitch of delight.
I nodded. “I’ve been in counseling for two years now, but those five minutes of telling him off were the best therapy possible.”
“And you told him to fuck himself?”
“With witnesses,” I said proudly.
Presley leaned toward me with her palm raised for a high five. “It’s the quiet ones who don’t swear that you have to watch for,” she muttered. “It makes the story all the more powerful. I’m so proud of you.”
“The look on his stupid, smug face was priceless.”
Presley let out a howl of joy. “So what happened next?”
“We went home.”
Her shoulders sagged.
“To my place. Together,” I said. “To celebrate.”
She finished a sip and held her glass aloft, her eyes going wide. “Naked celebrate?”
“Mm-hmm,” I said, my cheeks warming at the memories.
“Oh, my God, Magnolia. You and Luke…enemies to lovers. Bang!”
I laughed at the appropriate word. “Double bang.”
“Wow. I was just hoping you two could call a truce for long enough to get through the wedding.”
“Truce is in effect,” I said.
“So are you a thing? Do you think it will happen again?”
“Judging by the dirty texts Luke sent me earlier, it’s going to happen again. It’s hard right now because we’re both so busy.”
“Right. Which reminds me, did the Earthly Charm girls commit?”
“The contract is signed,” I said.
“Between the run-in with Felix the Fuck, sleeping with Luke, and landing another event, we should be drinking champagne. But cheers.” She lifted her glass, and we clinked, then sipped.
“Thanks. It’s sort of surreal to be on good terms with him after all this time, never mind sleeping with him.”
“I’m so happy for you. Maybe your wedding will be the next one.”
“Bite your tongue,” I said, laughing. “It was one night.”
“So far.”
“So far,” I repeated.
“That’s how West and I got started. Isn’t that how every couple starts? With one night?”
“You have to start somewhere, I guess. But you’re way ahead of yourself. I’m only now getting the swing of running my own life, you know? I don’t want to rush into something.”
“I do. You’re doing great. Your business is taking off. You’re free from thinking you’re Felix the Fuck’s daughter. Your mom is trying to make peace. And you’ve got this hot farmer boyfriend who knows how to plow.”
I laughed. “That pun is Chloe-worthy. He’s not my boyfriend though.”
“Yet.”
I shook my head. “I’m not ready. I don’t know how to do that. I’ve never had a real relationship, so we’re just going to call it sleeping together for now.”
“I was in those same shoes, my friend, just a couple of months ago. Besides, you’ve already survived your first fight.”
“You mean the eighteen-year one?”
“Is there another?”
Shaking my head again, I said, “Just the one. On a serious note…” I glanced out the window, where the lake was dark except for the light at the base of Presley’s dock. “I’m scared.”
“What are you scared of specifically? Getting hurt?”
“Well, that too, but…” I took another cookie and broke off the llama’s head to eat first. “I’m just figuring out this independence thing. Not relying on anyone. Not being accountable to anyone but me.” I popped the llama head in my mouth, chewed, and swallowed it. “I’m kind of loving it, you know?”
“Preaching to the choir, my friend,” she said. “Good news though. You can be in a relationship and maintain your independence. Look at me.”
“What happens when West and the girls move in?”
“I can’t wait,” she said beaming. “The girls’ rooms are almost ready.”
“And you’ll be a full-time stepmom.”
“Slightly terrifying, but I love those girls,” Presley said. “I’ll still have my business and my friends and my nest egg and all the parts of independent me. I’ll just be sleeping with my sexy husband at night.”
Her expression told me exactly how she felt about that—overjoyed.
I wondered if I could ever find the same kind of balance she had. But that was getting ahead of myself. I might need a crash course in trusting someone. “For now I’ll just worry about when we can sneak more time together.”
“You’re right. Baby steps.” She set her wineglass down. “Before I forget, you’re invited to Thanksgiving with us if you don’t have somewhere else to go.”
“Thanks. Loretta invited me to the Diamonds’ dinner too.”
“Because Thursdays are poker night,” Presley recited, laughing. “You’ll have a blast with the ladies.”
“I will.”
I was grateful for the invitations. When you were single, holidays could be tricky, but the Diamonds had taken me in for the past two years. I was grateful and yet ever aware of being the odd girl out. Always.
“Let’s get to the wedding details,” I said, having chomped down two cookies. They’d gotten me through the topics I was less comfortable about. I was more than ready to talk about the subject I was confident about. “Have you checked out those photographer websites yet?”