37. Holt
Chapter 37
Holt
H ank is stomping around like a fucking bear with a sore paw, and I’m about ready to lose it. Wyatt’s still gone…Ivy’s still gone.
So, Hank’s mood is pissing me right the fuck off. He had no right to do that to her. So, she had a past she was running from. Why the fuck else would someone who looks like her and dresses like her be trying to rent a cabin all the way out in the middle of nowhere?
I remember when she first showed up, looking like a beachgoer lost in a sea of flannel and denim. She was dressed in designer clothes from head to toe and looked like a fish so far out of water that she may as well have been trying to swim in space.
It was obvious she was trying to escape something. I got it from the start, so why can’t Hank see it? I’m ready to shake some sense into him, but I know better than to poke a bear.
Instead, I watch him sulk and think about the videos he found. The ones he downloaded in town, like some kind of fucking PI. I saw them. Photos, too. They don’t paint a pretty picture, no. But, not once in the months Ivy’s been here have I ever seen her act anything like that.
Even when we played that drinking game she never acted like that.
I know what she’s supposed to be. A ditzy, scandalous party girl. I saw the headlines, the gossip. But that’s not her. Not the real her. We had no idea who she was, so she had no part to play. Those videos are just that. I know because I’ve seen the real Ivy. I’m in love with the real Ivy. She’s the mother of my child—well, maybe Wyatt’s, but who cares? I love her. I love her, and Hank’s ruining everything.
Hank makes another pass through the cabin, his boots heavy on the floorboards. My jaw clenches so hard I’m surprised I don’t crack a tooth. He’s pushing her away. I can’t stand it. I can’t stand him. I can’t stand the thought of losing her. I’m going to make him admit he’s making a mistake, even if I have to beat it out of him.
“You’re an asshole,” I tell him. “You know that, right?”
Hank just grunts like a fucking caveman and keeps right on with the pacing. I step closer, a fire building in my chest. My hands are itching to grab him by the collar and make him look me in the eye, but I keep it together. Barely.
“You don’t get it, do you, Hank?” I push out the words through gritted teeth, keeping my voice low but dangerous. “You’re not just pushing Ivy away. You’re fucking up everything.”
Hank stops mid-step, turning slowly to face me. His eyes are stormy, anger flashing, but there’s something else behind it—regret? Maybe even guilt. But it doesn’t matter. It’s too late for him to fix it now.
“You think I’m just gonna let her go?” I take another step forward, making sure my voice cuts through the tension like a blade. “You think you’re gonna drive her off and I’m just gonna nod along? Hell no, Hank. You messed up. Big time.”
His jaw tightens, and for a second, I think he’s going to lash out, but instead, he shoves a hand through his hair, letting out a frustrated growl. “I didn’t mean for any of this to happen,” he mutters, his voice tight, rough. “But it’s not just about her past. It’s about trust.”
“Trust?” I repeat, almost laughing. “You think she’s gonna trust you after you just ripped into her like that? You think you’re helping her? All you did was confirm every damn thing she’s been running from.”
He doesn’t answer right away, just glances away, like he’s trying to process the words, but I can see it in his eyes—he’s not seeing it. Not really.
I can’t let him off the hook, not this time. “You don’t get to act like this, Hank. You don’t get to hold her past over her head when she’s been nothing but real with us. She’s been here, hasn’t she? She’s been right here, trying to make something good out of what’s left of her life. And you just...you just ruined it.”
There’s a heavy silence, and for a second, I think maybe he’s going to admit it—maybe he’ll see he’s wrong. But Hank’s stubborn as hell, and it doesn’t take long for the regret to turn into frustration.
“You think I don’t know that?” Hank snaps, his voice raw. He clenches his fists, face reddening. “She’s a goddamn mess, Holt. I’m not gonna just ignore that. I’m doing what’s best for this whole damn family.”
I feel my blood boil, heat creeping up my neck as the words hit like a punch. He’s not doing what’s best for the whole family because a big damn part of that family is growing in Ivy’s belly.
“You have no fucking idea what you’re talking about,” I growl, stepping into his space, feeling my body bristle with every word. “She’s carrying my kids, Hank. You’re not just fucking with her— you’re fucking with my children. ” My voice is low, dangerous, but the fury behind it is unmistakable. “And you just pushed her out, like she was nothing.”
Hank’s eyes narrow, his jaw tight. “She doesn’t belong here, Holt. She’s too much of a goddamn liability. You think I’m just gonna sit here and let her drag you down with her?” He spits the words out like venom.
I can’t believe what I’m hearing. “Those are my kids!” My voice cracks with disbelief. “Those babies are mine, Hank. Mine or Wyatt’s. Whether you like it or not. You think she’s a liability? You think you can just decide that for everyone?” I take a step closer, my fists balling at my sides, fighting the urge to shove him. “She’s not perfect, but she’s not the person you think she is. And if you keep acting like this, you’re not just gonna lose her. You’re gonna lose everything. Everything , Hank.”
Hank opens his mouth to argue, but I cut him off, stepping in even closer. “You don’t get to do this. You don’t get to take her away from me, from us . You fucked up. You’re too damn blind to see it, but you will see it. And when you do, it’s gonna be too late.”
For a moment, there’s nothing but the sound of our breathing filling the tense space. Hank’s fists are still clenched, his face hard as stone, but I can see the tiniest flicker of uncertainty in his eyes. It’s not enough to break through his walls, though.
“You don’t know what you’re talking about,” he repeats, his voice thick with anger. “She’s toxic. I’m doing the right thing. For all of us.”
My teeth grind together so hard I’m afraid I might shatter them. “The right thing?” I spit out. “The right thing would’ve been standing by her . Supporting her . But instead, you pushed her out the door.” I step back, trying to keep my voice steady, but it’s too fucking hard. “I hope you realize what you’ve done. Because when she’s gone, it’s not just her you’re losing. It’s me. It’s Wyatt. And that’s not something you can come back from.”
I grab my keys and head for the door. I’m not going to make the same mistake as Hank. I’m going after my girl.
“You’re making a mistake,” I say one last time, but Hank doesn’t respond.
I’m in my truck and halfway down the mountain before I let myself breathe.
I’m desperate to find her. Desperate to tell her how I feel. I don’t care about her past. I don’t care about anything but her.
I’m scared of losing her, but I’m not going to let that happen. I’m going to find her and bring her back.