Chapter 21
SAWYER
W hile Ivy showers, I check my phone for the first time since yesterday. A first for me. I’m never distracted, I don’t have the time or the patience for distractions. But Ivy is everything. I’d let the world go up in flames around us to get this time with her. I’ve got a shit ton of missed texts to sift through, but one stands out above the rest.
Mom: When were you going to tell me that Ivy has shown back up, son?
Fuck. I pull up my asshole sibling thread to find out who the snitch is.
Me: Hey assholes! Which one of you told Mom?
Kins: Someone told her? What happened to sibling privilege asshats?
Liam: Wasn’t me.
Carter: Nope. Dal?
Me: Being awfully quiet, Dickhead. Care to defend yourself?
My phone rings. Dallas. I roll my eyes before picking it up.
“Did you fucking tell Mom, Dallas?”
“Hi to you too. Works going just fucking skippy, thanks for asking, shithead.”
“Answer the question.”
“No. I didn’t tell Mom anything. But you know who did? Cause the whole town’s talking about it.”
Fucking hell. Ms. Nettie. Goddammit.
“That old biddy. I should have known. Do I even want to know what they’re saying?”
“Just that she’s back and you two were getting cozy yesterday outside of Bean Haven. Hannah did talk to Liam, but he already knew, just not any details. Said she looked pretty good though.”
“Watch it, Dallas. You want to see thirty, you won’t talk about her like that.”
“Calm down big boy. I meant health-wise, not her overall looks. Although . . .”
I growl into the phone and the fucker laughs at me.
“You doin’ okay?” he asks.
“I think so, yeah. We worked through some shit last night and had a breakthrough. I refuse to abandon her, I don’t give a shit what she did anymore. I moved her into my house this morning. She can figure her shit out from here, she doesn’t need to be in that shithole that was her parents’ house.”
“Even if I’m not happy with how things went down, I gotta hand it to you, that’s exactly what I would do. You need anything?”
“Yeah, actually. She doesn’t know yet, but I’m taking her to the gym in a bit. You think you can call Dom and see if he can block out an hour for us? Private. I want it just us, so she’s comfortable.”
“You’re taking her boxing? Kinky.”
“It’s not like that. You remember what it was like for us? Fuck, we still get like that. All that pent-up energy with nowhere for it to go? And then to have an outlet to finally be able to channel it? That’s what she needs.” I huff and run my hands through my hair before continuing. “She started having severe panic attacks after she left Aspen Ridge. That’s why I was comforting her outside of Bean Haven. It was like a switch went off and she couldn’t breathe. She’s got some nervous tics and she’s wound tighter than a fucking spool. She asked me to take her for fun, but I think this’ll be good for her.”
“Damn, man. What happened to her while she was gone?”“I’m still getting it all figured out.”
“I’ll call Dom. Anything else?”
“Yeah, I don’t have a last name, but she’s got an ex that is obsessed with her and won’t let her go. He’s blowing up her phone and the texts are maddening. I want to know who the fucker is and how to make him go away.”
“Give me what you got and I’ll see what I can do.”
“Brooks. Mommy and Daddy own the restaurant Ivy worked at. I don’t have that name either, but she was in Seattle. You still friends with that PI?”
“Wes? I’ll reach out. If anyone can hunt someone down and do it silently, it’s him.
“Make it a priority. Please.”
“On it. We good? I call to check on you and get a laundry list of shit to get done on top of your daily workload.”
“Asshole. One last thing, Blaire still work for us?”
“Unfortunately.”
“Attaboy. Text me when Dom says we’re good to go.”
“You got it.”
I hang up with Dallas and bring up my mom’s text.
Me: Mom, I love ya and I was going to tell you. This is a phone convo though. I’ll call you soon and explain everything. Yes, I’m fine.
Mom: I expect you both for dinner on Sunday.
Fuck. I toss my phone to the other side of the couch, deciding to ignore the rest. I walk into my bathroom just as Ivy is stepping out, one towel wrapped tightly around her body, another wrapped around her head, holding her hair up.
“Thank you for the shower. I needed it. I wasn’t sure where to put my things, I don’t mind living out of my bags, though, I was going to do that at the house anyway.”
“I’m going to make space for you. I’d rather not be reminded that you may still leave. If you unpack, we can deal with everything else later.”
She drops her head to look down at her bare feet and pulls that plump bottom lip between her teeth again.
Dammit. She’s fucking killing me.
I walk up to her before putting my palm on her cheek. She releases her lip on her own and relaxes her head into my hand, eyes closing as she hums appreciatively.
Fuck yes. This is what I want from her. To find comfort in me. To let it all go and just be.
“That’s my girl. Relax.”
She steps forward on her own and rests her head on my chest. I love our height difference, she fits so easily against me. I wrap my arms around her and hold her tightly.
“I’m proud of you, baby.”
“For what? I’m a fucking mess.”
“No, you’re not. You’re so strong. Are you kidding me? Look at you, you’re a goddamn queen, Ivy. You’ve been handling so much on your own for so long, but now I’m here. I’ve got something that I think is going to make you feel better. Trust me?”
She looks up at me and gives me the most gorgeous smile.
“Yeah. I trust you, Sawyer.”
And if that isn’t fucking music to my ears.
“Good. Now put some workout clothes on and let’s go see your surprise.”
I watch her jiggle her shoulders a little in excitement. She turns to walk away, and because I can’t fucking help myself, I smack her towel-clad ass.
I pull into the parking lot of Dom’s gym and look at Ivy in the passenger seat. She’s wearing a pair of tight black running leggings and a bright pink sports bra. Her long black hair is in a high ponytail, and hell if I can’t stop myself from imagining what it’d be like to wrap it around my fist while she’s on her knees in front of me. I adjust myself with my left hand as I throw the truck into park.
“We’re going boxing?” she says as she wiggles in her seat and claps her hand in front of her face. Right now, she looks so much like the young girl I fell in love with.
“We’re going boxing. You gotta lot of energy you need to expel. Maybe this’ll help.”
“It helps you?” she asks, “usually I go on a run when I need to clear my head.”
“Hell yeah, it does. The boys and I are still coming here weekly to knock each other around. Especially me and Dallas. I think it’s what’s made us so close. We can deal with the other person better if we get to beat the shit out of each other every so often.” She laughs, but I can tell she understands.
“C’mon, let's get inside.” She reaches down and pulls her hat out of her bag and goes to put it on. I reach over and pull it from her hands, tossing it behind me out the window into the bed of the truck.
“You can’t work out in a hat. You don’t need it.”
“I do need it! Sawyer, I don’t want everyone to notice me. I know it was fine with Ms. Nettie and Hannah, but can we just keep it quiet?”
“Trust me. Let’s go.” I jump out of the truck and round the front as she’s climbing out and slamming the door. I reach for her hand and practically drag her into the gym.
Just like Dallas had texted me, Dom is waiting for us at the front desk and the place is empty. Dom’s gym, formally named Knockout, has been around forever. Dom’s dad was a former boxer who opened this place long before we were born. He was in an accident that left his left hand permanently disfigured, officially ending any chance he had of becoming a professional. Dom’s been running it the last few years. He’s five years older than Dallas and I, and we all grew up coming here and learning how to box.
“Hey, Sawyer. This your woman?”
“This is Ivy. Ivy, Dom. Not sure if you two remember ever running into each other or not. Thanks for clearing the place out for us. Want to get her stretched out and teach her a few things without all the eyes.”
“You’re good. You got an hour before classes start comin’ in. That work?”
“More than works. Thanks, Dom. I owe you, man.”
I put my hand on Ivy’s lower back and guide her further into the gym. She’s doing that nervous tic, wringing the life out of her hands in front of her. I lead us to a mat and face her.
“Let’s stretch and then I want to teach you a few self-defense moves before I unleash you on a punching bag. I want to make sure you can defend yourself, and I also want to make sure you’re punching correctly so you don’t break your hands or wrists.”
“K. I’ve got this.” She shakes out her hands at her sides, rolls her neck, and begins working herself through stretches that look more like tortuous yoga poses. My dick threatens to bust free of my athletic shorts while watching her stretch her lean, tight body through the motions. She spreads her legs in front of me, bends at the waist, and leans to one side, her arms reaching and holding her ankle. Her perky, full ass is on display, her leggings clinging to her and leaving nothing to the imagination. I groan. Loudly.
“Fuuuuck, Ivy. Are you trying to kill me? I think you’re good and stretched out. Get your ass in the ring before I haul you out of here like a caveman.”
She looks at me upside down from between her legs.
“Problem?”
I drop my head back and groan at the sky.
She stays in that position and leans toward the other leg. Having enough of her temptress shit, I walk right up behind her and grab her hips firmly in my hands, yanking her ass right into my hard cock.
“You feel that, baby? Yeah, I’d say we got a problem. Now quit playing with fire and get in the ring.”
She stands and turns in my arms with a smart-ass grin on her face. I lean down to kiss her and she shoves my chest. Hard. I’m not expecting it and it forces me to stumble back from her a few paces.
“Nuh-uh. We’re here to work out. Come teach me something new.”
She skips away from the mat and climbs under the ropes, into the boxing ring.
I look at her for a moment, trying to think of everything but what her body will feel like if I ever get to be inside her again. My dick has a mind of its own and doesn’t want to settle down.
“You coming or should I go ask Dom for help?” she yells. That gets my ass moving. I climb into the ring and walk right up to her.
“Go ahead, Ivy. See what happens if you let him come over here and help you. But I don’t believe you’d do it. You only want me in here with you. Looking at you.” I roam my eyes over her body. “Touching you.” My hands run along the length of her arm and goosebumps break out over her skin. She closes her eyes for a moment, and I take the open opportunity to catch her off guard. I push gently right above her breastbone, just hard enough to get her attention and force her to stumble on her feet.
“First lesson. Stance.”
“You asshole.” She glares at me.
“Time to get to work, baby.”