Three Grumpy Groomsmen

32. Ford

CHAPTER 32

Ford

“So this means you’re staying?” I am staring at Ivy and Harrison, my heart thundering, telling myself not to overreact.

But they’ve just told me about her idea of turning the old building on the dunes into a wedding venue.

I love seeing them together. They have such a natural friendship. They get each other on a level they both need but don’t totally get from Liam or me. A full acceptance of their impulsive, fun natures. It’s amazing.

But I’ll admit that when I walked into the kitchen to find them huddled at the breakfast bar over a notepad, talking and laughing, clearly colluding on some plan, I had a moment of ‘oh shit, what are they getting us into?’.

The idea is amazing, though.

Especially if it means…

“Yes, it means I’m staying,” Ivy says, her eyes sparkling. “And I know it’s presumptuous. It doesn’t have to mean anything changes between us. I’ll find a place to live?—”

“No, the fuck you won’t,” Harrison interjects. “You’ll stay right here. If Ford thinks that’s too fast, he can move back to his place.”

Ivy gives him a dazzling smile, then turns back to me. “I promise I have no preconceived notions. This is something Harrison and I have come up with. You can be as involved, or not involved, as you want to be. But I do love this town. It feels like the fresh start that I need and I do want to stay. You and I can keep doing things just like we have been?—”

I’m across the floor, around the counter, and have her off her stool and wrapped in my arms before she even finishes her sentence. I bury my face in her hair and take a huge breath.

“I don’t want things to stay the same.” I hug her tightly and feel her arms come around my neck. “I love you, Ivy. I’m so fucking glad you want to stay.”

I hear a little sniff, and I set her on her feet, looking down at her. “Thank God,” she says softly. “I’m in love with you, Ford. I know it’s fast, and it’s crazy and we probably need to slow things down a little, but I want to stay and keep seeing you and...we’ll figure things out.”

I cup her face. “I’m thrilled with this.”

She looks relieved. “I’m so glad.”

I look from her to Harrison. “And Liam is staying too, then, right?”

Ivy’s smile dims slightly. “I haven’t told him yet. All of this just happened. If the building didn’t belong to Harrison, this would’ve been a slower process and I would’ve talked it over with him. But it’s gone so quickly.” She takes a breath. “Liam’s always been so supportive of me and my career and anything I want to do. I know he’ll be happy for me, but—” She glances over at Harrison. “I don’t know what he’s going to say about staying, honestly. I know he’s loved our time here.”

“But his job is in L.A.,” I fill in. Liam’s job is huge. It’s not as if he can go into Charleston and start writing for a TV show there instead. And even if he could, it wouldn’t be his show.

We hear the front door open and close.

“Looks like we’re about to find out,” Harrison says.

If I didn’t know my friend as well as I do I would’ve missed the fact that he looks nervous.

Harrison Reed is very rarely nervous. If I didn’t have any other proof, that would be enough to tell me that he is madly in love with Liam.

“Oh, good, you’re all here,” Liam says, coming into the kitchen. “I have some news.”

“Seems like it’s the day for it,” Harrison says.

Liam focuses on Ivy, still standing in my arms. “I have to go back to L.A. Tonight.”

I feel her stiffen. So I guess Liam isn’t going to work up to his news.

Ivy pulls away from me, turning to face Liam. “What? Tonight? Why?”

“The show. They’re meeting about the new storyline.” Liam looks at me. “They love the new stuff.”

I smile. I knew they would. That makes me feel strangely proud to think I had a little part in encouraging him in this direction. “That’s awesome.”

He nods. “It is. But they want to start casting and working on the bigger storyline and everything.” He focuses on Ivy again. “I have to go back if I want to lead this. Toby says there’s a very strong possibility the character goes to Gwenyth if I don’t.”

Ivy wrinkles her nose. “Gwenyth is terrible.”

“Exactly,” Liam agrees.

Ivy sighs. “Well, of course you have to go. This is great. I’m so glad they like your new stuff.”

He looks at each of us, his gaze lingering on Harrison. Harrison is still seated at the breakfast bar. His expression is hard to read.

Liam finally says to Ivy. “I know you’ll probably want to stay for a few more days. This is really sudden. I’m sure you’re not ready to say goodbye. You should stay, finish things up with the house and everything. You can come home next week. Or…whenever.”

The words hang in the air, and I’m not sure any of us are breathing.

Ivy needs to be the one to tell him she wants to stay, of course. She needs to tell him about the wedding venue. But I have to bite my tongue not to protest the idea of her leaving.

As it is, the idea of Liam leaving is knotting my stomach. I’ll miss him. And it’s going to be very painful for the two most important people in my life.

“And how about Ford and me?” Harrison says, before anyone else speaks. “Ivy will come after the house is taken care of and Ford and I will come after we say goodbye to our entire town? Our families? Sell our restaurant and houses?”

Liam turns to him, frowning. “What? Of course not. I don’t expect you to move to L.A.”

“But you do expect Ivy to move to L.A.,” Harrison says.

“Well…yes. Not move. Come back to L.A.”

“And why’s that?” Harrison asks.

“Because…” Liam sighs, realizing he’s walking into a trap.

“Because you’re in love with her. Because you want to be with her long term. You want to make a commitment to her and have a relationship with her,” Harrison fills in. “Right?”

Liam shoves a hand through his hair. “Harrison…”

“So this is it, then. We’re done. And Ivy and Ford are done? Just because you need to go back to L.A.” Harrison is pissed.

Harrison almost never loses his temper. Almost never. He has a very long fuse. He lets things roll off. He chooses his battles and finds most not worth the effort.

But from the very beginning, Liam Tate has been getting under Harrison’s skin, unlike anyone else ever has.

“We don’t have to be done,” Liam says. It’s clear he’s trying to hold on to his temper. “We will come back and visit. We love it here. And you guys can come to L.A. Whenever you want. You have a plane, for fuck’s sake. Come every weekend if you want to.”

“So friends with benefits? Long distance?” Harrison stands from his stool. “I’m not fucking doing that.”

“Oh, this isn’t worth a little bit of effort?” Liam asks, finally losing his grip and raising his voice. “You can’t get on your fucking private plane and drink champagne for a few hours to come out and see us?”

Jesus. They’re in love with one another, they both know it, but they’re hurt and they’re going to say something stupid any second now.

Okay, something stupider.

I open my mouth to intervene, but Ivy speaks first.

“Hey!” She’s stepped in front of Liam and is looking at Harrison. “Stop being such a jerk. You’re upsetting my boyfriend, too. When you two fight, it affects me too. That’s what we all need to realize here. We’re in this together and the stupid shit the two of you say to one another and the ‘decisions’ you make when you’re hurt and yelling at one another, affects two other people here.”

Harrison shakes his head. “I don’t think we need to worry about that, sweetheart. He’s just yours. Not mine.”

“Harrison,” I say, low and firm, trying to be comforting but also trying to keep my friend from fucking this all up. “Take it easy.”

Liam pulls in a long breath. “I have to get on a plane in Charleston in an hour and a half. I need to go.”

I shake my head. “No. We’ll fly you to L.A. tonight. Cancel your flight. Let’s take time to talk this out. Ivy’s right. This affects all of us.”

“I don’t know what there is to talk about,” Liam says, pulling his eyes from Harrison and focusing on me. “If Harrison doesn’t want to keep doing this, then that’s it. I’m not going to make him feel bad about it. He has a right to say no to long distance.”

“Well, I’m going to make him feel bad about it,” I snap, looking at Harrison. “He’s upsetting my girlfriend. ”

There are tears tracking down Ivy’s cheeks now, and I want to pull her up against my chest. But the truth is, she’s not just mine to protect and comfort. These men have to want to protect and comfort her, too. They need to understand how this works.

We’re all in this.

Or we’re not.

And, we can’t only protect and comfort her. We need to talk things out and yes, say the things that will sometimes hurt. That’s the only way we can make this work long term.

“ I’m not hurting Ivy,” Harrison protests. “It’s her other boyfriend who’s leaving.”

“For fuck’s sake!” Liam shouts. “I’m not going out there to surf! It’s my fucking job!”

“I’m just saying, I’m probably her favorite right now,” Harrison says. “I’m the one giving her the building for her dream business.”

Ivy gasps. Then she says, “You’re not giving it to me.”

“What dream business?” Liam asks.

“Jesus Christ, Harrison,” I mutter. He, of course, did that on purpose. He wanted to push Ivy into telling Liam about the wedding venue. I love my best friend but he’s an idiot sometimes, and he fights dirty. We’re going to have to work on that.

“What dream business?” Liam insists.

Ivy turns to him. “I wasn’t going to tell you like this. I wanted to show it to you. Tell you all about the ideas I have.”

“What. Dream. Business,” Liam repeats through gritted teeth.

“I want to open a wedding venue here. Right down on the beach. There’s this gorgeous building?—”

“That I own and am selling to her for basically nothing,” Harrison says.

Ivy rounds on him. “Just shut up, Harrison!” she yells. “You are going to have to learn how to fight productively with the four of us because this is not going to work!”

Exactly. God, I love her.

Harrison doesn’t apologize, but he puts his hands up.

“You’re…staying,” Liam finally says, his voice rough.

Ivy looks at him again, and she immediately looks like she’s going to cry. But she nods. “Yes,” she says quietly. “I love it here. And this business idea feels right .”

“And Ford and Harrison?” Liam asks. “They’re part of you staying?”

She nods. “Yes.” She steps toward him. “I just don’t think there’s anything for me in L.A. anymore.”

Liam just stands there, looking like she slapped him.

“Ivy,” I say quietly.

It takes a second, but she realizes how that sounded. She reaches for Liam. “Liam, I didn’t mean…” But she trails off when he pulls away from her.

“Wow, I see what you mean,” Harrison says to her. “Now I’m kind of pissed at you for hurting him like that. That’s not cool.”

“Jesus, shut up, Harrison,” I mutter.

“I’m just saying that fighting is bonkers with four of us,” he says. “I’m annoyed with all of you, but I don’t want any of you hurting the others.”

Yeah, I get it.

“Fuck, Liam,” Harrison says, coming around the counter. “Just quit your job. You don’t need it. Stay here with us. We need to be together. I’ll give you double your current salary.”

And just when I thought Harrison couldn’t make it worse. I sigh.

Liam straightens. “For what?” he asks, his voice ominously quiet.

“What do you mean?” Harrison asks.

“What would you give me double my current salary for? What would I do?”

Harrison shrugs. “Nothing. Anything. Whatever you want.”

My friend means well. He really does. He loves Liam and wants to make all of his problems go away. That’s all this is. But…Harrison’s kind of an idiot. An idiot who doesn’t have an artistic creative side. An idiot who has never had to worry about money for longer than it takes him to remember where he put his platinum card. An idiot who truly thinks that money can take care of any problem. Because it always has for him.

Until now.

“What I want,” Liam says carefully. “Is to be a lead writer on My Fellow Aliens !” His voice rises as he continues. “To get the show renewed! To win Best Writer!”

“What? Are you fucking kidding me? I love you!” Harrison shouts back at him. “And you’re worried about money and awards? That’s more important to you? Seriously?”

Ivy gasps. “Harrison! It’s not just money and awards to him. You know him better than that! This is his passion! He’s proud of it and so fucking good at it. That show is huge, and it’s what it is, in large part, because of Liam. They need him and he loves it. Just because you don’t have any true passion for anything, doesn’t mean you can demean what Liam does!”

“Whoa,” Liam says, frowning at Ivy. “I wouldn’t say Harrison doesn’t have any passion for anything. He loves his family and this town and the people who are important to him so much. He’s passionate about them being happy and provided for and supported. That’s what he does every single minute of every day. It’s why he offered me money.”

Ivy stares at Liam. “Are you defending him to me while I’m defending you to him ?”

Liam looks from her to Harrison, then back to her. “Maybe. Yes. I guess. I don’t like when you two fight.”

This is what the rest of my life looks like, I realize as I watch them argue and change sides and yell at and then protect one another.

These three are going to drive me to an early grave.

I’m here for it all.

I step forward and use my ‘dad voice’. I didn’t even know I had one of those, but that is definitely what comes out when I say, “Okay, enough .”

They all turn to look at me with wide eyes.

“Ivy, they’re…”

“Always going to be like this,” she finishes for me.

I nod.

“I know,” she says with a sigh.

“Liam,” I say. “You don’t have to worry about Ivy and Harrison. Ivy gets him. She’s…”

“His goofy soulmate,” Liam says, sounding resigned. “I know.”

Yeah. She is.

“And Harrison,” I say, turning to my friend. “You know Liam isn’t going back for just a paycheck, so stop being a jackass. And, for the love of God, stop trying to throw money at everything. You don’t have to do that.”

“That’s what I fucking do!” Harrison exclaims. “All I have to offer any of you is money!”

“That’s not true!” Ivy protests.

“Come on, Harrison,” Liam says at the same time.

“Fine, orgasms and money,” Harrison says. “But I have so much money and nothing to do with it. I want to throw money at the things they need. I want to make your lives easier. I want to have more time with you. I want to feel like I’m helping you . Like I did by giving Ivy the building for her new business. Like I did when I bought her house.”

We all stop and stare at him. Then look at one another. Then back to him.

“Wait, you bought Ivy’s house? The one Brad left her?” I ask.

Harrison sighs. “Yes. I bought the house so we could just be done with it. So she didn’t have to worry, and we didn’t have to fuck around with showings and we could all just relax. And I…” He shoves a hand through his hair and leans back against the counter. “I planned to drag out the closing and everything so that they’d have to stay in town longer.”

I start shaking my head. “Harrison, you have to understand that you have more to offer than that. We love you . Not the stuff you have or can buy us. We don’t want to be in a relationship with you because of your money.”

“Easy for you to say,” he tells me.

“It’s easy for me to say too,” Liam tells him firmly.

“Really? Because you’re leaving,” Harrison says with a scowl, pushing off the counter. “And Ivy’s only in this relationship with me because I was a tag-along with you and Ford. And Ford’s stuck with me because our parents are friends.”

Ivy gasps. Liam groans. I want to roll my eyes, but don’t.

Harrison looks at Liam. “I hope L.A. is everything you want it to be.”

Liam shakes his head. “No, you don’t.”

Harrison nods. “You’re right. I hope it sucks.” Then he turns and stomps out of the room.

There’s a long moment of silence. Then Ivy says, “Wow, and I thought reality TV people were dramatic.”

“Better get used to that,” I say. “Forever is a long time. And even though he’s going to grow up a little yet, drama is always going to be a part of Harrison.”

She looks a little sad when I look at her. I’m suddenly worried that our forever is actually slipping away.

But that can’t be. “Ivy—” I start.

“Liam—” Ivy starts at the same time.

“I have to get to the airport.” Liam glances down the hallway where Harrison disappeared. “I think I’m going to have you just send my stuff. There’s not much.”

Ivy nods.

He steps toward her. She steps toward him. He pulls her into his arms. She lets out a sob that tears at my heart.

He kisses the top of her head, then meets my eyes. “Take care of them.”

I nod.

Then he lets go of her, turns, and walks out of the kitchen. Without a look back.

I get it. Looking back makes it all hurt even more.

When we hear the front door shut, Ivy turns to me. “What the hell just happened?”

“Our guys just tried to break up,” I tell her, pulling her close and folding her into a hug.

She clings to me tightly. “Tried to?”

“Yeah. It’s not going to stick.”

“You promise?”

“Yeah. We’ll fix it.”

“We have to.” She tips her head up to look at me. “I really love you, Ford. I want to be with you. But I think it needs to be the four of us.”

“I know. It does.”

She sighs with relief.

“So do you want to go to L.A. to talk to Liam and I’ll talk to Harrison?” I ask. “Or the other way around? Because honestly? I kind of want to strangle my best friend at the moment.”

“Same.” She gives a soft laugh. “Want to flip a coin?”

I can’t believe it, but I feel myself smile. “Or rock, paper, scissors?”

We start to pull apart, but my phone rings just then.

Then Ivy’s starts to ring.

I pull mine from my pocket. She grabs hers from the counter.

We look from our phones to each other.

“It’s the FBI,” she says.

“Me too.”

Well, fuck. Looks like fixing our relationship is going to have to wait.

Thanks a lot, Brad.