“Your mom is retiring?”
He nods. “It looks that way.”
“That’s wild. So you’re back for good?” I ask him.
I wonder what Sophie is thinking.
“Yes,” he replies, and I don’t miss the way his gaze flicks over to Sophie for the briefest moment.
I see Ivy now talking to my parents, and I can’t help but feel a little guilty for butting in to her and Beau’s conversation, and then just ignoring her. I think I was just surprised to see him.
Lincoln and Beau continue talking, and I approach my parents, Ivy and Delilah.
“You guys ready to head up for supper?” my dad asks, “I’d trade my boots for a biscuit right about now.”
“When wouldn’t you, Buck?” my mom replies, exasperated.
“Well honey, don’t cook so well and my body won’t crave it so much,” my dad says, slapping my moms ass playfully. I shake my head. They may be old, but they still have some fire. We’d all be lucky to have a marriage like theirs.
How are you gonna have that if you refuse to be with anyone, jackass?
Sarah’s voice as my subconscious is not something I would’ve ever predicted. I shake it off, and listen as my mom yells at everyone to follow her up to the house for dinner. I grab Lilah’s hand, and she holds out her other for Ivy. Looking over, I see Ivy glance at me hesitantly.
It’s only for a moment until she gives in, grabbing Lilah’s outstretched hand. The three of us are at the back of the crowd, falling further behind, as the little legs between us struggle to keep up.
Ivy and I look at each other at the same time, and she gives me an uncomfortable, flat smile. I hate it. I know I’m the cause of it, and I want to kick my own ass.
“Hey,” I say, trying to ease some of the tension.
“Hi,” she replies. “I hope you don’t mind me coming to dinner. Your mom came down to the house and just told me I was coming. Sorry.” She forces a laugh.
“What? Of course I don’t mind. Why would I mind?” I ask her.
I know why she would think that. Me being distant, trying to figure my shit out translated as indifferent, and probably a little dick-ish.
She quirks an eyebrow. “You can’t think of any reason why I would think you mind?” she asks disbelievingly.
I give her an uncomfortable smile back, and lightly chuckle. “Fair.”
She hums thoughtfully.
“Sorry about that. Just trying to get my head on straight,” I mutter.
And I think I have.
“Yeah,” she says, heaving a long sigh, “I figured.”
I don’t say anything for a few minutes, we just walk with Lilah, swinging her back and forth.
“Are you okay? You’ve seemed a little off too,” I ask, because I just can’t help it anymore. Now that we’re finally talking again, I don’t want to stop.
Ivy snorts. “Oh I’mfantastic. Livin’ the dream.”
I frown at her sarcasm, wondering what she could mean.
“You been writing a lot?” I’m trying to keep her talking, maybe to sniff out the problem. I have a feeling it’s not just about me.
Her smile turns a little more sincere. “Yeah, actually. I’ve recently had some really great inspiration for a couple… spicy scenes.”
