We headed in the backdoor, and Chief immediately went over to his water bowl, splashing the entire area with excess water before getting enough. I moved to the counter to see if I’d missed any calls, though I wasn’t due into the brewery for an hour or so. Glancing at my phone, I held back a groan when I saw a group text from my siblings.
Steph:How’s my new best friend? Can I call her yet?
Drew:I only met her once. I think Jake might be ashamed of us. He doesn’t want me unleashed.
Steph:*gasp* Say it ain’t so, Jacob Spencer. What could you possibly have to be ashamed of?
Drew:See, he’s so ashamed he isn’t speaking to us. Or letting me speak to Ivy, more to the point.
Steph:I mean, let’s be honest, there is some room to be concerned with you…
Drew:I’m an angel and you’re just jealous because Mom and Dad like me best.
Steph:Sacrilege. You take that back.
Me:Why do you two include me on these texts if you’re just going to ramble on?
Steph:Look who finally showed up.
Me:Chief and I were running and just got home. My point stands.
Drew:Enough from you, doom and gloom. I’m coming into the brewery this afternoon. Clearly you need some Drew time to cheer you up.
I had a strong desire to ignore the texts and walk away. No way was my admission of my afternoon plans going to be a small thing.
Me:I have to watch Addie this afternoon. You can go in the brewery even if I’m not there.
Steph:Back the truck up, Jacob. Like hell we’re glossing over this. Tell me about Addie. Are the adoption papers drawn up yet? When’s the party?
Me:Smartass.
Steph:You know it. Seriously, can’t wait to meet her.
Me:We’re friends. There’s nothing here.
Drew:Ignore him, I am. We know the truth.
Placing my phone down on the counter, I headed up the stairs to my bedroom. No way was I going to sit around and continue the back-and-forth with my siblings. Damn, I loved them both, but they also were super annoying. However, as tiresome as our group text could be, I was also grateful for it.
The three of us had been super close growing up. With Drew moving out West and me moving three hours south, we didn’t see each other as much as we once did. Our group text was full of us giving each other shit, which was absolutely perfect, honestly. And although I was a bit hesitant about the weekend, with Steph and my mom’s unrealistic expectations about something going on with Ivy, I was fucking thrilled to hang out with my family.
Ivy. I leaned into the shower and turned it on, letting it warm up a bit. I walked back to my closet, then shucked my sweaty running clothes on the floor as visions of Ivy on the counter in her kitchen clouded my head. It was Thursday morning, but Monday evening might as well have been months ago at this point. I’d left Ivy’s house, certain I was making the right call in not acting on the feelings that welled up in the moment, but damn it if I hadn’t second-guessed myself daily since then.
Ivy and I were— Hell, what were we? Friends? Enemies? People who could annoy the shit out of each other? The honest answer, we were all that and more. Well, maybe not enemies; that seemed a bit strong. I wish I could figure out why she could push my buttons the way she did. The only person I’d known to do that before—scratch that—the only people I’d known to do that were my siblings. That didn’t bode well, or did it? I certainly didn’t see her in the same light as my siblings. There was a strong possibility of something more.
I headed into the shower, remembering her face as she sat on the counter. She’d been overcome, somewhat emotional. The fact that she’d opened up to me, told me about her parents, her grandmother, made me feel honored in a way. I’d tried to ignore the feelings that had filled me as she spoke, but they were there anyway. The desire to protect her, to take care of her, was overwhelming. However, I had a feeling if I’d told Ivy that, she might have kneed me in the balls. Maybe I was wrong, but I had a strong sense that Ivy wanted to take care of herself. I admired that and wanted to help at the same time.
Turning under the showerhead, I let the warmth soothe my exhausted muscles. I was spent. Placing my hands on the tiled wall in the shower, I let the water cascade over my back. My schedule for the day rolled through my mind, mentally rearranging things to clear time in the afternoon. As much as I hated to admit it, while seeing Addie was absolutely a highlight, the time spent with Ivy was what I looked forward to all day long. What the hell was that?
Tuesday I’d met Ivy at the bookstore with Addie. Monday and Wednesday, I’d brought her home. Standing around Ivy’s kitchen, talking about our days, it was more comforting than I’d expected and made me want it in my daily life. It didn’t hurt that Ivy seemed to favor yoga pants and fitted shirts at home. Yeah, that didn’t hurt at all. Shaking my head, I slid my hand down to my rapidly hardening cock and gave in to the images of Ivy racing through my brain. I could analyze the shit out of this later. Right now I’d just enjoy it for what it was.
The day got away from me. Sully and I met to discuss can designs for our next batch of beer. Finn met with the two of us, looking over long-term projects for the month. We ironed out some staff schedules and finalized the plans for the celebration this weekend. I finally took the time to head over to the tank.
I looked up from my spot at the tanks at the sound of my name. Drew was making his way toward me. Checking my watch, I saw that it was just a bit after one. I still had a little under an hour until I needed to go get Addie from school.
“What are you doing here?” I asked.
“I said I’d be by this afternoon in our text thread,” he replied.
