Memories of Maverick talking about Ivy at the water park come back. He has a thing for her. Even if he said he was joking, I know my brother. Little does he know, he’s not getting anywhere near her. There’s no fucking way. Over my dead body.
She deserves someone who’s not with a new girl everytime I turn around. The idea of her dating my brother, or anyone for that matter, makes nausea roll in my gut. Wait, is she even single?
I wrack my brain for anything and everything I’ve heard from Sophie, my Mom, or Ivy herself. I don’t recall any relationship being mentioned. That makes thenausea ease a bit, but it shouldn’t matter, because she isoff-limits.
I internally scoff at myself. Keep telling yourself that, jackass. Maybe a few more times, and you’ll believe it.
“I’m ready Daddy!” Lilah declares as she reappears on the porch wielding Burrito.
I nod, grateful for the interruption. “You ready?” I ask Ivy, shaking myself out of my spiral.
“Yep.”
Ivy takes Lilah’s hand and leads the way down the porch steps, heading up the gravel road. I trail behind them, and my eyes catch on their joined hands. They drift over, drawn helplessly to the way Ivy’s hips sway as she walks—like I’m under hypnosis. That ass is so perfect it’s criminal. I shove my hands into my pockets, flexing my fingers as if to rid the itch to touch her. I force myself to look away, and will myself not to do something stupid.
————
“These dumbass college kids were trying to take a picture with a cub today,” Lincoln grumbles as we set the table for dinner. “That’s the fifth ticket I’ve written this month. It’s getting out of control.” He shakes his head in annoyance, and I follow suit.
Lincoln’s been a Fish and Wildlife Officer for over a decade, and he has bitched about stuff like this pretty much the entirety of that. I know he loves his job though, and he’s damn good at it.
“How the fuck do you not know to stay away from a bear?” I ask him, dumbfounded.
“I don’t know, man. But I’m done talking about it. I’m going to start yelling again.”
The corner of my mouth lifts as he leaves the dining room in a huff, still muttering to himself. I set the last place setting down, and walk back into the kitchen to let Mom know the table’s done, and to see if she needs anything else before the chaos begins.
Instead of finding my mom, I find Ivy and Maverick talking at the large kitchen island. They’re standing way too close for my liking. Maverick has his hip leaned against the counter, arms crossed over his chest, wearing his infamous devil-may-care smile. Ivy’s back is to me, standing with her hand on her popped hip. I see her shoulders shake from laughter at something my brother said, and I can feel my blood pressure rise.
Lilah and Sophie are also in here, but they’re distracted, grabbing utensils for each dish.
Don’t go over there. You’ve only known her for a week, and you have absolutely no claim over her. Donotgo over there.
“Unclench your jaw, son. People might think you’ve got a problem with what’s going on over there.”
I tense at the low but familiar voice.
I look behind me to see my dad standing with his hands in his pockets. His short, white as snow hair is still as thick as ever, and his wire-rimmed glasses reflect what I was just staring at.
I scoff. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. Maybe you’re going senile.”
He shrugs one shoulder. “Your lie. Tell it how you want it.”
I roll my eyes and walk away from him, intending to grab Lilah to wash up for dinner. Before I have a chance to grab her, I see Ivy reach up and place her hand on Mav’s cheek. I stop dead in my tracks. He looks down at her, grinning like the cocky bastard he is, so sure he’s got her.
That is, until she pats his cheek, twice, like he’s a child. Condescension drips from the gesture, and his face falls flat.
“No thanks, I’m good,” she says before spinning on her heel and marches out of the kitchen.
She breezes right by without sparing me a glance. Our shoulders brush on her way out, and it sends an electric current straight down my arm. I turn to watch her leave, but she doesn’t look back.
I face forward again and make eye contact with Maverick, narrowing my eyes. He just shrugs, completely unbothered, popping a cherry tomato in his mouth from the top of a salad next to him.
“Chill, Wes. I was just playin’ around,” he says with a low chuckle as I approach him.
“Well, that’s done with. Understand?” My voice is flat and cold. I feel like if I could shoot lasers out of my head, it’d be now. I glare at him, hoping he gets the gravity of what I’m saying.
His brows raise. “Oh shit, okay. I got you. Message received, big bro.”
