The next morning, I lazily stretch as the sun streams in the window. I turn in the tiny guest bed to find it empty, to my surprise.
After the run-in with Levi’s past, we spent the night eating dinner and watching old movies with his family—they’re all obsessed with John Wayne movies, which I’ll admit isn’t quite my thing. Still, as the old Westerns rolled on and the family took turns shouting out the memorized quotes at specific scenes, I had time to stew, to think.
Which probably wasn’t a good thing.
Even as Levi pulled me close on the sofa, his fingers entwined in mine, I couldn’t help but think about Molly Madigan, about her perfect walk and looks. I couldn’t think about how she looked at Levi… and about how he looked at her. I couldn’t be imagining it. Or was I? Was the paranoid Jodie from dozens of failed relationships just rising up once again?
Coming to Texas, I knew I’d learn a lot about Levi. I didn’t expect, however, to be slapped with a reminder of his not-so-distant past.
Levi’s over her. He has to be. She up and left him at the most important, most difficult time in his life. There can’t be anything still burning for her after she showed her true colors.
Still, Levi’s a man of heart, despite his rugged appearance. Could he forgive her? Their relationship was one forged in history. They grew up together. It probably seemed like destiny they’d be together. Could Levi really just shove that in the past? Could he look at the gorgeous woman from his past and not feel anything?
I didn’t know. But even though I felt pretty solid in our relationship, it was a fresh relationship. Levi and I don’t have that past, that story. Could this high-heeled maven put a hurdle in our way before we even have a true chance to get started?
I’d tried my best to shove the ideas down, to tell myself I was just being crazy. And when Levi snuck into my room that night, taking my lips with his mouth hard and fast, I told myself to let it go.
Molly Madigan is his past; I’m his present.
But now, waking up to an empty bed, I have to shove those fears right back down.
After another “Lipstick Magic” kind of night, I expected to find Levi tucked by my side. He’s nowhere to be found. I decide he just wanted to let me sleep in and leave it at that, not letting my insecurities taint the beautiful moments we had last night.
I grab my phone from the nightstand and see I’ve got a text from Avery.
Avery: Sebastian misses you, but he’s doing well. Hope you’re loving Texas… but not too much.
There’s a picture of Sebastian curled up with Henry that makes me smile, as do Avery’s words. She’s been so nervous this whole time that the call of Texas would be too strong and we’d decide to move away.
It is great here, but it’s not Ocean City. I think even Levi agrees with me. There’s something… different there. It’s where I belong.
It’s where we belong, I remind myself.
I yank on some shorts and a tank top, stretching after I’m clothed. I trudge to the bathroom to fix my hair and makeup before going downstairs. Levi’s settled in at the table, chatting with Cash. He looks up as I enter the kitchen and stands, crossing the room to give me a kiss on the cheek.
“Morning. You looked so peaceful this morning, I didn’t want to disturb you,” he whispers, as Pam hands me a cup of coffee.
“And how would you know she looked peaceful?” Cash asks, raising an eyebrow and grinning.
Pam eyes Levi as well.
“I just assumed,” he says, and I have to hold back a grin that he confessed in front of his mom that his room was empty last night.
“Well, it’s stupid anyway. Pretending you two are saving it for the wedding and all. Come on,” Aunt Pearl says from the table, eating an egg.
“And pretending Levi has anything to do with words like innocent and chaste. Mom, please. You know this cowboy roped in quite a few girls in his day,” Cash says, and Levi punches him in the arm. The two break out into a wrestling match in the kitchen, but Pam and Aunt Pearl just ignore them like it’s an everyday occurrence.
“Anyway,” Pam says after I thank her for the coffee and find a seat, Levi and Cash finally calming down. “Jodie, we’ve been waiting for you. Aunt Pearl and I thought we could use a girls’ day. You know, manicures and maybe some shopping. Sound good to you?”
I smile. “Sounds lovely.”
“Stealing my girl?” Levi asks. “What am I supposed to do all day?”
“Well, we’ve got some painting that needs done, some shingles that could use patched,” Levi’s dad says from the stove, where he’s finishing an egg for me.
“Really? I come home and get put to work, while Jodie gets pampered? Where’s the justice in this world? And what’s Cash been doing? He lives in town, you know.”
“Yeah, well, I put in my hours at the family business. You know, the one you abandoned?” Cash teases.
“All right, that’s enough. I thought you boys could take Uncle Alvin to the gun shop and then out for a bite to eat,” Pam says.
Uncle Alvin looks up from his plate. “No, I don’t like the heat,” he says, prompting Aunt Pearl to again complain about his hearing aid. Levi and Cash start arguing about where they want to go for lunch, and Ray continues to tick off a list of things that need doing around the house.
I eat my breakfast, taking it all in.
“Told you they were all crazy,” Levi says when we’re cleaning up, his hands focused more on exploring my body than cleaning up the table.
“The best families are a little crazy,” I reply, meaning it. “You should see my mom.”
Levi just grins and then pulls me closer. “Good luck with Aunt Pearl today. I’m sure you’re in for a trip.”
We get the crew together, load into separate vehicles, and head for our respective days.
I sit in the back of the van, giving Aunt Pearl the passenger seat. She fiddles with the radio, finding a rap station, which prompts Pam to shake her head.
“So, Ray and I were chatting, and we’re thinking we’d love to make a trip out to Ocean City, maybe around the holidays.” Pam eyes me from the rearview mirror.
“That would be amazing!” I exclaim. “Levi and I would love to have you guys.”
“I’m glad,” she says, smiling. “You’re such a sweetheart, I mean it. Levi’s been through a lot these past years, as you know. But now, I think we can all appreciate that it was so worth it because it all led him to you. When he first left for Ocean City, I had mixed feelings. I was glad he was getting away from the whole rodeo scene, but I wasn’t sure if it was a good idea going so far away. Now I can see it was so good for him. You’re good for him. He’s different, but it’s a positive kind of different. He’s still my wild and sometimes reckless son, but he’s grown up so much with you. He’s happier, too. I’m so glad he found you.”
I stir with emotion at her words. I’ve got the mom stamp of approval, which is a big deal.
As we ride to the nail salon, Aunt Pearl rambling about Nelly and about the new segment she saw on The Ellen Show, I watch the sights of Texas out the window. Coming here, I was so afraid of what I’d find. I knew Levi loved his family but that they were critical of his career. I didn’t expect to be welcomed with open arms.
Sitting in the van, though, as Pam insists Aunt Pearl can’t use language like that in public and that skull nail art probably isn’t going to look right, I feel so at home. I feel like I’ve known this family forever.
Most of all, I feel accepted.
I miss my mom and wish she could be here for the holiday, but sitting with Levi’s mom and great-aunt, I know this is just as good.
Because as we sink into the pedicure chairs and Aunt Pearl demands a long foot massage, I know I’ve got the beginnings of a second family now here in Texas.
“Can you believe all of the deals we got?” Aunt Pearl exclaims as we turn onto the street where Levi’s family lives.
I’m sitting on the now full back seat, surrounded by bags and bags—most of which are Aunt Pearl’s. I swear she bought everything she touched.
We’ve had a great afternoon, though, of pedicures, manicures, shopping, and lunch. I’m actually exhausted from all of the activity and glad to see the familiar two-story up ahead.
As we pull into the driveway, though, my heart stops.
Levi’s standing there, his cowboy hat tucked comfortably on his head.
He’s not alone.
“Oh dear, what’s she doing here?” Aunt Pearl says, scowling.
Today she’s wearing a bright orange dress, and I can’t help but notice she stands with her hip jutted out just a smidgen.
Molly.
Alone with Levi in the driveway.
The two look like they’re fully engaged in a conversation when Pam puts it in park. I feel my stomach sink.
Pam gets out of the driver seat, walking around the van to help Aunt Pearl. Molly, seeing the van, scampers off across the street.
I bite my lip, feeling frustration simmer. I try not to let paranoia creep in.
They grew up together, across the street from each other. He’s home, and she’s right there. Of course they’re going to talk.
Still, the way she was standing and the way she’s dressed tells me this wasn’t about a lost piece of mail or a question about lawn care.
“Don’t worry, darling,” Aunt Pearl says, turning to me. “She’s got nothing on you. Plus, I knew she was trouble this whole time, so much so that I never even gave her a tube of the lipstick. You’ve got nothing to worry about.”
I smile. “Thanks,” I say, wishing things were as simple as Aunt Pearl believes—wishing love was all about a magical tube of lipstick and who owned it.
Levi opens the back door. “Wow, looks like you three were busy,” he says, reaching for my hand and helping me out. He gives me a kiss on the cheek. “Did you have fun?”
“We did,” I say truthfully. “What was Molly doing here?”
I’m not one to beat around the truth. I figure I may as well ask, get it all out there.
“She just stopped by to talk,” he says with little explanation as he reaches for bags. “So did you get some good buys?”
Subject change, I note. Not a good sign.
Let it go, I tell myself. She’s his past. And we all have one of those.
Still, as I’m walking in the door with my arms loaded with bags, Levi behind me, I can’t get my mind off the way she was standing just a little too close and looking a little too sultry.
I don’t have much time to ponder it or stew, though, because as I follow Pam into the house, I stop inside the door.
“Surprise,” a voice says, and I drop the packages in my hands, too stunned to move forward.