Nash
Fuck,that kiss… her lips. That body pressed up against mine. I had to think of something else or my hard-on was going to be pressing into her middle, which would be mighty embarrassing considering we’re standing in the middle of fucking Three Sisters bar.
Thankfully, Ivy stepped up to us, which made my dick as flaccid as a dead fish. Bad visual? Sorry.
“Well, aren’t you two cozy?”
“Ivy,” I deadpan. What else should I say? I’m not happy to see her. “I’m surprised to see you out. How’s your dad?”
“He’s feeling much better today.” Her voice is especially perky sounding and a little loud. Is she performing? That wouldn’t surprise me since the people around her are doing everything they can to pretend they’re not watching her or listening, but they are because she’s practically a celebrity around here. Maybe not for her actual acting jobs but for the fact she left this town to seek fame and fortune. That in and of itself has made her a household name in Honeywell. Never mind the fact she abandoned her kid.
I nod at her response, but I’m at a loss for what else to say.
“I’m glad to hear he’s feeling better.” That came from Isabelle, and she means it. Anyone else would have said it as a courtesy, but not her.
“Yeah, well, good enough for me to come out for a little while, anyway.” Ivy shrugs then with a sigh, adds, “It’s been so hard being cooped up all day every day.”
I know for a fact that she has not been “cooped up.” My mom called and told me she saw her at the salon in town twice. Once to get her nails done and another time to get something done to her hair. Hell, I’ve seen her in town too but at a distance. So, no, she hasn’t been confined to her parents’ house.
I feel a hand touch my arm and know instantly that it’s not Isabelle’s. I know because it’s cold. “We need to talk, Nash.”
I look down at her hand then up into her eyes. I see small wrinkles around her eyes that weren’t there a few years ago.
“What do we need to talk about?”
“Us.”
I stare at her dumbfounded. What the hell does “us” mean? I might as well stop beating around the bush and ask, “What the fuck does that mean?”
Ivy looks at Isabelle, and in a voice I’ve heard one too many times before, a voice that is both condescending and bitchy, she says, “Could you please give us some privacy?”
No, she didn’t. Isabelle’s face flushes as she nods quickly and begins to move away. I don’t like it. I want her here with me. No, Ineedher here. I look at Isabelle hoping she stops. “Isabelle stays.” It worked. Isabelle halts her movements.
I think I surprise Ivy. At least that’s what her expression tells me. “Fine.” She sniffs. “We need to talk about Andrea.”
“It’s Andi.” I fucking hate when she calls herAndrea.Andrea was her idea. She thought it sounded European or some shit. What the fuck? She was born andwillbe raised in the heartland of America. She’s an Iowan, goddamn it.
Ignoring my little interjection, she keeps going. “We need to talk about Andrea. What’s best for her.”
It’s my turn to sniff. In disgust. “You think you know what’s best for Andi?” I run my fingers through my hair. Looking over at Isabelle quickly, I turn back to the worst person in the world. “You haven’t been here for almost four years. You know nothing about what’s best for Andi.”
“A mother knows—”
“A mother… what? You’re not a mother. You’re a deserter.”
I shocked her. Her mouth grows big and round, and so do her eyes. “I never deserted her. I was trying to make a better life for her.”
That makes me laugh. Like really laugh. So hard I’ve got to bend over at my waist to catch my breath. When I’m done, I stand at my full height and step closer to Ivy. Close enough to speak so no one else will hear what I’ve got to say. “If you try to take my fucking kid from me….”
Neither my move nor my words seem to intimidate Ivy. Not surprising. “You misunderstand. You jumped to conclusions like you always do. I’m saying she needs us both. Together.”
I stare down at her. I know what she’s doing, and it’s not going to work. “Well, that’s going to be a little awkward.”
“Oh? How so?”
“Well, you living with me and mywifeisn’t going to work for me. It’d be a tad crowded.”
I know Ivy didn’t see that coming. Hell, neither did I.
