Just as she started to speak, my phone lit up on the coffee table. I’d left it on the table when I’d been sitting here after work. A glance at the display said it was Drew FaceTiming.
“Drew,” I said, grabbing it.
Her eyes shot to mine, and she slid off to sit by my side, and I connected the call. When Addie’s face filled the screen, I relaxed. No emergency, Addie was positively beaming with joy.
“Hi Jakey!” Addie called out. “Hi Momma!”
“Ads,” Ivy said. “Why are you calling on Drew’s phone? Is everything okay?”
Addie appeared to shimmy in place. “Yeah, Momma. I wanted you and Jakey to see how pretty Drew is.”
Oh yes, I thought, my mood lifting. This was going to be glorious. I had no idea what Addie was up to, but this would be worth it, I was certain.
Ivy was laughing. “Okay, Ads. Let us see how pretty Drew is.”
“’Kay, Momma.” Addie panned to the spot next to her, and I couldn’t help it. I fell over on the couch, laughing. Drew sat next to her, enough eyeshadow on that you wondered if he’d been punched. Red cheeks that made him look like he might have a fever. And bright,bright, pink lipstick.
“Oh, Addie…” Ivy seemed to be at a loss for words.
“I’m gorgeous. You can just say it,” Drew said with an exaggerated wink and a lip pout.
I sat up, wiping the tears away that were streaming down, and grabbed my phone to take a screenshot to save Drew’s look for posterity. “You’re something.” I said. Looking at Addie, I asked, “You having fun, peanut?”
“Yep!” She bounced up and down.
Drew shook his head at Addie. “Now Ads, we’ve got stuff to do. Tell them goodbye. And don’t think I’m unaware of that photo,Jakey.”
“Worth it,” I called, sure I’d hear about that more later.
“Bye,” Addie called and immediately disconnected.
Ivy looked to me. “Not sure if I should call him back to thank him or if we should message Steph.”
“Steph needs to witness his beauty.”
“That sounds like a good idea.” Ivy nodded to my phone.
I quickly sent the screenshot of Drew in our group text so that Steph could check it out. Setting my phone aside, I looked to Ivy.
I tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “So we covered that I was jealous.”
“And that you are really working on your personal growth,” she whispered.
“So we’re okay?” My heart was beating out a rapid beat to the point where I wondered if I might need a cardiologist.
Ivy’s beautiful blue-green eyes that were more blue than green tonight looked up at me. She blinked, clearly trying to stop the tears that were forming and spilling over her lower lids.
Shit.
“I think I need some time, Jake.”
Shit. Shit.
“How much time?” I croaked. Yes, my voice croaked. I was living my worst nightmare.
Tears were now streaming down her face. “I don’t know.”
“Is it Noah?” I hated to ask, but I had to know. All I could see, all I could feel, was Rachel telling me there was someone else, ten years ago. Was I losing everything again?
