Ivy steps between us, her hand clenched into my jacket, her chin raised, looking seconds away from challenging my brother to a duel in my honor. “If family is really that important to you, you wouldn’t be so quick to insult your own brother.”
Bloody hell, she’s sexy.
The Reed I remember almost had an asthma attack before asking a girl out. He drew comics in the margins of his textbooks and was annoyingly pedantic about the merits of pouring milk first in a cup of tea, like a heathen.
But he’s also the same guy who lectures me regularly about throwing my life away. Who called me when Deacon passed and said not to waste my inheritance because it was “the last handout” I’d ever get. That if I was hard up, the best he could give me was a job. I called him a cunt and hung up on him.
That was five years ago.
“Just tell me what you want me to do,” I sigh.
“What I want…” he says, then deflates, huffing out the anger and returning to his robotic self. “Just show up. If Mum or Darcy ask you for something, you’re there, all right?”
As if I’d ever turn them down.
“All right?” he presses, and if we weren’t in public, I’d have some choice words to throw at him.
“Yes, of course.”
Jesus.
“If that’s all,” I say, maintaining as much calm as I can. “We’ll say good night.”
Reed nods his dismissal, but Mum comes in for a hug, saying, “We’ll see each other soon, I’m sure.”
CHAPTER10
CATCH AND RELEASE
IVY
Of all the people to say the wrong thing to, I had to go and call Lincoln my boyfriend tohis own mother.
Great work, me. Perfect aim. Ten out of ten. Might just want to work on the whole “think before shooting” thing next time.
Oh god. Iflirted with her.At least I can say I have impeccable taste.
He hasn’t let go of me since his brother appeared. That must be a good sign, right? But as he leads me by the hand to the hallway, I can’t judge his expression, and I’m spiraling a little.
I just need to know how badly I screwed up so I can start planning my apology meal. Frustrated? Caponata. Pissed? Gorgonzola gnocchi. Disappointed and turned off forever?
My nonna’s sfinciuni made from scratch, with all the cannoli he can stomach.
God, tonight was going so well until now.
“Lincoln—”
“Hang on,” he says.
So I do, my stomach clenched until we’re past the party and out the door, where the cool night air kisses my skin.
It’s quiet on the porch, everything muted, like sinking under water, leaving nothing to distract me from the running monologue in my head.
Pulling Lincoln to a stop, I let my thoughts spill free. “I’m so sorry. If I’d known she was your mom, I never would have said… But she’s great, by the way. Even if your brother is a bit stiff.”
Lincoln’s mouth curls at the edges like he’s holding back a laugh.
“You were doing what I asked. Nothing more. I only hope they didn’t make you uncomfortable.”
