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Hesitation And Lovers Mix; When Your Man Is In Your Professional Corner

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1LD is the fictional daily chronicle of Andie, the owner of 1 Lovelock Drive. She's 35, going through a break-up, starting a business with her fair-weathered friends and surviving Melbourne's expectations. It's women’s fiction by Ellen McRae.
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Hesitation And Lovers Mix; When Your Man Is In Your Professional Corner

Day 197 of The Andie Chronicles

Ellen "Jelly" McRae
Sep 3, 2023
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Hesitation And Lovers Mix; When Your Man Is In Your Professional Corner

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As much as I loved my home at 1 Lovelock Drive, it didn't have Cooper in it.

It didn't have his warm, muscular body against mine. It didn't have all the comforts of being with a man I loved. It didn't have his brightness. But it did have James, who was so against Cooper, and I couldn't stand it.

I didn't want to inflict more of James' negativity on Cooper. He didn't deserve to be around my friends who didn't appreciate him for who he was. He didn't need to be around people who only judged him for his profession without having a civilised conversation with him first. 

Going home was also a reminder of everything outside Cooper's Toorak fortress. A pressing deadline; December tenth. My business is in the possession of my ex. The road ahead to get it back. No, best to distract myself, I reasoned with myself. 

I need to get my act together. I need to figure out a way of getting Highway back in my possession and raise the money to restart the business without anyone finding out. 

I didn't know how I would do that. At least I had my designs; I had something that represented what I was trying to do. 

Taking off my sample t-shirt was proving impossible. Standing in Cooper's bathroom with the oversized mirror allowing you to see yourself from top to toe, I examined the shirt again. The stitching, the asymmetrical hem, the graphics, everything I hoped for my fashion business. 

As the light from the skylight shone at just the right angle, I seized my phone from the bench and pointed it towards the mirror. 

I wasn't into the influencer type of selfies, but I felt too proud of what I had created. It was feminine. And I wasn't about to apologise for wanting to show off my hard work. I kept taking photos one after the other, from different angles, until I found one I could muster the confidence to share.

Finding Cooper in the kitchen, stirring a pot, I ignored the fact he was making me dinner and shoved my phone under his nose. 

"What do you think?" I asked him. "Do you think I should post this online?"

Cooper took the phone from my hand and proceeded to examine the pictures, zooming in, scanning around everything in the photo to make sure there was nothing anyone could pick on if I posted on mine.

He was so used to having his public perception and had been caught with indecent background possessions before.

This was when I needed him in my corner. 

"Of course, you should post it, babe," he reassured me as he moved away from the stove and into my arms. "This is perfect, and people need to see it. And if they love you, they will want to buy it from you. "

I hesitated. I knew what he was saying was right, and if I were going to have a business, I would need to get used to doing things like this. 

But the nerves. Oh, the nerves. They took over. 

"Are you sure?" I repeated myself. "Are you sure I'm doing the right thing? 

"I know you're doing the right thing. And you're getting so many followers." 

I followed Cooper's faith in me and posted the image, which was followed by immediate regret. That was until the likes and comments started flooding in, along with more followers. 

I guess I got it right. 


You’re reading The Andie Chronicles, the 2023 romance-fiction series from the 1 Lovelock Drive (1LD) universe.

By the way, this all started when Andie turned thirty-five, and her then-boyfriend didn’t call her.

Or the day after that.

Or the day after that, too. 

Everything started to unravel when her BFFs got into bed with her ex, too… ⬇️ ⬇️ ⬇️


DAY 1: Tales Of People Forgetting Your Birthday And Lovers Who Don't Materialise

Ellen "Jelly" McRae
·
Feb 7
DAY 1: Tales Of People Forgetting Your Birthday And Lovers Who Don't Materialise

And like all birthdays, it should be an amazing day. There should be metaphorical fireworks going off in my life. My loved ones, family, friends should be everywhere, celebrating with me, teasing me about reaching my mid-thirties, and showering me with happy memories.

Read full story

Just a moment! 1 Lovelock Drive is a reader-supported publication (I can’t do this without you!). If you love what you read, and want to receive the next instalment and support my work, consider becoming a subscriber!


A little lost on what’s happening at 1 Lovelock Drive?

Well, you see, Andie’s break-up started back in February and so much has happened since then. These stories will help you catch right up! xx

BFF Meets BF And Insert The Regret

Ellen "Jelly" McRae
·
Aug 25
BFF Meets BF And Insert The Regret

James answered the door. The two men shook hands. I always knew that James and Cooper were tall, but I didn't anticipate their size discrepancy. Cooper towered over my best friend in every possible way. It was comical the difference between them. And as they met, Cooper turned quickly to me and held me tight. "Don't you look beautiful today," he complim…

Read full story
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