Where the Ivy Hides (21 page)

And as I drift to sleep in his arms after, I realize how happy I am.

I almost pray when it hit me, I almost thank the Lord for coming through when he didn’t have to…but I don’t. Because I don’t want to jinx it.

Chapter 27

It’s Sunday family brunch and Ryker and I are running late, which isn’t a usual occurrence. Just as we park, Ryker’s phone rings. “Ivy love, this is Jenny. You go on ahead; I’ll be in.”

“Sure.” I kiss his cheek before getting out of the car. When I see my family at our usual seat, I wave with the back of my left hand towards Mom so she can see my ring and immediately she tears up, “Aww, Mom. No tears.” I glance towards my dad. “Dad, you do know they’ve started making this new stuff called hormones. It should have been in your recent JournalMD subscription, somewhere.” I chuckle at my mother’s sensitivity.

“Your mother is fine and so are her hormones. She cries when she’s happy. It isn’t the first of her…quirks,” he quips before smirking.

After I hug my brother’s neck and shake his new virgin’s hand while learning her name is Pepper, I take my seat next to Ryker’s empty one.

My mother immediately pipes up after introductions, “Your father said he’d give me control over the budget, so I was thinking a lovely summer wedding. And we can use green to symbolize your name and Ryker’s Irish heritage. Green with pale pink. Aren’t those colors pretty together, Ivy?” She beams.

Uh oh.

Ryker and I are thinking a little closer to tomorrow…Not tomorrow. Or the day after, just closer…

He saves me from myself when he sits after shaking Dad’s hand and kissing Mom’s cheek. “Before you tear me arse off, Mac, I did ask her pops for her hand in marriage
before
I asked Ivy herself. And ay, I was just as surprised as you are now that he said yes.” The men in our party laugh and slap each other on the back, metaphorically speaking, as me and Mom roll our eyes at the boys.

Between Rome, Dad, Ryker and I, we were able to negotiate my mom away from Summer time wedding, pink and fucking green pastels. And by the end of the meal we’ve stated our terms and have been met with nods of agreements.

We’ll be married in spring. In Ryker’s mum’s backyard. With a small reception and some barbeque after some dancing and cake. And after the first few guests start to leave, me and my new husband will sneak out the front of the house and hop on a plane to whatever island is closest, where we can make love until the sun comes up and lie out in the sand during the day until we turn pink.

That’s where I’m going. That’s where this one ends…

We were both tired on the way back to his house after brunch, and other than small talk, neither of us really say anything.

We finish up our late weekend routine and settle in on the couch, watching the Seahawks hammer the Buccaneers. I eat a hot pocket and he eats a bowl of Captain Crunch, and we have the night of our lives, just me and him.

I’ve wanted to feel what I feel right now, for as long as I can remember.

I’ve truly wanted to believe it was possible, but never had the courage to pray or hope for it. I did the only thing I could and that was defend. Defend myself, no matter what the cost and damn the rest. I soldiered on, and I found my family. Then I fell another hundred times. But I got back up.

God dammit, I got back up.

And then I found the strength I needed to let go, when the two loves of my life came back, and I’ll be damned if I don’t smile and count my blessings this time around.

The following Wednesday, Ryker and I run into Jenny at the elevator of SMI on our way to out to lunch with Rome.

I don’t like Jenny, first and foremost. I don’t like the way she flirted with Ry before we went to Florida right in front of me, nor how she flirts with him when she doesn’t think I’m paying attention after.

So when she comes sauntering into the elevator off of Livvy’s floor, I can’t keep the smirk from my face when I slide my arm around Ryker’s and step from behind him. “Hey, Jenny. Was Lily’s hair still braided when you dropped her off at school this morning?” I ask, smiling like a superior, condescending bitch.

“It was.” Her eyes shoot to the floor and her back turns towards us.

“To what do we owe the pleasure, Jenny? You have friends here at SMI?” Ryker asks.

And I wonder if he sees her spine stiffen before she shrugs and says over her shoulder, “Yeah, I was here seeing a friend.”

As soon as the elevator’s double doors slide open, she slides out and hurry’s off around the onslaught of assholes that haven’t been schooled on proper elevator entrance/exit protocol. And by the time Ryker and I step out of the building, she’s long gone.

“I don’t like her, Ryker. I don’t mean to butt in, but I also want it said, I don’t like her.”

“Okay, love. We’ll find Lily another sitter. I’ll start asking around.” Ryker closes my door behind me and walks around to the driver side before sliding in.

After he’s parked, we both enter a low-lit swanky restaurant my brother loves to frequent. When Ryker spots Rome in a booth he side steps the hostess after ushering me in front of him with his hand on the small of my back.

We’ve said our hellos and ordered appetizers when the straggler of our party finally arrives, Pepper.

I wonder briefly how Rome convinces his virgin sacrifices, but when I hear him speak to her, the wonder is lost. Mainly because I’m lost. I’d lose my shit if anyone spoke to me that way. Then I remember how Ryker spoke to me last night and I mentally shrug. Different strokes, different folks. Different place. Different taste.

At some point between covertly listening to Rome brag to Ryker about his plans for a bachelor party, I also learn his sacrifice is studying to become a nurse. I think she said insane nurse, she could have said sane. Honestly, when I hear strippers fall from Rome’s mouth, all other thoughts and processes in my mind fucking derail.

“No. No. There will be no strippers. If he wants stripping, he can come home. I have the daughter to prove when I strip, I strip well. Too well. Ryker?” I glare my eyes into his and he raises his hands in surrender, chuckling.

“Ay, love. No strippers.” He looks over to Rome and says, “No strippers, mate. The boss speaks.”

My nerves immediately calm after his swift concession.

“No strippers,” I growl towards my brother.

After lunch, I head back to SMI in the Cooper and Rome gives Ryker a ride to Lucky Pipes. I have one more presentation to give while Ryker ties up his ends at Lucky Pipes before the design merger is signed off between the two companies.

It’s huge.

It’s a big deal. It’s my account and dammit, I couldn’t be any prouder of myself.

This is my baby and I’m rocking her with Ryker right there by my side.

As I step into my office, Livvy comes in behind me, “Hey, so I hear a congrats is in order!” She beams. “Congrats!”

I sit behind my desk, laughing, “I still can’t believe it. If I get any happier, I might float away. Which is absurd, I know.” I shake my head.

After some chit-chat, she flips through the rumor mill, and I’m edging the line of boredom when someone knocks on my door.

“Come in.” Neither Livvy or I get up when the door opens. Bowen strolls in and he smiles at me like the devil. “Ivy. You look stunning, sweet heart,” he purrs before kissing Livvy on the cheek.

“Bowen, keep your words to yourself if you question them. I’m taken. You can’t break my little heart, not anymore.” I laugh.

“No, I guess not. I heard. Congratulations. Tell Ryker I said hello.” He smirks before nodding. Turning to Livvy he extends his arm, “Livvy, baby, it’s just me and you now, my love. Shall we dine and discuss our business?” He holds the door of my office open for her, and after she’s said goodbye and kissed my cheek, they leave.

After I finish scanning over my notes, I head out the door of my office towards the lunch room for a diet coke when my phone buzzes in my hand. I see a text from Ryker:

This lady’s name is Linda. She’s a retired first grade teacher with CPR training and great references. I’m sending you her contact info. I love you, me Ivy.

P.S. Knock ‘em dead, babe.

Good. I’ve interviewed two other sitters. One needed a clue and the other needed a Xanax, but I’m not a doctor. I’d like to find someone as quickly as possible. Have Jenny show her Lily’s routine and then get the hell out of our lives. Fucking Pronto.

I glance up at the clock above the coke vending machine.

Damn. Okay. It’s time.

I put my game face on, head into the board meeting, and I pitch the game of my career life.

And I score.

Dammit. I score.

Leaving the office, I head to Lucky Pipes to puck Ryker up after work. I am flying high with excitement. Putting the car in park, I’m scream the final lyrics to Imagine Dragons
Shots.

As I walk into the garage bay, I hear a gaggle of cat calls and whistles, and laugh, waving them off with my hands. “Okay, okay. It’s alright, shit happens. Sometimes you get the gold, sometimes you win the battle. We can’t always win the war. And you can’t always hate the fact that you
men
have to stand next to me in a skirt, me—in all my woman and five foot glory, in a skirt, when we announce to the other guys that there’s a new kid on the block and she’s a chick!” I laugh, finishing my speech just as Ryker jumps from the pit and heads towards me.  He whips me up and spins me, peppering kisses all over my face. He kisses my ear and whispers, “Ya did it, didn’t ya, hon?”

I kick my feet enthusiastically and a heel drops to the floor as I squeal, “Yes, baby! I did it!”

Once beer has been passed around, I sit back on one of the work benches and sip from my bottle of O’Doul’s watching the men converse as Paul, Reese’s dad walks up.

“You did good, sweet heart. You did real good.” He smiles.

“Thanks, Pops.” I clink the neck of my beer bottle with his and return his smile.

“And I hear another congrats is in order?” he asks as he brings his beer to his mouth.

“Again. Thanks.” I look over at him, suspicious. “There something you want to say, Mr. Bonacci? There’s a bush at your feet, stop side stepping it.” I chuckle.

His head shakes and I notice how much new salt has now mixed with his pepper locks. “I just know it’s gonna break Reese’s heart. Not at first, but later.”

I would ask him to elaborate, but I don’t. I don’t want to hear it. And thankfully, Reese saves me from having to polite my way out of another awkward conversation. “Ivy, come on. Bowen and Livvy just showed up.”

After finding Ryker, we make our rounds through the little gathering of guests which included my parents, Ryker’s mom, and my sweet baby girl. Ryker’s mom was able to catch an early flight and make it for the evening’s festivities following the board meeting.

Ryker had planned it to be either a Happy Engagement party or a Happy Engagement, Welcome Lucky Pipes newest owner party. Thankfully it was both.

My sweet little angel squeals when she sees me and her daddy. She leaps into Ryker’s arms first but quickly makes the transfer to mine, never ceasing in her adamant vacation tales. She hardly even comes up for breath during cake, and she pouts when my parents tell her it’s time to go if she wants to spend the night. She pouts, but she still goes. Knowing she’ll be spoiled again to the point of excess by my parents, Ryker grumbles under his breath the entire time.

Once the last of the party goers have left, Ryker, Reese, Rome, and I stay behind and clean up. We’re about half way through when Livvy and Bowen stagger back in, high, drunk, or probably both.