“I figured you might come by here. Are you doing okay?”
It’s sweet that she gives a shit. And I can tell by the way she’s watching me, the expression on her face, that she does. I could tell her the truth and upset her, but I decide against it. There’s no sense in her feeling like shit when none of this is remotely close to her fault.
“He’s in his office. He knows you’re here,” she murmurs.
She steps to the side, and instead of just walking past her and ignoring her, I take a few steps inside and then stop, turning to face her slightly. She tilts her head back, her eyes finding mine.
“It’s all good, Posey.”
I try to reassure her that I’m fine. I don’t think she believes me or buys even an ounce of it, but she is kind enough not to call me on it. I move through the house. She doesn’t have to show me where Ivy’s office is located. I’ve been here a few times.
But when I arrive in front of the door, it’s closed. I stare at the wooden panel, wondering if I’m just wasting my time. And then I decide that even if I am, it doesn’t matter, because this isn’t for him. This is for me. I need this done before I get on my bike and ride the fuck out of town.
I make a fist and knock on the door. Ivy’s voice gruffly calls for me to come inside. Wrapping my fingers around the knob, I twist it slowly before I push the door open and move into the room. He is sitting behind his desk, his gaze lifting to meet mine.
I couldn’t even begin to describe the expression he’s wearing, but I don’t care too much, either. Jerking my chin upward slightly, I look down my nose at him. He stays quiet and still, hiding behind his desk. Ivy is a pretty solid dude. I doubt he’s fucking scared of me, but seeing him now, I can’t help but wonder if he’s concerned that I’m here to finish what he started.
I’m not.
“Wanted to let you know that I’m leaving.”
He doesn’t respond to me immediately. His gaze searches my own, then he places his palms on his desk. “You’re leaving?” he asks.
“I’m going nomad. Leaving today. And I don’t plan on coming back.”
I’m met with more silence.
“You’re leaving and not coming back,” he repeats my words. “What the fuck for?”
I almost laugh. Because this motherfucker is being serious right now. Instead of saying that, I tilt my head to the side and realize he doesn’t think he’s in the wrong with this at all. He is without a doubt sleeping peacefully at night, not giving a fuck that I lost the love of my life, and he’s the only person who can fix that.
“Nothing for me here,” I say, taking a step backward.
He pushes up to standing, his gaze focused on mine from across the room. I watch as he closes his eyes, shaking his head once before he reopens them. I still can’t read his expression, but he is very clearly serious about this moment, and I am very much ready to leave.
“We’re your brothers,” he says. “I’ve known you my whole life.”
“And yet, you won’t let me love your cousin.”
The blow is real, it hits hard, and it’s fast. But I don’t give much of a fuck.
“Goose, it wasn’t personal. I just don’t want this life for her.”
“You mean the life I have?” Posey calls out from behind me.
My eyes widen as I turn around to see her standing behind me. She’s no longer holding a baby, but her gaze is narrowed on her husband’s, and I wonder if I should leave the room, because the tension is so goddamn thick that you could cut it with a fucking knife. But she’s blocking the doorway, and I couldn’t get past her unless I physically moved her. So I stay where I am.
“Posey,” Ivy warns.
My lips curve up in a smirk, and I clear my throat before I speak. I don’t look back at her, though. I keep my focus on him as I speak.
“He doesn’t mean like him, babe. See, he’s different because he’s an attorney with a professional job. I’m just the dirty hands that make him money. He’s better than me, don’t you know?”
With that, I decide that this is fruitless. I said what I needed to say, and that is that. It’s now time for me to get on my fucking way. As I turn to walk out of the office, Posey thankfully moves to the side and allows me to pass without any hesitation.
When I’m past her a few feet, she calls out my name. When I turn my head to look back over my shoulder at her, she gives me a small, sad, single shake of her head before she speaks, her voice coming out softly.
“You are enough, Goose. I promise.”
