49. Chapter 49
Chapter forty-nine
Ivy
My heart felt lighter after clearing the air with my dad, but I still felt a twinge of guilt after Laiken almost caught Maddox and me in the bathroom. The way my stomach pitted. It wasn’t that I was embarrassed to be with Maddox, but I felt like if we were going to do this, it needed to start with us being honest. With each other. With Laiken. With Brady. The longer we keep this a secret, the more damage it will do. I should know.
I place the last curl in my hair, then spray some hairspray on the blonde strand. I hated that Dakota’s birthday was in the middle of all of this, and I hated that it was also on a day that was hard for Maddox. It’s the anniversary of his father’s death, and even though it’s been over ten years now, I know the grief doesn’t ever go away.
I feel a pair of hands slide around my waist as I lean in to check my makeup.
“You look beautiful, darlin.” Maddox says against my hair.
I smile. “Thanks. You don’t look so bad yourself.”
He’s wearing a teal pearl snap that makes his eyes pop against his tan skin.
“You sure you want to go? I understand if you would rather have a quiet evening.” I watch him through the mirror.
“No. The day doesn’t get any easier. Sitting home alone and overthinking isn’t what dad would want. I’ll have my moment with him when I need to.”
I smile. “You’re a good man, Maddox Sheppard.”
He places a kiss on my neck. “Not good enough for you, Goldie.”
Spinning around I watch him adjust his belt, clasping the buckle he won years ago.
“I talked to dad.”
“Yeah? How’d it go?” He asks.
I roll my lips. “Good. He apologized, and we worked it out.”
He reaches out to tug on one of my curls. “I’m happy for you. I know it’s been wearing on you.”
I reach for my lips gloss. “Yeah. I feel so much lighter already.”
“Can I offer some advice?” He tips up my chin.
“Speak, oh wise one,” I tease.
“I know it’s hard to think of your dad as anything but this perfect man who does no wrong. As kids we idolize them. We think they don’t make mistakes or make bad choices. But the best thing you can do is not let your love be conditioned by who he is to other people. To your mom. To your brothers.” He places a kiss on my temple. “You love him for who he is to you.”
I close my eyes. “Thank you.”
He cups my jaw, then presses a kiss to my lips. “Anytime."
Warmth spreads at his beautiful words, but my nerves swarm as I prepare to say mine. “I think we should tell your family.”
He pauses his exit from the bathroom.
“I mean, your sister. Brady. I want us to…...” I close my eyes. “I don’t want to hide my feelings for you anymore. I don’t want to have to jump away from you if someone walks into a room.”
His eyes blink, his face emotionless.
“Or not,” I whisper. “If you don’t want this to be exclusive, we don’t have…”
“Goldie,” he says, casually crowding my space, causing my ass to press into the counter behind me. “This is exclusive.”
He towers over me, his hazel eyes a wonderful storm. “I want this. You and me.”
I sigh in relief, and my forehead drops to his chest. “Thank God.”
He chuckles. “I thought I made myself clear when I confessed my undying love.”
I swat at his hip. “Shut up. A girl just needs a little confirmation before she potentially destroys a family.”
He grips my face in his hands. “This is not on you, Ivy. This is two people who love each other. And if Brady loves us both, he’ll understand.”
I sure hope he’s right.