Chapter 17
Magnolia
Lori ended up taking off before the BLTs were even ready. She did, however, leave her number on a card on the kitchen table, and made her departure only after I promised I would call or text her in the next week or so, and set up a time for coffee.
Seeing Lori made me feel better and worse at the same time, and my mind was still trying to process everything. I was so lost in my feelings that I didn’t realize Lexie had made her way back.
“Do I smell bacon?” She floated into the kitchen with a huge smile on her face.
“You do… That’s quite a smile you’re wearing. Good trip to the store?”
“Actually, yes…” She fidgeted, looking a little unsure of herself. I tilted my head in question, so she knew I was on to her. “Listen, it just kind of happened…but we have guests.”
“Guests? I think I’ve had enough guests for the day.” Now it was her turn to look at me questioningly, but before I could elaborate, the front door opened and in walked Jace and Dexter. My gaze turned to them both, confusion on my face.
“Hey, Mags, ran into Lexie at the store and she mentioned you guys needed some help fixing things up?” Jace said as he began making himself a sandwich. I couldn’t help but be amused at his behavior.
While we weren’t close in high school, he was always around to some extent with Sloan. He was the kind of guy who never took anything seriously, but at one time he was serious about leaving this town.
“Why don’t you guys help yourself to some sandwiches, and we can talk about how this,” I waved my hand at the three of them, “came about.”
Dexter at least had the decency to look a little uncomfortable at Jace helping himself without a second thought, but when our eyes met across the kitchen, I offered him a half shrug and a small smile. He must have been satisfied with what he saw because he started making himself a plate and joined us at the table.
Once everyone sat at the table and had a few bites of food, I decided it was time to figure out what this was all about.
“So…” I prompted, hoping someone would fill in the details for me.
“I saw Ms. Lexie in the wine section at the grocery store. She looked positively distraught, so I had to go ask her what was wrong,” Jace started.
“I know this is a small town, but the selection is just terrible . I can’t believe it, Mags. How do they not have a solid Moscato option? My heart was weeping.” Lexie looked at me with a horror-stricken face. I knew how much that girl loved her sweet wine. It was a problem, it tasted like juice, went down way too easily, and always created the hangovers from hell. Regardless, Lexie didn’t care. It was her drink of choice, even in college, so I could only imagine the internal meltdown that Jace and Dexter were privileged to.
“We’re going to have to sign up for one of those monthly wine subscriptions,” she said, her face a mask of utmost seriousness.
“Don’t worry, Lex, we can make a road trip to a bigger city and stock up as much as you want. That still doesn’t explain why you two are here, in my kitchen.”
This time it was Dexter’s turn to talk. I found his presence here the most confusing because, even though I had only met the man once, I had the distinct feeling that his girlfriend Lydia was a foe, not a friend. She kept giving me the side-eye at the bar, and when Sloan and I started going at it, I could have sworn I saw her lips turn up into a barely concealed smile. I didn’t feel the need to address or even think much about it until now because Lydia was no one to me, so there was no use in sinking feelings into someone who didn’t even know me and vice versa.
“Well…basically, in the middle of the wine meltdown, Lexie let it slip that this house needed to be fixed up.”
“Meltdown, you say?” I looked over at Lexie with a fake shocked expression. “Lexie? My Lexie ? A meltdown.” I tried my best to contain my laughter. “I don’t believe it.”
“Oh, hush you. I like what I like, I am who I am, and all that.”
Lexie was the exact opposite of me. She wore her heart on her sleeve, and you could always tell what she was feeling by one look at her face. She loved with her whole heart; she believed the best in everybody. She felt every single emotion on a large scale and never held back.
“But that still doesn’t really answer my question…”
“Oh yeah, well, see we own a construction business. We are partners. While most of our construction business is commercial, we have been talking about getting into the residential aspect for a while. We figured you might be willing to take a chance on us and give us our first residential project.” Dexter shrugged. He looked nervous, like I would tell him hell no.
I looked between the three of them. Lexie was staring at Jace with barely concealed interest, but her eyes were floating to the wedding band on his left hand. Dexter looked like he swallowed a fly, and Jace was looking at me with excitement.
I couldn’t help the smile that crossed my lips. “Hell yeah, let’s do it. Would you guys like a tour and see some of the projects we want done?”
Lexie and Jace both let out their own versions of an excited holler, while Dexter just gave me a half smile.
“Tour time!” Lexie threw her hands up in a clap. I still wasn’t missing the way she kept eyeing Jace out of the corner of her eye, and I knew I would be addressing that with her later.
We walked through my family’s home, pointing out the projects we knew were too big for us to take on, like redoing the fireplace, the flooring that needed replacing, the roof that leaked in one spot. Jace was over enthusiastic, oohing and aahing about how great the place was. Dexter was mainly silent, but I could tell he appreciated the house as much as I did. He ran his hands over parts of the walls with almost reverence. If I were being honest, as personable as Jace was, the way Dexter approached every room was what sold me on them doing the job for us. Our tour ended with us in the living room near the front door.
Jace wrapped his arm around Lexie’s shoulders and tapped her nose. “This seems like the start of a beautiful partnership, ladies.” And even though he addressed us both, all his attention was on her.
I wanted to be furious, because, hello, wedding ring . But he was looking at her with an open adoration and doing it in front of his friend so… what gives? Before I could open my mouth and ask, Lexie pulled Jace to the front door and out to the porch to talk about hanging one of those deck swings. She’s been nagging me about it for days.
You have the dock, you love to sit and think about life, you love it there. I’ve always dreamed of having one of those swings where I could sip my morning coffee or drink my nightly wine. Please, Mags!
I told her she could have whatever kind of swing she wanted, but I was sure that wood needed to be replaced and things needed fixed before that could happen. Thankfully, Lexie realized how dangerous it could be and backed off for a while; however, I knew it wasn’t something she’d let go of completely.
“He’s married,” I whispered, though I was unable to take my eyes off the fact that they were clearly into each other.
Much to my horror, Dexter spoke up from beside me, earning my attention instead of Jace and Lexie. “He’s only married legally, not physically or emotionally.”
“Hmm…I take it you won’t give me any of the juicy details?”
He held his hands up in mock surrender. “Unfortunately, no. Dicks before chicks and all that.”
I cackled. “Isn’t the saying chicks before dicks?”
“Maybe for chicks.” He smirked at me. “This house is magnificent.”
Cue the subject change .
“I always loved it growing up. I’d always imagined I would get married here, start a family here…” I said almost wistfully.
“We will take care of her for you.”
“I think this is the most you’ve spoken to me since we met.” I couldn’t help but address it.
He gave me a shy look; I could tell he was mildly embarrassed I had called him out on it. “It isn’t personal… Lydia and I have been together for a while, and she, well…she’s friends with Cassie. I just didn’t want there to be any unnecessary drama started by us interacting.”
I didn’t have time to mask the confused look on my face.
“Lydia is…well, she’s dramatic. Not that I don’t love her, because the Lord knows I do. She’s almost loyal to a fault, and Cassie is part of her people. I didn’t want to give her any reason to be rude to you.”
I couldn’t help but feel a little sorry for Dexter. It was sad that he had to put himself in a position to be a buffer for his girlfriend.
“Listen, I don’t want to cause any problems. I just met you and Lydia, but my past with Cassie and Sloan is just that, the past. I’m working on building my future, so I see no reason why we can’t have a good, professional working relationship.”
He smiled at me, and I couldn’t help but notice how good-looking he was—not exactly my type, but still.
“That sounds good, Magnolia. I’ll get some estimates drawn up for you and a timeline.”
“That sounds perfect. Do you need my cell phone number?”
“Lex can always text it to me,” Jace said to me from the opened doorway, but he still hadn’t taken his eyes from Lexie.
“I’m sure she can.”
“Well, we better take off and let you ladies enjoy the rest of your Sunday. We’ll be in touch.” Dexter all but shoved Jace off the porch while closing the door behind them to prevent Jace from coming back in. Lexie’s dreamy stare was pointed at the door.
“Uh, earth to Lex?”
“Hmm…” she responded on a sigh.
“Can we talk about that?”
“Nope.” Then she turned and walked upstairs.