Sighing heavily, I get up and grab my cookie sheet, taking it over to the freezer. Once I put it inside, I close the door and then head over to the bed.
These are the times I wish there were someone here to talk to. But I remind myself that I chose this. Grabbing my phone again, I start scrolling through social media. For a moment, I think I’m going to get taken in by a rage bait post, but then a picture of Molly and Levi pops up.
She’s made it her profile picture in celebration of sibling day. Which is probably made up, but it causes me to click on his profile, and that’s when I realize at some point I unfollowed him.
Probably when I was feeling bad about myself and didn’t want to see him living it up, or maybe when I didn’t want to admit that I had a crush on him. Judging by the amount of posts I haven’t seen, I unfollowed him a while ago.
But damn, as I look at a picture of him and his friend, Dakota, I can’t help but think of how hot he is, and what I wouldn’t give if he’d hold me the way he did last night.
Which is what I end up falling asleep thinking.
The next morning, I wake up to someone pounding on the door of my studio.
“Open the goddamn door, Magnolia. I was served this morning.”
Oh my God, I had meant to be out of here by the time Cody got served, but I was up most of the night. Getting up, I walk over to the door, opening it a crack. “If you want to talk to me, then you can go through my attorney, as the paperwork says. I’m sick of fucking around with you, Cody.”
He presses into the door, holding it open as I try to close it. “Don’t think you’re going to shut me out of this, you bitch.”
Closing my eyes, I count to ten. “Either you let me shut the door, or I’m going to call the police.”
“I live here,” he reminds me. “It’s not as if they’re going to make me leave.”
I know he’s right. This is what we’ve argued about the entire time, and why I haven’t been able to get out from underneath his suffocation. “They may not make you leave, but they will tell you that you aren’t allowed in the studio. That’s what you were served about. Please leave.”
I’m doing my best to keep my heart rate normal, to not allow the anxiety to show through in my voice, but it’s hard. Especially since that night right before I filed for divorce.
He growls. “This won’t stand, Magnolia.”
“My attorney says it will. Please don’t make me call the police,” I beg him. I don’t want anyone else to know what’s happening, and if I have to call the cops, there’s no doubt it’ll get around town. I’ll never get out from underneath the gossip, and it might affect my business, which is the last thing I want. This is the only thing keeping me afloat right now.
“Go ahead, call them.”
“Don’t make me, Cody. Please?”
“Go ahead,” he pushes. “You didn’t call them that night, I don’t believe you’ll call them now.” He slaps his hand against the door, pushing harder.
He’s right, last time I didn’t take him seriously and that was my fault. I promised myself when I was on that damn floor, I wouldn’t do that to myself again. “I’m giving you one more chance, Cody, and then I’m calling the police.”
“You’re not going to do it. Weak ass bitch.”
That’s it. I’ve had it with him. I had it a long time ago, but I wasn’t strong enough to fight back. I am now. He’s threatening everything I hold dear, the one thing that gets me out of the situation I’m in with him. My business, my livelihood, what I’m actually living for at this point. Grabbing my phone, I dial 9-1-1.
“Laurel Springs 9-1-1, what’s your emergency?”
“My name is Magnolia Stafford, I live at 457 Southern States Road, and I need a police officer. My husband was served with some paperwork regarding our impending divorce and he’s here, not letting me close my front door.”
He’s yelling at me, and I’m doing my best to listen to the dispatcher. Eventually she tells me that she’s sending an officer over, and within moments I hear a siren. “They’re arriving, thank you.”
Now that there’s a cop close, and he backs up, ready to pretend like he’s the best man in the world. He always does this, any time he’s about to get into trouble, he turns into everyone’s best friend. It’s how he’s manipulated me from the start.
“Hey Caleb,” he says and I’m ready to fucking sink into a hole.
The responding officer would be my best friend’s dad. I’m looking out the window, and even though Caleb appears to be comfortable and casual, I do notice the way his hand rests next to his gun.
“Hey, Cody. What’s going on here today? Mind if I go in there and talk to Magnolia?”
Cody doesn’t give him permission, but he starts talking immediately. “You know how things are, we’re just having a bit of a disagreement. Women, right?”
