She reaches into her garter belt and pulls a shiny red object out. She presses something, and a blade snaps open, and I jump.
“What the fuck?” I whisper. “Okay, okay, I get it. Jesus.”
I walk toward the door, knocking a few times before it finally opens.
There, standing before me in the same white and blue mask, bright blue hair, and the most delicious baby blue lace lingerie dress with matching stockings, is her.
Her eyes are brown, not blue masked by black-rimmed glasses, but the perfect shape of her upper lip, her cute turned-up nose, and that small adorable chin confirm it.
“I knew it.” Her eyes widen as she pulls on my shirt, dragging me into the room and closing the door.
“Landry, listen—”
“I’m not mad,” I interrupt, turning toward her.
I press my fingers to her mask, reaching around to the back of her head and letting her mask fall as she closes her eyes.
“I’m so goddamn happy it’s you. I saw the tattoo on the other girls the other day, and I...I thought I fucked up, that I slept with one of them and not you and…”
She giggles, opening her eyes, and I smile at her. “I wasn’t sure how to tell you. It’s a weird coincidence, and we have NDA’s in place and—”
“Oh, I know. Your girls just threatened my life,” I laugh.
Magnolia groans, shaking her head. “I’m sorry about them. They’re...protective. There’s a reason for all of this, though. Please, Landry, even if we try this and it goes nowhere, you can’t breathe a word of this to anyone.”
Her voice is laced with panic, and I look at her with all the sincerity I can muster up in my body.
“Is that why you’ve been hesitant with me? Are you in trouble?”
“I...my past, the girls... it’s...a lot. Just...take this to the grave, all right?”
“Magnolia, I would never in a million years hurt you or your friends, no matter what happens between the two of us.”
I cup her cheek and kiss her, and she melts against me, the nervousness I recognized in her eyes now gone.
“Good,” she whispers against my lips.
“You wanna try this with me?”
She smiles against my lips and nods, and I tangle our fingers together. We break the kiss, and she keeps that smile pointed my way, eyeing the bed and blushing.
“Do you um...want a dance?”
“Here? Now?” She shrugs, and the nervousness is back. “How about a rain check. Call me when you’re home?”
She nods, the relief evident on her olive skin, and I kiss her cheek, backing away toward the door.
She follows me, putting her mask back in place as she opens the door, leaning against it.
“Bye, gorgeous,” I say.
She winks, grabbing my shirt and pulling me back, her lips enveloping mine in a kiss that blows my damn mind. “Bye,” she whispers.
I laugh, shaking my head as I walk out, taking one last look back at her as she smiles, shutting the door behind her.
7
Magnolia
I watch Addy talk in the front of the room at Hope House and try to hold back my tears. Every time one of us goes up there and talks about our past, I dig my nail into my palm to try to keep from crying. They’re opening up their wounds, bleeding to everyone in this room so they can see that healing is possible, and I need to be strong for them.
Today though, I’m pregnant and hormonal and Addy has a different look in her eye that shatters my heart all over the floor.
She’s always sassy, fierce, and owns her sexuality like I always wished I could, but today, she looks broken. Lord knows she should be after the things she’s been through but I’ve never truly seen it until now.
“You always wonder why me? Why did I survive when my whole family…” She presses her lips together, shaking her head as she gives the room a sad smile. “Why was I spared? Are my parents proud of what I’m doing with my life? If it was my brother who survived, would he have lived a better life than I am? You wonder if it’s just better if you join them, get rid of the burden you carry but it’s not,” she says with determination. “You realize you may have lost people you love, but if you give up, then the people that are still here will feel the same by losing you too. You can’t do that to them, you can’t do that to yourself.”
She exhales and her eyes connect with mine and I mouth a “love you” as she nods and continues on.
“I’ve been there and I know that living is hard, but dying before your time is harder. So many things in life would be different for the people you leave behind. It affects everyone and I almost didn’t see that before it was too late. I’m strong enough to keep fighting my demons and pushing through all of that for me and so are you. Please don’t think you’re alone because you aren’t. Thank you.”
The crowd claps for her and she walks down the aisle, shaking a few of the audience members' hands and then comes to me for a big hug.
“You’re a badass, you know that?”
“Thank you, Lia. Thanks for coming with me tonight.”
“Hey, you’re not alone either, Addy. You okay? You seem different tonight.”
She cups my cheek, kissing it, then opens her arm for me to link mine through as we walk toward the exit door, waving to Mrs. Greene.
“I will be. I’m gonna hit the club tonight. You wanna come?”
“I think I’m gonna call it a day. I’m...I’m thinking of calling Landry.”
“Girl, get you some! I sure as hell know I am.” I squeeze her arm and she glances over to me. “I’m okay, Lia, I swear. Just have a lot on my mind, but nothing the club can’t fix.”
I sigh as we get to our cars and pull on Addy’s arm. “You know my therapist said when I hit that heavy bag or dance at the club, I’m projecting.”
“And that’s why I don’t see a therapist,” Addy smiles. “I love you, Lia, but I got this. I’m a badass, remember?” Addy says with a wink, kissing me on the cheek one last time as she gets into her Audi and cuts out of the parking lot like a bat out of hell.
One day. One day that girl will meet a man that can handle her, that deserves her. All of her. My phone burns a hole in my bag as I shake my head and get into a car. Have I met mine? Only one way to find out.
I pace around my kitchen, worrying the inside of my lip as I stare at my phone on the island.
"Call him, Lia."
I squeal, jumping around and see Everleigh standing in my doorway. "Jesus, what the hell, Ev? What are you doin' in here?"
"I come bearin' gifts. Delivery guy had the wrong door."
I just notice now that she's carrying a big bouquet of white roses as she puts them down on the island next to my phone and I slowly walk over, plucking the card.
Magnolia,
Sometimes, what's hidden beneath is even more precious than what the world sees.
X, Landry
I furrow my brows, running my fingers along the bottom of the vase as something cracks and I gasp. "Dang," I mumble. I try to right it, but the whole top breaks off and I laugh when I see what's hidden beneath.
"Is that a tin of cookies?" Everleigh asks from over my shoulder.
"It is," I whisper, taking one out and popping it into my mouth with a moan.
"Okay am I missin' something? They're cookies, Lia."
"I'm pregnant, Everleigh. Cookies are like...foreplay."
Her eyebrows arch and she laughs, shaking her head. "They are, huh?"
"I…" I press my lips together and my cheeks heat as I look down at the box and pop another cookie into my mouth. "I wanna have sex with him again," I admit. "Is it terrible that I don't wanna tell him about the baby yet because maybe then he won't...we won't…"
"You think he won't wanna have sex with you if you're pregnant?"
I nod, getting up and pacing my kitchen again as I shove another cookie into my mouth.
"That's so inconsiderate of me, right? He'll hate me if I don't tell him before we take things
further. I just...I've been without it for so long and it was different with him, Ev. He...worshipped me. No one's ever taken their time and put me first. Giacomo was...rushed and rough and so selfish. I...I just want that again, even if it's just one more time."
I sigh, sitting down at the island chair and running my fingers through my hair.
"Lia, it's okay to want a man to take care of you. That's not selfish. I would just be honest with him. Landry doesn't seem like the type of man that would turn you down if you told him everything you've been through. Hell, the way he looks at you, I don't think he'd be able to say no to you ever," Everleigh says with a laugh.
She opens her arms for me, and I allow her to wrap me in a hug as I grab another cookie from the tin behind her back.
"Okay, give me these damn things. You haven't had your glucose test yet, you better quit," Everleigh snaps, grabbing the tin, eliciting a growl from me.
"Everleigh Greene! I am pregnant! Give me those cookies right now!"
"Not a chance!"
She runs out of my apartment, slamming the door, and I chase after her but am too late as she runs across the hall to her apartment, shutting and locking the door behind her.
"You owe me a tin of cookies after my test you...you...brat!"
"Call me a bitch and they're yours," she teases through the door.
I exhale, shaking my head as I walk back to my apartment and swipe my phone off the counter. Before I can think better of it, I press the call button on Landry's number and I feel a bead of sweat trickle down my back as it rings and rings.
"Hey, Magnolia! Hi! Hey," he answers out of breath.
I press my hand to my mouth to keep from laughing. "Hi," I say softly.
"How are you? How's your day? Well morning. It's only the morning. How's your morning?" he rambles.
"Thank you for the flowers and cookies. It was very kind of you."
"Oh good, you got them. I wasn't sure if you would get my meaning; it was kryptic. Not that you wouldn't be able to figure it out, you're smart I just…"
"Landry, why are you so nervous?" I laugh.
He exhales and there's silence on the line for a few minutes before I hear him take another deep breath. "Can I be honest with you?"
Oh no.
"S-sure, yeah. Of course."
"You intimidate the shit out of me, Magnolia. I'm a pretty confident guy, but I mean, you're Madam Siren. You co-own the most prestigious gentlemen's club in all of Atlanta, and I'm a...tech nerd," he laughs.
"Landry, I'm only Siren in that club. The truth is, when I step outside, I'm the...opposite. Please don't...don't think differently of me, okay?"
"Okay," he says finally. "Okay, fair enough. But in all honesty, you still entrance the fuck out of me even outside of that club."
God, the way he talks to me. I stifle a moan and he clears his throat.
"I promise I'll try to be less in awe and be...normal."
I giggle, licking my lips as I play with the strings of my pajama shorts. "Are you...busy tonight?"
"Nope," he answers quickly.
I giggle, licking my lips as I play with the strings of my pajama shorts. "Are you...busy later?"
"Nope," he answers quickly.
I laugh. "Keep an open mind, okay?"
"Any place. Name it."
"Landry!" I laugh.
"Okay, okay," he mumbles, giving me a deep chuckle of his own.
"I may or may not be goin' to the Dawgs preseason game later. Me and the girls always make it to at least one along with a few of the regular season games so…"
"I feel like this is you practically asking me to marry you. Southerners and their college ball. This is serious, right?"
I laugh, rolling my eyes. "Is that a yes or no?"
"Hell yes. What time am I picking you up?"
"I'll um...get a ride with the girls. Meet you at the stadium? We'll probably be there in an hour. We park in Myers Quad and tailgate but come whenever. Game is at noon. You'll see Eden's big black pick up truck with the Dawgs flag hangin' out the back."
"Well damn. Gotta stop and get myself some gear. See you later."
"Bye."
I hang up and put my phone on the island, getting up and doing a happy dance, biting my lip.
"Don't screw this up, Magnolia. Don't. Screw. This. Up."
I run to my room, picking out my fitted Dawgs jersey and a pair of jeans with my short black boots. Changing quickly, I grab my phone and keys and run across the hall to Everleigh's room, knocking quickly until she finally opens the door.
"Cookies are all gone. Sorry."
"You…" I grit my teeth, shaking my head at her but then the anger subsides when I see her father sitting on the couch sporting his own Georgia jersey.
"Mr. Greene!" I rush over, hugging him tight and his hugs were always ones that got me through the tough times all these years.
"I swear, lass, you get prettier and prettier every time I see ya."
"And you get better and better at lyin'! What do we think of our boys this year?"
"Oh you know I always say it's our year, let's see if it really sticks this time!"
"Addy and Eden are already out front. Cooler is stocked," Everleigh says, coming back into the living room as she pulls a Dawgs jersey over her head and her father grabs the handle of the Yeti cooler, dragging it through the door.
"You got some water in there for me?" I ask.
"Water? You aren't going to be slinging back those Guinness's with me, Mags?" Mr. Greene asks.
"I…" I glance over to Everleigh and she discreetly shakes her head. "I'm on medication. Had a nasty cold the past few days, don't wanna push it."
* * *
"Look at you all giddy and shit. You even curled your hair," Addison laughs, lifting her cup at me as we sit in our butterfly chairs in the parking lot of Sanford Stadium.
"My hair was already curly and for your information, I didn't even shower," I mumble.
"Bet you shaved," Everleigh says under her breath.
"Alright, alright. Dad ears here," Mr. Greene groans.
"Couldn't miss you all by a mile!" I snap my gaze up and almost spit out my water when I see Landry walking towards us in a UGA sweatshirt with a big Bulldog on top of his head.
"Thank God, more testosterone but boy what do you have on your head?" Mr. Greene laughs, popping the top off a Guiness and handing it to Landry.
"I...the girl at the store said everyone wears these," Landry defends.
"Yeah if you lose the shotgun contest at the tailgate," Eden says, quickly smacking the bottom of her beer bottle to the top of Landry's, causing it to foam over and spill all over his hand.
I laugh, shaking my head as Landry hurriedly tries to drink the foaming beer and the girls all laugh too, even Mr. Greene.
"He's a rookie, y'all. Be nice," I say, coming to his rescue. I take some napkins out of my bag and stand, wiping his hand and when my fingers touch his skin, I feel a shock of electricity, yanking my hand back.
"S-sorry," we both mumble.
"I...hi," I say, smiling at him.
"Hi."
We stand there, staring at each other until we hear giggles and a throat clear and I shake myself out of the daze.
"My truck is big enough if y'all wanna give it a go. Won't be the first, won't be the last," Eden offers.
I clear my throat, backing away from Landry, feeling myself blush as I look over to Mr. Greene with embarrassment. He smirks, moving his chair over a little as Landry opens his next to mine and the girls pick up conversation, leaving the two of us to bask in our sexual tension until I finally find my voice.
"How's your sister and the baby?"
"Really good. She's an angel. Sleeps through the night and my nephew is really good with her."
"That's great. It's rare they sleep through the night that early. Good for her."
"How's everything at the hospital? That program working well?"
"Amazin’. I still can't believe you developed
that. It makes enterin’ patient information so much faster which especially helps in my wing. No mother in labor wants to hear that I need to do some paperwork before she gets her epidural," I laugh.
Landry smiles, reaching for another beer from the cooler and offers me one.
I feel sweat trickle down my back and shake my head, chancing a glance at the girls and they're all wide eyed, waiting to see what I'm going to do.
"Oh no, hot shot. My girl here is on some medication. Better toss that one over to me," Mr. Greene says, reaching for the beer.
Landry eyes me and I nod, swallowing a few times as I get my composure.
"Right. Yeah. I had a cold. I'm okay now though I just...few more days on the medication, you know how it is."
"So, Landry, what do you do for work?" Everleigh asks, changing the subject.
I give her a grateful smile and she winks.
"I'm in the tech world. I create security programs, a lot of medical stuff. Anything really. What about you all? Besides the--" I kick Landry's leg and he clears his throat, looking over at Mr. Greene.
"Executive Assistant," Addison answers, sipping her beer.
"Librarian," Eden says. Landry chokes on his beer as he wipes his mouth and I try and hide my smirk.
"A li-librarian, huh? Could have fooled me," he mumbles. "Let me guess, you're a cute little kindergarten teacher?" He laughs, nodding to Everleigh.
"I am actually," she snaps, crossing her arms over her chest.
Landry coughs, clearing his throat as he realizes Everleigh is serious and I can't hold back my laugh this time.
"Jesus. Do they know you're Edward Scissorhands," he mumbles.
"We all set? Kick offs in fifteen minutes," Eden says, standing, trying to steer us away from a conversation none of us want to have in front of Mr. Greene. Lord knows he'd have a damn near heart attack if he ever knew what we all really did at night.
We pack everything back in the bed of her truck as we make our way into the stadium and to our seats and I feel the rush of adrenaline in my veins.
Ever since I was a little girl, going to a Dawgs game was one of my favorite things. Everleigh's mom and dad met in college when they attended UGA and it was something the Greene's included me in for the longest time. The comradery, the excitement is something I always needed in that trapped life I lived for so long.
Delivered in Sin Page 10
