36. Ivy
Chapter 36
Ivy
W yatt pulls up to the mechanic’s garage, and I’m out of the truck before he can say a damn word. Not that I’m mad at him—I’m not. But I can’t handle another awkward conversation, another disappointment, another blow to my heart. It’s too fragile.
“Hey, City Girl, wait a sec,” Wyatt calls as I fling open the door.
I pretend I don’t hear him. This is the best strategy I’ve come up with in fifteen minutes of silent brooding—get out fast, keep my head down, and avoid any more drama.
I make a beeline for the back of the truck and start pulling at my suitcases. Wyatt’s there in a flash, his big hands taking over, treating me as the helpless damsel. “Seriously, I got it,” he says with that easygoing smile that makes my stomach flip. It looks strained. That makes two of us.
“Thanks,” I mumble, grabbing the handle of one suitcase.
He looks like he’s about to say something else, but I cut him off with a quick, “See ya.” It’s better this way. No goodbyes. No chance for him to see just how messed up I feel.
I wheel my suitcases toward the garage, feeling his eyes on me the whole time. My heart’s pounding, and I tell myself it’s because of the awkwardness, not because of Wyatt or Holt or Hank, or the way they’ve gotten under my skin over the last few months.
I just need to get inside, get my car, and get the hell out of here.
Mason looks up from under the hood of a truck as I roll in. He wipes his hands on a rag, giving me a friendly smile. “Hey there, Ivy. Didn’t expect to see you so soon.”
“Hi, Mason,” I say, trying to sound casual, like I’m not about to have a total meltdown. “I came to see if my car’s ready.”
He nods, tossing the rag onto a workbench.
“Almost. Couple more days and it will be good as new.”
I should be relieved. My car’s almost ready. I’ll be free to leave. So why do I feel like I’m about to cry? I realize almost isn’t soon enough. I need to go now.
“That’s great,” I say, my voice wobbling slightly. “Actually, I was wondering if you could hold onto it for a few more days. I’ll arrange for shipping when I get to my, uh, destination.”
Mason looks confused, and I realize how ridiculous it sounds. I’m ditching my car in the middle of nowhere and running away like a coward. “You’re leaving?” he asks, scratching his head.
I force a smile. “Yeah. Something came up.”
He studies me for a moment, like he’s trying to figure out what kind of mess I’ve gotten myself into. “You sure you don’t want to just wait another day, maybe two? I can make it a priority.”
“I’m sure,” I say quickly. I can’t be here any longer. I don’t want to be on the same mountain as them. Hell, I don’t even want to be in the same state as them. “I wouldn’t want to put you or your other customers out. I’ll just have it shipped. It’s fine. Do you mind if I use your computer to find the number for the nearest car service?”
Mason shrugs, still looking a little lost. “Go right ahead. Office is open.”
“Thanks,” I say, wheeling my suitcases in the direction of the office. I don’t let myself look back at Mason or imagine the conversation he’s going to have with Wyatt when he finds out what a mess I am. I’m doing the right thing.
I have the money to raise these babies on my own. I can do this without them. I can. I may not have done much right in my life, but I will do right by my children.
I’ve already decided I’m not going home. I will not subject them to the chaos and heartbreak that is life in the spotlight. They deserve happiness, a normal childhood, everything I was never given.
I’m staring at the computer screen, trying to find a car service that can pick me up today. My eyes are blurry, and I tell myself it’s from staring too long, not from the mess of feelings I’m trying to ignore. My fingers hover over the keyboard as I type and delete the same search four times.
The office door swings open, and Lily bursts in, looking like she’s been to hell and back. Her eyes are wide, and her ponytail is even messier than usual, like she’s been pulling at it in a panic. “Ivy!” she exclaims, rushing over to me.
“Hey, Lily,” I say, trying to sound normal, like I haven’t been sitting here second-guessing my entire life for the past ten minutes.
“I’m so, so sorry,” she blurts, her words tumbling out in a breathless stream. “I didn’t mean for any of this to happen. He saw the pictures on my computer and I didn’t want to lie and?—”
“Lily, it’s okay,” I interrupt, even though it’s not entirely true. “I’m not mad at you. Really.”
She looks at me, searching for the catch, the part where I tell her she’s ruined everything. But the truth is, I’ve done a pretty good job of that all on my own.
“I shouldn’t have lied as long as I did,” I admit, feeling a little lighter just saying it. “The anonymity was nice, but I can’t start something with someone if I’m not fully honest with them.”
Lily’s shoulders relax, and she lets out a shaky breath. “So, you’re not mad?”
“Not at you,” I say, giving her a small smile.
She’s relieved but still looks guilty. “Are you really leaving?”
I nod, feeling the weight of it settle in me. “Yeah. But not because of you.”
She sits down next to me, her eyes big and earnest. “I really didn’t mean to stir up a hornet’s nest.”
“I know,” I say softly. I want to tell her that she’s actually done me a favor, forcing me to face things I’ve been avoiding. But the words stick in my throat, and I just give her another smile instead.
Lily watches as I pick up the phone and call the car service. She looks like she’s about to cry again, and I wonder if I’ll ever be able to set foot in this town without causing some kind of emotional crisis.
The call doesn’t go as planned. The car can’t come until the next afternoon, and I hang up the phone with a frustrated sigh.
“Problem?” Mason asks, poking his head into the office. He must have heard the whole thing, and I feel a fresh wave of embarrassment wash over me.
“Just a small one,” I say, trying to keep my voice light. “Looks like I’m stuck here for another day.”
He comes in and leans against the doorframe, arms crossed in a way that makes him look like the world’s friendliest bouncer. “You’re welcome to crash at our place. We’ve got plenty of room.”
“Oh, I couldn’t impose like that,” I protest, even though the thought of being stranded alone makes my skin crawl.
Mason waves a hand like it’s no big deal. “I feel a little responsible, seeing as how Lily here got the ball rolling.”
“Dad!” Lily protests, but she’s smiling, and I can’t help but smile back.
“Are you sure?” I ask, my voice small and uncertain.
“Positive,” Mason says, giving me a reassuring nod.
“Okay,” I agree, feeling both relieved and anxious about spending another night in town. At least it’s not at the cabin. “Thank you.”
Lily beams at me, her enthusiasm almost enough to make me forget the heartache that's still bubbling up inside. I try to smile back, but I’m not sure it works. Everything in me aches—the weight of the last few hours, the sting of Hank’s words, and that hollow feeling that I can’t shake.
"Come on," Lily says, bouncing on the balls of her feet. "It’ll be fun! You’ll like it.”
“Do you need a hand with your stuff?” Mason asks, nodding to my bags.
“I’ve got it,” I say, pulling the suitcase along with a little more force than necessary. I don’t want to burden anyone, not when I already feel like I’m dragging my feet through molasses.
“Don’t be ridiculous. Lily and I can at least get one or two bags each. You’ve got…quite a few.”
“I did overpack a little.” I shrug sheepishly.
Lily links her arm through mine as we walk, chattering on about something, anything, to fill the silence. I let her words wash over me, grateful for the noise, the normalcy, even if it’s a far cry from the storm in my head.
This time tomorrow I’ll be back to the real world. And then I’m finding a way out of that life for good.