Chapter 22 Ivy
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
Ivy
Olivia’s only in town for a few more hours, so I’ve decided to drag her to the town diner. It's one of those places that feels stuck in time, but that's exactly why I love it.
Plus, I know I can count on a decent burger, which is pretty much all I’m good for tonight.
The bell above the door jingles as we walk in, and the smell of grease and fries immediately hits my nose.
It's familiar and comforting in a way I didn’t realize I needed.
Olivia slides into the booth first, tossing her bag beside her with a dramatic sigh. “What a day. I mean, this town is wild. And Timothy… he is hawt.”
I take my time, glancing at the menu even though I already know exactly what I’m going to get. “Do we really have to do this?”
“Yeah! Of course we do. I didn’t know the twins were going to be that gorgeous…”
Before I can respond, I hear a familiar voice from behind me. “Ivy?”
I turn around, and my heart stutters.
Freddie is here, looking like he’s just come from the shop, with his arm around Penny. My chest tightens, like it always does when he’s near, but I push the feeling down. Penny giggles as she tugs on his sleeve, her tiny hand waving at me.
“Hey, Penny,” I say, smiling. She’s so sweet, it almost breaks my heart.
Freddie gives me a grin that makes everything feel a little lighter. “Hey, Ivy. We’re just grabbing dinner. How you doing?”
I can already feel Olivia’s eyes burning through me.
I shift in my seat, trying to act casual, but the tension in my neck gives me away. Of course, Olivia is sizing up the situation like she’s auditioning for The Real Housewives of Coyote Glen.
"I'm good," I say, pulling my gaze from Olivia's and back to Freddie. "Busy day."
"Yeah, I get that." Freddie gives me that grin, the one that makes me feel like I’ve just been wrapped in a warm blanket. It's easy, too easy, to get lost in it.
Olivia’s eyes flick to Freddie and Penny, and then she looks at me with that knowing smirk.
“Oh, so this is Freddie?” she asks, her voice full of curiosity.
“Guilty as charged.” Freddie chuckles, his grin widening as he holds his hand out to Olivia. “Freddie Brooks. Nice to meet you.”
Olivia smirks and takes his hand with a teasing glint in her eye. “Olivia Quinn. Well, I can definitely see the appeal.”
I give Olivia a pointed look, but she just shrugs like she’s innocent.
Before I can even think of a response, Penny does what Penny does best: cause a little chaos.
She squirms out of Freddie’s hold and immediately grabs the sugar packet holder from the table, shaking it like a maraca.
“Shakey, shakey!” she announces, her voice rising as the little packets inside rattle. “Look, Daddy! I’m making a storm!”
Olivia bursts out laughing at Penny’s antics, completely charmed. “You sure are, kiddo,” she says, reaching across the table and trying to grab the sugar holder from Penny. “But you don’t want to get in trouble with the sugar police, do you?”
“No! I’m making a storm!” Penny insists, refusing to let go of the sugar holder. Her face is scrunched up with concentration as she shakes it harder, making a couple of packets pop out and scatter across the table.
Freddie sighs but can’t help smiling. “She’s got an energy about her.”
Olivia winks. “I can tell.”
As if that wasn’t enough, Penny starts loudly singing Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star at the top of her lungs, her bear tucked under her arm like it’s a microphone.
I cringe but can’t help a little laugh. “Penny…” I say, trying to get her attention. “Maybe not for the entire diner?”
She pauses, looking at me like I’ve just told her she can’t have ice cream for dinner. Then she shrugs and continues her song anyway, not missing a beat.
Olivia’s laughter fills the air, light and infectious. “This kid is a riot,” she says, shaking her head. “You are so lucky to get to babysit her, Ivy.”
I’m about to say something, but Penny cuts me off.
“No!” she says, wagging a finger at me. “I want you to sit! Eat dinner with us!” She looks at Olivia, her eyes wide with absolute sincerity. “You eat with us too, okay?”
I blink at her, completely caught off guard. It’s clear from her pleading expression that she’s serious, and there’s something about her little voice, so full of determination, that I can’t quite say no.
Freddie chuckles, shrugging like it’s not his decision to make. “Is that okay with you guys?”
I glance at Olivia, who’s grinning like she’s been let in on a secret. “Oh, for sure. Penny, you come and sit with me.”
As Freddie and Penny sit down at our table, I can’t help but feel a little surprised at how this doesn’t feel anywhere near as awkward as it should.
Penny kicks her legs excitedly under the table, still clutching her stuffed bear, while Olivia gets her attention by making silly faces. Freddie catches my eye for a moment, and I see a flicker of something in his expression, something soft and almost too real.
“So,” Olivia says, after a few moments of chaos. “Tell me about this town. Is it all it’s cracked up to be, or just a really quiet place with great burgers and a sugar obsessed kid?”
Freddie chuckles, shifting in his seat. “A little of both, I guess. It’s quiet, yeah. But people here have their own kind of charm. You wouldn’t find a group like this anywhere else.”
I bite my lip, feeling the warmth of his words in my chest. He’s not wrong, not even close.
Olivia raises an eyebrow. “Hmm. And what about you, Freddie Brooks? What’s your charm?”
Freddie leans back a little, his grin stretching wide. “I don’t know about charm… what do you think, Ivy?”
I feel a little flush crawl up my neck. Olivia’s gaze flickers between us, and I know she’s getting more than just a vibe.
Penny picks that moment to interrupt, leaning forward with an eager expression. “Ivy, Olivia! Can we make a storm together?!”
I blink at Penny, feeling my heart soften as she leans over the table, wide eyed and full of determination. I can’t resist that smile of hers.
“Well, I guess if it’s a storm we’re making,” I say, grinning, “then we need to really shake things up.”
Olivia laughs, and together, we start shaking the sugar holder, making the packets rattle and fall across the table. Penny is absolutely delighted, her giggles ringing out louder than any storm could ever be.
Olivia isn’t ready to go home once we’ve finished eating, and since there’s really only one bar in town, we end up in The Hollow.
The moment we step inside, the familiar murmur of voices, the clinking of glasses, and the soft glow of low hanging lights pull me in like a magnet.
Though it’s quieter than usual tonight. There’s no live band, just the low hum of conversation and a jukebox playing an old rock ballad in the background.
Olivia practically drags me to the bar, a devilish grin spreading across her face. "You know, I didn't come all the way to Coyote Glen to sit at home and go to bed early."
She nudges me, clearly ready to cause some trouble.
I roll my eyes but can't help the small laugh that escapes. "You’re impossible."
We slide onto stools, the bartender gives Olivia a nod of recognition. He’s already pouring her a whiskey without her even having to ask.
"One for you too, Ivy?" he asks, his voice as casual as always.
I glance at Olivia, who’s already spinning on her stool with the kind of carefree energy that makes me both envy and admire her.
"Sure," I say with a shrug. "Why not?"
Arlo sets the drink in front of me with a wink. "On the house. We could use some fun in here tonight.”
I smile my thanks as Olivia clinks her glass against mine, already looking for her next mischief.
We’re not even halfway through our drinks when Olivia catches sight of someone entering the bar. Her eyes flick to me, and then back to the figure walking through the door. She doesn't have to say a word, her raised brow and the glint in her eye speak volumes.
"Guess who just walked in?" she whispers, leaning toward me, her tone full of playful curiosity.
I follow her gaze reluctantly, and sure enough, standing at the door, looking every bit as effortlessly cool as he always does, is Mitchell.
“That’s him? The dangerous twin, right?” Olivia is pretty much giddy. “I get to meet them all today!”
My stomach flips, my pulse picking up speed. I can feel the knot tightening in my chest before I can even fully process why.
“Oh, yes! Ivy. He’s coming over.”
I try to act like I’m not freaking out on the inside. But as Mitchell makes his way through the bar, his green eyes locking with mine from across the room, it feels like the space between us is both too much and not enough.
"Hey, Ivy," he drawls as he reaches us. “Good to see you.”
I try to mask the flutter of nerves, but Olivia’s watching the exchange with the kind of interest that makes me want to disappear under the bar. She sips her drink nonchalantly, but the gleam in her eyes tells me she’s all too aware of what’s going on between Mitchell and me.
"Hey, Mitchell," I say, trying to sound casual, but my voice betrays me, coming out quieter than I intended. “I’m just out with Olivia, my friend.”
Mitchell gives her a small, crooked smile, the kind that’s more enigmatic than anything else. “Mind if I join you?”
Olivia doesn’t even wait for me to respond before she gives him a wide grin. “Oh, please do,” she says with a teasing glint in her eyes. “I have a lot of questions.”
Mitchell’s smile deepens, clearly sensing the tension. He’s either oblivious or deliberately choosing not to acknowledge it. I can’t decide which one makes my heart race more.
I force a smile, trying to calm the surge of emotion running through me. “It’s not like there’s a lot of options for seating.”
“Well, you do have the best seats in the house,” he says, his gaze flickering between me and Olivia, clearly intrigued by her energy. He takes a seat next to me, leaning back casually, as if we’ve known each other forever.
Olivia leans in, not missing a beat. "So, Mitchell," she says, a sly smile tugging at the corner of her lips. "What’s your story? How long have you been in Coyote Glen?”
Mitchell chuckles, his expression almost wry. “I’ve never been anywhere else.”
“I see. And you have the tattoo shop, right?”
I glug more of my drink.
This is going to be a long night…
The night’s cold slaps me as we step out of The Hollow God knows how many hours later, and I instantly regret not bringing a jacket.
I pull my arms tight around myself, my fingers digging into the soft fabric of my sweater like it’s a life raft.
The air smells like pine and damp earth, like it’s trying to remind me I’m still in the middle of nowhere.
Olivia, on the other hand, is practically skipping, her usual energy ramped up to an impossible level.
“So, Mitchell,” she says, drawing the word out like it’s some kind of forbidden fruit. “I have to admit, he’s my favorite for you.”
I let out a groan, turning away from her as I begin walking down the dark path. “Do you think that might be because you were drinking while talking to him?”
“Maybe.” She shrugs. “But I like his alpha dominant side. Nothing like your ex. I think he could be good for you.”
I try to hold it together, but I can feel my cheeks burning. I think it’s the word alpha that does it, like she’s just pointed out something I’ve been trying to ignore.
“You make it sound like it’s straightforward. Don’t forget, it’s not.”
“I know, and don’t get me wrong, Timothy is very sweet and I love Freddie’s fun loving energy, but if it were up to me, Mitchell’s the one I would pick for you.”
I groan with frustration. “But what if he isn’t? What if I make the wrong choice and mess it all up?”
Olivia sighs, her hands tucked into her coat pockets, her voice soft.
“There’s no such thing as a perfect choice, Ivy.
You’re always going to second guess yourself, but you can’t sit in limbo forever.
You’re smart, you’ll figure it out. Just stop pretending like you’re not scared.
It's okay to be scared, but you can’t let that control everything. ”
I stop walking for a second, letting her words sink in. Scared. I’m terrified, actually. Terrified of what will happen if I pick one and lose the others. Terrified of how this will affect my brother, my life, my heart.
I keep walking, my voice barely above a whisper. “I just don’t want Jesse to find out. He’ll flip. He’ll never understand.”
“Jesse’s not the problem here,” she says, and when I look at her, her expression is firm. “You can’t live your life in fear of what other people think. Not him, not anyone. This is your life, Ivy. You have to figure out what you want, what makes you happy. That’s all that matters.”
I roll my eyes, the weight of everything pressing down on me like a physical burden. “If only it were that straightforward. If only I knew just what to do…”