17. Ivy – He Bared Himself
SEVENTEEN
IVY – HE BARED HIMSELF
Ivy
Oh, have I got a spring in my step today. Jett has truly given every part of himself to me and been selfless. He told me about his past, and he showed me last night that he loves me. He may question his capacity for love, but he does love me.
It’s the weekend, and I’m smiling and swaying over the stove as I help Ava make pancakes for Sammy and the MC.
“Make sure you put chocolate chips in them,” Sammy says from the stool at the kitchen counter, from where she’s watching and scrutinizing like I’m going to mess it up.
I huff. “I won’t.” It’s not my first rodeo when it comes to pancakes.
The voices coming from outside the kitchen suggest people are awake. Sophie walks in looking as glamorous as always. I swear she just wakes up looking like an absolute bombshell. “Good morning,” she says cheerily.
“Good morning,” we reply.
She gets to work making her smoothie. Sammy puts her hands over her ears while the blender roars. After it’s finished, she puts the pink liquid into a glass and looks at me. Her eyes glitter and a cheeky grin curves on her face. She points at me. “You got Demon dick!”
Ava chokes, and I cackle as my cheeks burn, then put my finger to my mouth and glance around. “Shh!”
“What’s demon dick?” Sammy asks, ever so innocently, just in time for Viper to walk into the kitchen. I’m standing in shock, mortified she heard that.
Viper belts out a laugh, then stares at me. “Did she just say what I think she just said?”
I dash to Sammy while Ava takes over. “That’s a naughty word. We don’t say that. Sophie was just joking.” Lousy explanation, but it’s the first thing I thought of.
“Sorry about that,” Sophie apologizes, wincing.
“It’s fine,” I reply. They aren’t used to children her age at the clubhouse. “I need a coffee.”
At the coffee machine, I wait for Viper. He’s smirking. He playfully elbows me and whispers, “Demon dick, hey?”
With cheeks now burning, I pretend I didn’t hear the playful jab. We all go eat breakfast, but I don’t miss Viper smirking at us as he sits across from Jett and me at the dining table.
After breakfast, I’m out in the backyard at the table, braiding Sammy’s hair in two braids, with Jett beside me. I peek at him to find him watching me with curiosity. “What are you looking at?” I ask.
“Just seeing how you do that.”
“A braid?” I smile. “Would you like to learn how?”
He nods, and it brings tears to my eyes. He wants to learn for Sammy. I gaze at those captivating hazel eyes in awe. I’m so incredibly lucky to have met him. The generosity, caring, and empathy he has shown toward Sammy and me is unlike anything I’ve ever experienced. He’s finally let me in, let his mask fall, and let me see his vulnerable side. His past—his heartache.
I lean over and give him a quick kiss on the lips, put a band on the bottom of the first braid, and slowly direct him on how to braid the second.
“Are you finished yet?” Sammy whines.
As I put the other band in, I reply, “Yes,” and she runs off after the dog.
Axle swings his leg over the seat beside me, and I can tell by the glint of mischief in his eye that he’s going to say something. “Sooo... are you an ol’ lady yet?” he asks wickedly.
Viper takes a seat on the other side. I raise a brow at him. He’s wearing the same shit-eating grin as Axle. These two men are trouble, but still quite amusing.
“Why do you care?” Jett asks. His quirky monotone voice is back.
“Why?” Axle asks, sounding confused. “Because all that shit is over now. I was just wondering when we’ll be helping her move in.”
I stiffen. “What shit?”
Axle’s eyes widen, and he suddenly stands and looks at Jett. “Sorry, man. I’ve got umm... shit to do.” He legs out of there with Viper behind him. Viper whacks Axle on the back of the head, as they do.
“What shit?” I ask Jett, who seems unfazed.
“We spoke to the leader of the organization that’s after you. They won’t be after you any longer and will take it up with your ex.”
Relief and frustration clash inside of me. “When were you planning on telling me?” But then a thought comes to mind. God, I don’t want to leave the clubhouse. I don’t want to go home.
He reaches over and sets his hand on my thigh. “I don’t trust them, so I wanted you to stay longer.”
I sigh. Longer . So he doesn’t want me to stay with him long term. Even though I know now why he didn’t tell me, it still hurts a little. “That’s understandable, but please be upfront and honest with me about it.”
He jerks his head in a nod. “Noted.”
I shuffle over, sit on his lap, and lean back, enjoying the warmth of the sun on my skin and being in Jett’s arms, but the thought of my ex being hurt or killed ruins my happiness.
* * *
By afternoon, Sammy and I are at the dining table. Twitch printed off more learning materials to help her before she starts school. Milly comes around and takes a seat beside me, and it triggers my memory about the unicorn. I need to go get more presents, with Christmas around the corner. I realize I’ve been in my little bubble of happiness here. I probably have bills in the mailbox that need to be paid. I need to snap back to reality, back to my responsibilities.
“What’s wrong?” Milly asks with pinched eyebrows.
“I’ve got a bit carried away living here with Jett... at the clubhouse.” But it has been perfect, and Sammy seems to be having the time of her life and thriving.
Milly smiles. “It’s easy to do that here. They are family.”
“I have to go back home and check the mailbox for mail. Just in case I have any bills, and I need to go”—I mouth “Christmas” and then speak normally again—“shopping.” There’s a queasiness in my stomach that I may not be able to afford it all. “And now all the stuff with my ex is finished with, I want to go back to work.”
“We can go do some shopping today if you want, and the whole work thing will be fine for when you’re able to return. They’re always struggling to get staff, so there’s nothing you need to stress about.”
I release a breath through my mouth. “It would be great to go today. Thanks so much.” I really like Milly. She’s so sweet but has this authoritative aura to her. I don’t know whether it’s being a doctor or, in part, being Reaper’s sister, but she’s headstrong like Sophie.
“Do you want to go now? I could go for a latte,” she offers.
“Sure, let’s go. I’ll go and tell Jett.”
Sammy looks up at me. “Can I come?” she asks with big puppy dog eyes, which makes me feel like crap.
“Next time.” She’s overdue for some time away from the clubhouse. “Maybe we can go relax at the beach tomorrow?”
She jumps up and down on her chair with a gigantic grin. “I can’t wait.”
“Well, I won’t be long.” Then I dash off in search of Jett. It’s not long until I find him playing pool with Reaper, Bomber, and Cash. His eyes find mine as soon as I walk into the room. “Who’s winning?” I ask playfully.
A smile teases the corner of Jett’s lips, so I know it’s him. “We are,” he answers, and tilts his head in Bomber’s direction.
“I’m going out shopping with Milly. We won’t be long.”
He stiffens ever so slightly, but I see it. “I’ll come.” He goes to put the cue down on the edge of the table, but I shake my head.
“They aren’t after me anymore. Everything will be okay now.”
His blank face shows he isn’t convinced, so I walk over and grab his hands in mine. The ink on his hand is such a contrast against my own skin. “I need normalcy. Christmas is coming up, and I’ve got to go and get presents and check my mailbox at my old place for bills.”
He pulls something out of his back pocket. It’s his wallet, and I automatically take a step back as he pulls out a card.
“Take this.”
“No, no. It’s fine. I’ve got it.” I’ve never relied on a man before.
“Just take it,” Milly says from a few steps behind me. I glance over my shoulder, catching her steady gaze. “You’ve hardly worked, you’re raising a child, and there’s no shame in accepting help when you need it.”
Her reasoning makes sense, but my stubbornness insists otherwise.
Jett raises an eyebrow, his tone teasing. “Guess I’m coming with you, then.”
With a groan, I grab the card from his hand. “All right, all right. I’ll take it.” Standing on tiptoes, I plant a quick peck on his cheek. “See you soon.”
Before I can step away, he pulls me into his arms, leaning close to whisper in my ear. “Don’t be long.”
A small smile tugs at my lips at the thought of him missing me.
Milly and I step outside, and my eyes land on her shiny silver convertible. It practically glitters under the sunlight. “Wow, this is gorgeous,” I say, admiring the sleek car.
“It is, isn’t it?” Milly smirks, sliding into the driver’s seat.
I climb in on the passenger side, inhaling deeply. “It still smells new.”
She beams. “I got it recently.”
I glance toward the tiny backseat. “How on earth did you manage to fit the unicorn in here?”
Milly snorts, clearly amused. “With the convertible roof down, of course. I strapped her in with the seatbelt.” She slides on her sunglasses and starts the car. “You should’ve seen the stares I got. It was quite the eventful drive home.”
I laugh at the image. “I bet.”
We cruise through the clubhouse gates and onto the dirt road leading away. “Roof up or down?” she asks, her hand hovering near the control.
“Down,” I reply without hesitation. The breeze whips through our hair as the roof folds back. She turns the volume up on the stereo. The beat is catchy, pulling me in. My head bobs along instinctively. “Who sings this?” I shout over the music.
“Phix. The song’s called ‘Drip.’ It’s my jam!” she replies, grinning.
We make our way into town, the drive peppered with laughter and light conversation. When she finally pulls into my driveway, I hop out to check the mailbox. Relief washes over me as I find only one letter, and it looks like junk mail.
Sliding back into my seat, I toss the envelope into my bag. “No bills, thank goodness.”
“All right, where to next?” Milly asks, reversing down the driveway.
“The toy store.”
She nods. “Got it.”
On our way there, I glance at her, curiosity bubbling up. “Can I ask you something personal?”
Her pause is brief. “Go for it.”
“Why aren’t you and Twitch together?”
Her laughter comes out in a burst, loud and unapologetic. “What gave you that idea?”
“You two seem, I don’t know... close,” I reply, my grin teasing. “Like, hand-close-to-his-dick-at-the-dinner-table close.”
She smacks the steering wheel, still laughing. “You saw that, huh?”
“Hard to miss,” I say with a knowing smile.
She exhales, her amusement softening. “It’s nothing serious. We flirt and tease each other—that’s as far as it goes. It’s harmless fun, no drama.”
I think of Mercedez. There will be drama if Mercedez catches wind of it.
“A smart man is so sexy,” she purrs. “Add in the alternative vibe like the earrings and piercings and jewelry... But he’s part of the MC, and I swore to my brother I’d never get involved with a club member and he warned all the men as well. So I put my game face on and hide that I find Twitch attractive.”
“So no one knows?” I ask.
She shakes her head. “I haven’t told anyone, and he certainly wouldn’t brag or he’d see the wrath of Reaper. They all see us talking, but no one has said anything that suggests they think it’s more than that.”
Touched by her trust, I smile. “Your secret’s safe with me.”
She pulls into the parking lot outside the store, which is bright yellow and says “Crown Village Toy Store” in big letters above the doors.
We walk inside, grab a shopping cart, and start going through the isles. “Can we go to the baby isle too? I’d like to grab a few things for Hope,” says Milly. We veer that way, and go through the isles, where she adds a few toys. “I’m happy for you and Demon.”
I smile as I think back to all of my recent interactions with Jett. “We’re still finding our way. He’s gone through a lot. I think he surprised himself by how much he cares about me and Sammy.”
“I’ve been checking up on you.”
I pause. I tilt my head as I wait for her to elaborate.
“I’ve been asking Ava and Reaper how it’s been going with Demon. I hardly know him, and you’ve become a friend, so I wanted to make sure you were okay.”
My heart warms. “Aww... thanks for your concern, but Jett has been so good to me.”
“I know that now and I’m so glad. I’ve watched him when I’m at the MC, and instead of being by himself, playing with his knife or throwing that goddamn thing around, he’s content to just be in your presence. It’s truly beautiful to see.”
I sniffle and blink rapidly. “Thank you for letting me know.” It’s nice to know people from outside can see he’s happy with me. I guess I knew, but someone else saying it cements it for me.
“After seeing Demon with Hope. My mind changed about him.” Her voice softens. “But I was always still cautious because of what he does for the club. Honestly, after seeing him with Sammy too, it’s mind-boggling to see how good he is with kids. It’s like the kids are drawn to him. I find it fascinating how adults are scared of him but kids just love him.”
I chuckle. “Sammy is obsessed with him. She bosses him around and he just goes with it.” I glance off as I take a moment. “I think kids that young don’t judge. They see him for who he is inside. He just lights up around kids and makes them feel comfortable and safe.”
I find the educational toy aisle and add a few things to the cart. Sammy seems to be enjoying learning and writing. “I wouldn’t mind grabbing some unicorn stationery since she’s starting school later next year. I’d love for her to be confident when she goes.”
“We’ll go pay for these and then visit the shopping center and have a look.” She sighs. “Plus, I’m in desperate need of that latte.”
After packing the car, it isn’t long until we park outside the shopping center, since Crown Village is a small town. When I take my seat belt off, I look at Milly, who’s frozen in place, looking at her rearview mirror. “What’s wrong?” I ask, suddenly alarmed.
Before she can answer, I see it too. A man appears at her window, gun in hand. My heart slams against my ribs as fear floods my veins. It’s him—the same guy Jett stabbed outside the bar, his hand still wrapped in a bandage.
I can’t move. I can’t breathe. I’m drowning in terror.