Chapter 16
Magnolia
I’m working hard, and I’ve gotten into a rhythm as I mark things off my to-do list. It’s been a few hours since Levi left, and I’ve been streaming, but I’m about to cut the stream for the day when I see Ruby’s name pop up on the stream.
“Hey Ruby,” I give her a smile and wave, even if she’s on the other end of the screen.
CalebsWife: Hey, thought I’d hop in and see how you’re doing. Everything looks great!!
So Caleb must have told her what happened at my house. Not everyone knows about that, but I appreciate so much that she thought of me. I texted both my parents and they haven’t checked on me yet.
“I’m good, thank you so much. It’s been rough, but I’m making it.
” That’s all I’m willing to say on camera.
I know that sometimes Cody sneaks past the IP blocking I have on my streams, but it at least helps me feel a little safer to know I’ve tried.
Glancing at the clock, I notice it’s the time I’d set for myself to log off so I can accomplish some of my harder orders.
There are also tricks I’ve learned that I don’t want to share with the world at large.
So many people are getting into this business because they’re watching what others are doing and copying it.
“Thank you all for hanging out with me today. I appreciate it, it makes the time go by faster. I’m not sure when my next stream will be, but I’ll try to post on socials.
I hope you all have a good day as you get ready for the holiday season. ”
With those words I log off and take a deep breath.
Sometimes when I log off, I literally sink into myself.
It’s hard to keep that extroverted personality going when I’m not naturally the life of the party.
It helps with business though. I don’t ship, but word of mouth does very well for me, especially when they can come look at my videos.
Turning to my iPad, I roll through the orders that are due this week, and then look ahead to what I need to start prepping for Thanksgiving.
I’m having a pop-up that week and if it does well, I’ll have one before Christmas too.
More than anything, I really need to make some money.
I’ve had to open new accounts, because Cody has drained all of them, and who knows what the hell he’s done with the money at this point.
But bills have to be paid, and there isn’t money to do it.
If he finds out, he’s going to look for me, and honestly, the time until he does find out is coming soon.
He’ll blow through all the money he stole, and then he’ll come looking for more.
“What the fuck was he even doing?” I whisper to myself. All the time we went back and forth between him having a ton of money when we needed it, and then him getting mad at me because we didn’t have any. It was like living with a drug addict.
Outside, I hear someone coming up the driveway.
I have no idea when Levi is supposed to be done, so my anxiety rages.
What if it’s his mom, or Molly? Both of them will wonder why the hell I’m here.
Glancing around, I’ve taken over almost every single free surface of the kitchen and dining room.
There’s no way I’m going to be able to pretend like I’m not staying here if someone comes in.
Running to the window, I peek out and breathe a sigh of relief when I see that it’s Levi’s truck coming up the driveway.
He didn’t drive his patrol SUV today, because of what he and Dakota were doing.
I don’t realize how nervous I was that this was going to be someone else, until my heart literally pounds against my chest.
He stomps up the steps and glances through the window, giving me a smile.
That fucking smile of his. It’s half smirk, part bashful, and one thousand percent hot as fuck. Walking over to the front door, I unlock it and throw it open. “Hey,” I greet him, smiling back.
“Hey, how’s it going? I saw that you were streaming earlier.”
This surprises me. “You know I do?”
“Yeah.” He nods, as he comes in and drops a kiss onto my forehead. “I’ve followed you since the beginning, I just make it a point not to comment. Was kind of always worried Cody would see it as something other than what it was.”
Where his lips touched my skin is warm as if he’s placed a brand on me. “I appreciate that, but you don’t have to worry about it now. I have him blocked where I can.”
He makes a noise in the back of his throat, before he reaches out and curls his palm around my neck. “You and I both know that men like him have ways of getting whatever it is they want. You should still be careful.”
“I’m not used to someone else worrying about me as much as I worry about myself,” I admit. “But you’re right, and I’m trying.”
“Is that why you were looking at me through the window?”
“Yeah,” I sigh. “I thought you might be Ruby or Molly, and I was trying to figure out how I was going to hide being here.”
With a squeeze of his fingers against my neck, he causes me to raise my eyes to his. “You don’t have to hide being here, you know. I’m not trying to keep you a secret if that’s what you think.”
Part of me had thought that, because I’ve been keeping the secret of what’s been happening in my personal life for so long. “Don’t you think it’ll make it hard on the both of us if people know I’m staying here? What will Molly think? Your mom and dad?”
“Who gives a fuck?” He moves his hand so that he’s palming the side of my neck and rubbing his thumb along my bottom lip.
“I’m a big boy. Haven’t lived under my parents roof for years, and have never answered to Molly.
Yes, I care what she thinks. She’s one of the most important people in my life, but she’s not the most important.
I’m not ashamed of you staying here, unless you don’t want anyone to know. We’re both fucking adults.”
He’s right, we are both adults, but I’ve been keeping so much of my life secret that it feels uncomfortable to be honest. And that’s never been me. “You’re right, maybe I need to adopt your who gives a fuck attitude.”
“I’ve been perfecting it for years. Might take you a little longer.”
The wink he gives me makes all my lady parts stand up at attention. “I’m willing to learn,” I flirt with him.
“I’m willing to teach, but I’m sure you could teach me way more than I can you.”
The tension between us is thick, and I’d love to stand here and smile at him all day, but I have work to do. “I think we could help each other, and I would love to be hanging out with you.”
“But?” He questions. “I can hear it.”
“I have so much work to do,” I sigh, turning to where all my stuff is laying on all of the available counter space.
He glances around. “Yeah, I can see that. You’ve got a lot for one person.”
How do I explain to him that this is normal? That I’ve always been a one-woman show. Even when Cody and I were first dating, he wasn’t even trying to impress me by helping. “It just kinda is what it is.” I give him a shrug. “It’s good to be busy.”
“But is it good to be doing everything on your own? Especially when someone could help you? I’m not great, but I do follow instructions well.”
Him offering makes me want to cry. It was never a priority for the man I married, but this man who has done nothing but help me sees that I’m struggling, and knows that I won’t ask for the help.
Instead he puts himself out there. What the fuck have I done to deserve this?
My mind tells me I dealt with Cody for as long as I have.
“I’m serious, Magnolia. I can help.”
“Alright.” I give him a grin. “I’d appreciate it.
Do you see all that over there?” I point to where I have completed pretzel sticks, chocolate dipped Oreos, and Rice Krispie Treats sitting.
“I need it put into those cellophane bags, then you’ll need to close them with the heat sealer, and put those stickers on it. ”
His eyes move over where I’ve told him what to do.
“I can show you how,” I say when he keeps looking around.
“You don’t have to show me how. Do you know how many times I helped my mom do this for her wedding planning business? They always needed help to get favors ready. Molly and I can seriously do this in our sleep. In fact, I think we have. You don’t have to worry about me.”
The fact that he’s just willing to jump in like this is amazing to me, so the only thing I do is nod with a smile.
“Do you have order slips? I can pack them too.”
How has this guy not been scooped up by someone? Everyone in Laurel Springs must not know what a fucking great guy he is. Or maybe he’s just been waiting for the right girl, my subconscious says. “You sure?”
“You’re gonna learn Magnolia Grace, I don’t do anything I don’t want to do. I sure as fuck don’t offer it.”
Our eyes meet, and the warmth in his catches me off-guard. I’m not used to it. “Alright, just let me know if you need anything. How’s that?”
He grins, and god, even that is fucking hot. “Sounds good.”
We both get to work, and we’re quiet as we do. It’s almost too quiet. I’ve usually got music or a podcast playing if I’m not live. I’m not sure how much he can tell me about his work, but I am kind of curious. “How did your thing for work go?” I’m not sure what to call it. “If you can tell me.”
“Funny you should ask that. I do have a few things I can tell you.”
I watch as he has a seat at the table. “My order list is in front of you. It’s on the iPad.
There are no shipping labels or anything since they do pick up.
You’ll be able to tell who is who, because I have the colors out to the side, and the theme.
Speaking of that, what do you want me to do about people picking up their orders?
Sooner or later there’ll be talk about me being here.
..” I let the thought trail off, because I don’t know what to say, or how to actually verbalize it.
“Look, I’m not worried about what people say about me.
I don’t care if anyone knows you’re here, including my family.
Before I ever had a crush on you, Magnolia Grace, you were my friend.
I’m helping a friend, and that’s all anyone has to know.
I mean my dad responded to your house the other day,” he stops for a second sighing.
“Plus, it’s no one’s goddamn business either. ”
“You’re right.” I smile. “If they ask, I’ll let them know, but I don’t owe anyone an explanation.”
“You don’t, and neither do I.”
“I used to be the strongest person I know, hotshot. I’d tell anyone who questioned me to fuck off, but Cody changed that part of me. Made me scared to talk like that to others.” I stop for a second and center myself. “It’s going to take a little while for me to get comfortable doing that again.”
“Understandable. Take as long as you need, Magnolia Grace, but don’t ever make yourself smaller for someone. They don’t deserve you.”
I’m blinking back tears as I listen to what he says, and really let it sink in. “Thank you,” I say, although it’s hard to speak around the tightness in my throat. “So, you were going to tell me about your day...”
“Yeah,” he glances over to where I’m standing. “But only if you think you can handle it.”
The way he says the words is like he’s laying down a challenge. If there’s one thing I rise to. It’s a challenge. “Oh Levi, I can handle whatever you give me.”