David blew out a breath of air. “That makes it worse.”
“Forgiveness is important.” Ivy’s gaze went to each of her siblings. “Or have you forgotten what Mom taught us?”
“Forgiving him is one thing,” Maggie said in a serious tone. “Singing with him is another. The two of you seem…friendly.”
“Nash wants to cut one of my songs. He’s going to help me find a music publisher. We’ve also written a song together.”
She expected mouths to gape again, only they scowled instead. Tension filled the air.
“What?” Ivy asked.
“I understand the music part would appeal to you. But the guy is bad news.” Compassion filled Ryder’s gaze. “He’s helping you out of guilt.”
“He admitted feeling guilty,” Ivy said.
“Once that guilt is gone, you’ll never see or hear from him again,” Ryder added. “Bennett’s offer to help with a music publisher could be hollow.”
“No.” The word shot out of Ivy’s mouth. “Nash wouldn’t do that.”
Ryder’s mouth thinned. “You know him that well?”
Okay, less than a week didn’t qualify as knowing someone that well. “No, but—”
“He nearly destroyed you,” Carter interrupted. “He’ll do it again if you let him.”
David nodded. “How can you trust him with your music or anything else—including your heart—after what he did to you?”
“Hearts aren’t involved,” Ivy countered, but she wondered if that was true.
Maggie wrapped her arm around Ivy. “You were head over heels in love with Nash when you were a teenager.”
Her brothers nodded.
Seriously? Ivy stared at each sibling. Was no one on her side? “It was a crush.”
“You had a pillowcase with his face on it,” Maggie reminded.
Ivy had forgotten about that. She shrugged. “So did a lot of girls.”
“You barely survived the last time he hurt you, Ives.” Ryder using her childhood nickname meant he was pulling out all the big guns. “We’re worried what will happen when this is over and how you’ll be affected.”
When, not if.
None of them believed this would end well. But Ivy did.
“What if all of you are wrong about him?” She wanted to show them how different Nash was from ten years ago. “Do you want me to tell him not to record my song?”
“Of course not.” Carter dragged his hand through his hair. “But don’t build whatever’s going on into something more.”
“Keep it about songwriting,” David suggested.
“No more kissing” was implied.
Her four siblings had formed a united front. For Ivy’s sake, she understood that, but they didn’t know Nash. If they did…
That gave her an idea.
“If I agree to be careful with Nash, will you give him a chance?” Ivy asked. “It’s not like he’ll be in town for much longer.”
