A pinch at my elbow and I glance down at blood red, pointed talons.
I blink. Exhale. Reach out to loosen them, the world around me coming back with awhoosh.
‘I don’t give a flying fuck who y’think you are.’ I register blonde hair and lashes that are unfeasibly black and long before I do her growl. ‘But you can fuck right off with your famous self. Would y’look at the girl!’ The fingers unfurl, the tall blonde pushing past me and enveloping Ivy in her arms.
‘So it’s himself, then.’ Turning her head over her shoulder, her gaze does a thorough though disdainful sweep of my body, face to toes, before pulling away. ‘I don’t care who he is,’ she says to Ivy, who I strain to see. ‘Or how big his cock is because it’s clear the Good Lord gave him nothin’ but shit for brains.’
Who the fuck is this?
‘Listen,’ I begin, ‘whoever you are, this has nothing to do with you.’
Her angry gaze flicks over her shoulders once again. ‘Why don’t you go back inside? I’m sure there are a couple of more pregnant women y’can go upset for kicks. There are a few oldies in there, too. But I’d avoid the silver-haired one in the pink cardi. That’s ma’ granny, y’ken? Upset her, and me and you will be havin’ more than words.’
Pink cardigan and silver hair; so this is June’s granddaughter? And it seems, Ivy’s friend? By the description, I wouldn’t have pegged her for this Amazon.
‘I’d like to speak with my wife.’
Her expression registers shock. Fleetingly, at least. She cocks a brow, her response thoroughly unimpressed. ‘Is that so?’ As for the half smile subsequently plastered across her face, I’ve no fucking idea what that could mean.
She turns away and begins whispering to Ivy.
‘Ivy, we’re not finished here,’ I warn.
The friend’s shoulders move once in the semblance of a pissed-off snort.
‘You might not be done, but she is.’ She turns with Ivy’s form tucked under her arm like a child. A small, distraught child, I realise. One who can barely breathe for tears.
Why can’t I keep my big gob shut?
‘Babe, listen. I didn’t mean—’
‘What? You didn’t mean to make her cry so hard she can’nae speak? Or is it that you did’nae mean to impregnate her wi’ your superstar sperm.’ Natasha brushes past me, her charge wrapped and protected under her arm.
‘Ivy! Ivy!’ I plead as the pair stride past, but Ivy’s gaze remains glued to the ground. ‘But she left me!’
‘Have your people call mine,’ Ivy’s keeper responds without turning back. ‘We’ll mark a date on the calendar for you to get on ma’ tits with your whining some more.’
‘She’s my wife,’ I yell, desperate.
‘Find someone who gives a shite. Fuckity bye!’ she calls, her fingers releasing Ivy’s shoulder... in order to flip me off.
No, that’s not it. This isn’t ending like this.
I make to follow as a hand is planted solidly against my chest. A big hand from a big fucker; one of the suits from inside. Chestnut hair and a wry grin—about my height, but built like a brick shit house.
‘Baby daddy?’ he asks amiably in an accent heavier than my own. Discretion being the better part of valour, whatever the fuck that means, I nod in response, just once.Tersely. ‘Congratulations, but a word of advice, if you’re inclined.’ His hand drops away, and I nod again, noticing the very decent bottle of malt and the pair of tumblers he holds in his other hand.
‘Never get between those three,’ he advises, his gaze following the path of my wife to where Ivy is now bracketed between two blondes; the Amazonian with the gob, and now a woman with shorter hair. ‘Not if you want to keep your sanity.’
I frown, willing Ivy to turn just once.Turn around, goddamnit.
‘Leave well alone because there’s also a big brother who has a nasty right hook. I mean I’m no’ exactly small, but Mac? He’s built.’
‘What? Mac who?’ What the fuck is he talking about?
‘The brother. Ivy’s brother, more specifically. And he had less cause to punch me than he does you. Not that it stopped him, by the way.’ My companion looks up at the cloudless sky, absently rubbing one side of his face. ‘I thought for sure I’d be needing dental work.’
The brother, right. Ivy has a brother; I know that.
