“Daddy! Daddy!” Zoey shouts, straining against her booster as she points out the window. “It’s Carlie and Ivy!” She waves frantically. Scarlett is unbuckling herself from her seat, so I push out to get Zoey.
“Carlie! Hi! Ivy! We’re here!” Scarlett leans over Zoey and shouts out the open door.
Carlie shares a look with me as she approaches. I shift my focus quickly to Zoey. She’s trying to push the buttons to release her buckle, anxious to reach Carlie and her other favorite person.
I finally liberate Zoey, and she slides right out of the car, Scarlett behind her, to attack Carlie like they haven’t seen her in days when she was with us last night before they went to bed.
Ivy hovers at the bumper of the rental sedan I’ve been driving since, with the crutches, she can’t help wrangle the girls. She’s wearing an oversized Pumas hoodie under a puffy coat and wide-leg pants that almost hide the fact that her right ankle is wrapped up and covered in a thick sock to protect her toes from the cold.
The girls pull Carlie forward, toward the private entrance for the families of players. It leaves me and Ivy to walk in together.
“Anything I can do to help?” I ask. I wave toward Carlie. “The girls don’t seem to need me at all.”
Ivy laughs. “I’m good. Thanks. The crutches took a second to figure out, but I’m fine now.”
“Hopefully the suite has a place you can put your foot up.” Why am I having a hard time coming up with small talk? I’ve told Ivy so much about Shelby the last couple days, and she shared with me about Christmas with her mom this morning. Maybe that’s why the inconsequential things feel awkward.
“Law did insist that we would be watching in the utmost comfort and that I wouldn’t freeze.” She shivers a little. It’s pretty cold, especially for a Southern girl, barely over twenty degrees. I’m glad we’re not in the stands for this game. I’ve lived in Texas long enough that I’ve lost my imperviousness to cold weather that my Wyoming upbringing gave me.
We take an elevator up to the suite level, and a stadium employee escorts us to the suite that Law arranged for his friends and family to come to the game. Ava McCombs and Gabriella Duncan are already there when we arrive, and they hurry over to greet Carlie and the girls and then exclaim over Ivy and get the story on her broken ankle.
I gather up the girls’ coats, which they dropped on the floor in front of the door. At home I’d make them come back and hang them up properly, but it’s Christmas and we’re on vacation.Besides, Ava and Gabriella are too busy fussing over them and Ivy for me to interrupt.
I hover in the background, hands in my pockets, and looking around the suite. There’s high, padded armchair stools at the front of the suite that look down over the field, but behind that is a grouping of a couple soft chairs, a sofa, and a small coffee table. On the other side of the sofa is a long table full of food. Breakfast was a few hours ago, and though the girls ate some Uncrustables on the way over, they probably have plenty of room for snacks and will be asking for them soon. I grab a couple juice boxes from a basket, just for something for my hands to do while I watch Ava settle Ivy into one of the comfy chairs around the coffee table and sit down near her.
It’s a little disappointing not to be the one taking care of Ivy. There’s not even room to sit next to her. Zoey climbs up into Ivy’s lap and lays her head on her shoulder. Maybe I should’ve thought of that option. I wouldn’t be surprised if Zoey falls asleep. She went to bed late last night and was up early this morning. Her naps are rare these days, but with Ivy stroking her hair softly while she chats with Ava, it’s only a matter of time. Carlie’s standing with Scarlett at the front of the suite, gesturing toward the field, probably pointing out Law to her. I settle for a chair on the other side of the sofa from Ivy, listening in on her conversation with Ava about her and Jett’s recent wedding.
It’s embarrassing that I’m watching Ivy so closely that I notice her eyes go to the door and then she stiffens. Her reaction makes both me and Ava swing our gazes to whoever just came in.
Malcolm Card. Law’s brother and Ivy’s ex. Although I have new information about Ivy’s relationship with him from our conversation this morning, it’s from hanging out with Law and Carlie that I knew they dated for years and that he’s the reason she broke things off with Carlie’s brother.
Listen, a guy can’t help being interested in any tea that Lawand Carlie are willing to spill. It’s sad, but they’re basically my only friends.
Malcolm stops a few steps into the room, noticing Ivy. He doesn’t look surprised, so he was warned. By Law? How come he didn’t tell Ivy? Malcolm leans in our direction, like he might come over, but Ivy quickly looks away from him, back to Ava. He pauses, staring at her in a way that makes me clench my fists.
I’m not going to be jealous.
If Ivy doesn’t want a relationship right now, she won’t encourage her ex.
Right?
He moves to the table with the food, and Gabriella joins him there, shaking his hand and introducing herself. She draws him into a conversation, a talent she has in spades. Fortunate, considering she’s a budding politician. Her focus is locked on him in a natural way, but I’d bet money she’s running interference for Ivy.
Ava drops her voice to a whisper as she leans in close to Ivy. “Have you guys talked since …?”
Ivy shakes her head.
“Awkward …” I say in a low, singsong voice, hoping for a smile from Ivy and to ease the tension that’s pulling her shoulders together.
Ivy lets out a laugh, then glances down at Zoey, who shifts and closes her eyes.
“Want me to take her?” I ask. It would give me something to do besides obsess over the glances Malcolm and Ivy keep giving each other.
“No way.” Ivy puts her arms gently around Zoey as though I’ll steal her away if she doesn’t. Scarlett is still with Carlie, her eyes tracking the small figure of Law as he warms up and pointing him out needlessly to Carlie every few seconds.
“I’m going to grab you something to eat,” Ava says, standing. “Be right back.” She moves to the table to join the conversation with Gabriella and Malcolm, blocking his view of Ivy. Probablyon purpose, like Gabriella’s rapt conversation with him. Ava is an event planner, though she works for Gabriella now on her staff as she preps to run for Houston City Council. She’s used to managing a room of people and making sure everyone is comfortable.
Carlie plops down in the seat that Ava left, Scarlett holding her and leaning into her side, looking as tired as Zoey.
