Chapter 36
Magnolia
Shopping with Sloan went off without a hitch, and I’m pretty positive he spent way too much money. Anything I told him that could possibly be useful, or they might need, or they might like, went into the cart. Sloan bought no less than four different beds in case Peaches didn’t like one, and he got one for every room he thought she might like to nap in.
And don’t even get me started on the number of toys or puppy enrichment games he got for the puppies, who were only days old. I found it better to stop trying to argue with him and just let the man spend the money. The rest of the ride was spent in an easy silence, and I spent it thinking about what a shockingly good time I had out with Sloan. He made me laugh and the conversation was always easy, and I never felt uncomfortable . Even after all this time, even after all he had done, I felt safe. On the drive back to the clinic to get my truck before I headed home, I couldn’t help but ask Sloan, “You act like you’re going to keep all the puppies.”
He shrugged. “I’m hoping to find homes for them, but if that takes months, or years , well…it is what it is.”
Why did I have a feeling those three little puppies were going absolutely nowhere .
“I’m going to drop this stuff off at my place and grab a quick shower, then I’ll meet you back at yours.”
“Sloan…really, that’s not necessary.”
“It absolutely is. The only reason I'm not demanding you come over to my place is because Jace and Lex are at your place.”
“How do you know Jace is there already?”
“I texted him.”
“You texted him?”
“Yeah, he’s also going to be keeping an eye out on you and Lex.”
I rolled my eyes. “You’re taking this protection detail very seriously.”
“No. I take what happens to you very seriously . Don’t forget that.” His eyes met mine and I felt the air around us sizzle. Suddenly, my mouth was bone dry.
“I’d ask you to text me when you make it home, but you still haven’t put my number to use.”
“You still haven’t earned that right.” I shot him a wink, opened the door, and hopped out before he could protest. The sound of his laugh trailed behind me, and I couldn’t help my own smile.
I tried really hard to bring out some of the rage and anger I had felt toward Sloan on the drive home, and if I were being honest with myself, I didn’t feel any.
There were layers of scar tissue over my heart that still held a dull throbbing ache, but I thought more of that had to do with losing my mom and never making things right with my dad when I had the chance than it had to do with Sloan.
In fact, part of me couldn’t help but blame myself for the way things went down. What if I had demanded answers? What if I had stuck around for a conversation, what then? The truth was, I’d never know, and I could either wallow in the past or move forward.
I was moving forward.
I was choosing to move forward.
I was choosing to get to know who Sloan was now.
I wasn’t an idiot, like Rome, trust couldn’t be built in a day, but it could be built.
Trust could be built.
With that thought, a sense of peace spread through me, and I knew I was making the right decision, despite what anyone else would think about it.
Walking through my front door, I heard Lexie and Jace’s laughter from the kitchen and followed it, trying my best not to show my shock at their closeness. He had her halfway caged up against the kitchen counter and was looking at her with such a look of adoration , I felt my heart melt at the sight of it.
“Am I interrupting?”
Lexie jumped five feet in the air and turned to look at me, darting around Jace before she came face to face with me.
“You don’t call, you don’t text. I worry, you know.” The apparent happiness that was plastered on her face a few seconds ago had morphed into concern.
“I know, Lex, I’m sorry. Things got…crazy last night,” I whispered, and tossed a look over at Jace, silently letting her know that I didn’t want to have that conversation with him around.
Thankfully, Jace also caught the hint,
“No need to say more, Magnolia. You two gossip, I’ll step outside and start getting some measurements for the deck…”
Squeezing my shoulders as he passed by let me know he wasn’t offended at all. I gave him a quick smile, hoping he knew it wasn’t about him, I just wanted to have a conversation with my best friend.
Lex glanced at the clock. “You better start at the beginning and leave nothing out.”
She sat across from me, her head firmly planted between her hands, giving me her undivided attention. I went over everything—everything she missed, every detail, every conversation, right down to my inner monologue on the way home about Rome and trust.
Once I finished, I had to ask, “Do you think I’m stupid?”
She scoffed at me. “Magnolia, you are the least stupid person I know.”
“Do you think I’m making the wrong choice?”
“I think only you can answer that, babe.”
“Some help would be nice,” I groaned.
“I think the best things in life are worth fighting for.” She gave me an all-knowing smile, and I didn’t miss the way her eyes trailed Jace through the window to the deck, but I did somehow miss that someone else appeared to have joined Jace out on the deck.
Sloan .
Flip. Flip. Flip.
Giggling, Lex grabbed her cell phone and strolled outside to meet the boys.
The afternoon passed by in quick succession, and honestly, it was one of the best afternoons I remember having. There were jokes, teasing, lunch—which almost broke out in a food fight—and my cheeks hurt from laughing so hard. A small voice in the back of my head kept whispering, This is what life is all about. This is what some people spend their entire lives looking for. This kind of friendship, this kind of…
The ringing in Sloan’s pocket interrupted our bubble, and he frowned when he saw the caller ID.
“I need to take this.” I had figured he would go somewhere private, but he shocked me by staying near me and answering.
“Remi?” he said, and I faintly heard a frantic voice on the other side of the line, I just couldn’t make out what was happening.
“Take a deep breath. It’s okay. I’ll come in. It’s no problem.” He looked over at me and I could see the apology there even though there wasn’t a need for it, but I appreciated that he felt bad.
Hanging up, he took a deep breath before explaining to us that Remi’s kid is sick. She couldn’t find anyone to cover, but she didn’t want to bring him with her because she didn’t want anyone else to get sick.
“Remi’s one of the best, single moms I know. She’s younger but has her head on straight. Reliable and people love her,” Jace said in confirmation.
“She’s good people,” Sloan said, but his eyes were on me. “Any chance I could convince you to hang out at the bar with me all night?” He did his best puppy dog face, and I had to admit, it didn’t sound like such a bad idea.
“She’ll be fine, lover boy. Go cover the shift; I’ll be here with her all night.” Lex did her best attempt at a sultry voice.
“Hey, hands off my woman, Lex.”
“Your woman, huh?” I couldn’t help but ask, trying to sound serious but even I could hear the teasing in my tone.
He dropped his arms to the banister, on either side of me where I was sitting, and leaned in, kissing my cheek before lingering.
“My woman, ” he whispered and then backed off, nodding in Lex and Jace’s direction before turning and taking his leave.
I couldn’t help but feel like the ball was in my court, so I yelled after him, “Hey, Sloan?”
He turned around right before he reached his car door. “Yeah, pretty girl?”
His words caused my cheeks to flush,
“You said you have my number? Maybe you should use it.”
He grinned at me. “Maybe I will.”
Not thirty seconds later, my phone rang in my back pocket.
“Hello?”
“Just making sure this wasn’t a fake number.”
I couldn’t help the pure laughter that rolled through me even if I wanted to.
“What do you think you’re doing, Sloan?”
“What I should have done eight years ago.”
Flip. Flip. Flip.