Chapter 52 Ivy
IVY
By the time we emerge from Sebastian’s bedroom, it’s late afternoon. The house smells faintly of coffee and something toasted.
Judging by the exaggerated cough from the living room, Drew has heard enough to form opinions.
“Oh good,” he calls without looking up from the couch. “You’re alive.”
Sebastian sighs beside me. “Why wouldn’t we be?”
“Mmm.” Drew finally looks up, eyes flicking between us. “Bold claim for two people who disappeared into a bedroom at, what—eight this morning?”
I smile sweetly. “Self-care is important.”
Drew squints at me. “Is that what we’re calling it now?”
Sebastian clears his throat. “We had a conversation.”
Drew makes a face. “Sure you did.”
Before Sebastian can respond, Mr. Pickles trots into the room like he owns the place. I vaguely remember him curling up in his cat bed when he followed us into our bedroom. But after that, I was a bit distracted.
The cat hops onto the arm of the couch, tail flicking once in a way that feels pointed.
Drew recoils. “Absolutely not. You stay right there.”
They lock eyes like rivals. I swear Mr. Pickles narrows his eyes.
“That thing hates me,” Drew says.
Mr. Pickles chirps, clearly annoyed by being called a “thing.” He deliberately moves closer, his fur standing up, eyes locked on Drew.
“He doesn’t hate you,” I say. “He’s just… selective about who he likes.”
Sebastian smirks. “You did call him Hellcat earlier.”
“That was accurate,” Drew mutters, shifting away as Mr. Pickles inches closer. “He pissed on my bed.”
“That was stress,” I say firmly. “And possibly revenge.”
Sebastian bites back a laugh.
Drew points at him. “You’re enjoying this way too much.”
“I am,” Sebastian admits. “I rarely get to be on the winning side of domestic chaos.”
Mr. Pickles hops down and immediately rubs against Sebastian’s leg.
Drew glares. “That cat is evil.”
Sebastian looks down, then crouches slightly and scratches behind the cat’s ears. “He is not.”
Mr. Pickles melts at Sebastian’s touch. A full-body surrender.
I cross my arms. “Wow. He’s a little traitor.”
Sebastian looks up at me, sheepish. “He likes calm environments.”
Drew snorts. “Is that what you call it?”
I sigh. “Enough insults. Wanna play a board game?”
Drew and Sebastian look at me, then at each other, before shrugging.
“Sure,” Sebastian says.
“As long as you keep the hellcat away from me,” Drew adds.
Ten minutes later, we’re sitting around the coffee table with snacks, drinks, and Monopoly. Drew insists he’s not competitive even though he absolutely is.
Sebastian sits beside me with a smile on his face. Every so often, he glances at me like he’s checking in.
Drew notices. “Well,” he says, rolling the dice, “this is new.”
“What is?” I ask.
“You,” he says to Sebastian. “You’re not looming.”
Sebastian raises an eyebrow. “I don’t loom.”
“You loom professionally,” Drew replies. “It’s part of your brand.”
I snort out a laugh. Sebastian rolls his eyes but doesn’t deny it.
As the game goes on, the laughter comes easily. Drew trash-talks terribly. Sebastian pretends he’s not competitive, then absolutely annihilates us when we keep landing on his properties.
“You suck,” Drew says, waving a cracker at Sebastian.
“Clearly not.” He grins as he counts his money. “I’m winning.”
I snort. “This is why I wanted to play Scrabble or Scattergories. You two are the numbers guys.” I fold my arms, but I’m not mad. I’m having too much fun to be angry at either of them.
Mr. Pickles steals a cracker and hisses when Drew tries to reclaim it.
Sebastian leans over and murmurs, “You okay?”
I nod.
Everything feels normal. Warmth spreads through my chest when I realize I belong here. In this house, with these two men.
Later, when Drew stands and stretches, he eyes us again. “So, everything good with you two?”
“Yes,” I say with a smile. “Everything’s great.”
Sebastian nods. His smile is slow and genuine.
“Good,” Drew mutters. “Because if you disappear into the guest bedroom again, my brother is going to lose his mind.”
Mr. Pickles yowls in agreement, like he hated being without Sebastian, too.
Sebastian laughs, real and unguarded.
And for the first time all day, my chest loosens.
This is what it’s supposed to feel like.