15. Simple
SIMPLE
Ivy
Business at The Roadhouse was slowly beginning to pick up once more with the more dependable sunshine, which was good because it got me out of the house.
And Beck, true to his word, got me two morning skate classes to help teach.
I wasn’t the teacher, but I was a helper.
It paid decently, and it was something to do that I was enjoying.
Plus, even with all of that, I was pretty sure I’d be able to help Oliver and Sunny too. So even more reason to just be busy and not home.
Once upon a time I’d have thought of myself as a homebody, but lately it was like I couldn’t find enough things to do. With the weather slowly warming up in Raven Creek, it was a miracle to see the sun and feel the warmth of something other than snow.
Wiping off a table, I glanced towards my best friend.
It was the only night of the week she was working right now.
With classes coming to a close for her spring semester, she had finals coming up.
I could tell she’d been up late studying, which was funny because she was easily the smartest person I’d ever met.
“So, bachelorette party,” I began, sitting down at the table she was wiping off.
“What about it?” she asked with a playful smile.
“I can plan it, right? My job as the maid of honor?” I questioned. “I’m thinking penis-shaped everything. I’m getting you a glittery sash and a crown. Oh! Should we go somewhere?”
She sat down across from me and started shaking her head.
“Yes, you can plan it. Well, part of it, anyway. No penis-shaped anything. Yes on the sash and crown, only because I know it’ll make you happy, and where would we go?
Rowan and I were kinda talking about doing a joint thing, so it’ll have to be fun for the eight of us. Nine, if Rowan wants to invite Damien.”
I leaned back in my chair, tossing ideas around in my head. “Joint could be fun, and I’m not sure. Do we want to do something this summer? While you’re off from classes, but we’d have to pick the dates carefully with Rowan’s schedule for the rodeo circuit. Maybe a long weekend?”
Aspen nodded. “Think it over. Definitely summer, though. It’ll be easier for everyone that way,” she explained.
“Yes ma’am.” I gave her a mock salute and smiled.
She reached into her back pocket, pulling out her phone as she let out a small curse.
“What’s wrong? Did your perfect fiancé check your tracker and find you still stuck at work?” It was a joke, but she still refused to laugh and glared at me. She always gave me that look when I teased her about how crazy Rowan was about her.
I’d also tell her how jealous I was, but she thought I was kidding. I wasn’t. I’d genuinely kill to have a man love me that much—unhinged behavior and all.
“No, smartass,” she muttered. “Oliver needs me to take Hudson to practice tomorrow, but I have a whole study session planned.”
“I can take him! I’ve been meaning to text Oliver anyway that I can start helping him out.
I talked to Lucas about it earlier. He’s going to hire another girl for the summer.
So, most of my shifts are early afternoon for a while, skate sessions are in the morning, and we both know I don’t want to be home, so this’ll take care of evenings. ”
She groaned, texting Oliver back, if I had to guess, before her eyes turned to mine. “When will you just dump his ass?”
I shrugged, finding I didn’t have an answer for her, so I went back to wiping off tables. What was I supposed to say? I’d tried, and every time I was close he’d talk me back into it? Tell me things were going to work? And I’d fall for it every time.
No, I wasn’t interested in confessing at my inability to grow a backbone.
Standing in the middle of the yard, my green Volkswagen Bug behind me, I stared at the old farmhouse. It was like a house out of my dreams.
Two stories, a wraparound porch, white siding, pale blue shutters. I could picture myself sitting on a porch swing, reading a smutty romance while the horses pranced around in the backyard.
Rolling my eyes, I walked up the steps, my fist knocking on the door without pause. Might as well get this adventure knocked out. While I was excited to see Sunny, seeing his tall, dark, and handsome father always left me somewhat rattled.
Oliver was the type of man who stared across the room at you, and it felt like he was stripping you bare right there. Not your clothes, but your actual soul. As if he could see everything that lay beneath the skin. Every flaw. Every sin. Everything.
An intense gaze that took everything and gave nothing, yet I found myself not asking for anything anyway.
I swore when I thought about that dance the other night too long, I felt like my skin was lit aflame all over again. However, if I was going to pick up this job, I’d need to get used to seeing the man on a regular basis.
The door swung open then, revealing the man of my thoughts, screeching them to a halt before they could go down an inappropriate path.
He was in a pair of dirty blue jeans so worn in they were more of a light gray, a dark olive-green T-shirt, and his boots.
Dangerous thoughts.
I internally cursed myself for letting this man consume any cowboy romance I’d read lately. It was as if the author could jot down that the man was a blond-haired, brown-eyed cowboy, and my subconscious still pictured Oliver fucking Carragan. It was inevitable even on my best days.
We stared at each other, the silence stretching between us before he finally turned and glanced up the stairs towards his son’s room.
His son. The reason I was here.
“Hudson! Ivy’s here. Let’s go!” His gruff voice was stern, but kind all at once.
Oliver truly was a conundrum to the mind.
His eyes returned to me as Sunny trotted down the steps, a smile on his face as his eyes met mine.
“You have my number if you have any issues. I’ll be done by the time you two get back, so don’t worry,” Oliver explained.
Eyes on his once more, I nodded. “Sounds good.”
Sunny walked out, his bag thrown over his shoulder as he waved a hand over towards his dad. “I’ll see you later, Dad!”
“I’ll text you when we get there and leave.
Don’t worry about a thing, Oliver! Oh! And do you think we could chat later?
About the bachelor and bachelorette parties?
They want to do a joint thing, so it looks like it’s me and you, big guy.
” I smiled and shot him two thumbs up—something I immediately regretted, but I backed off the porch and jogged to the car before he could say a single word against it.
Not because I wanted more time to talk to him, but because I needed help brainstorming.
That was the only reason, and it was what I was sticking with. Why? Because I had a damn boyfriend at home. and this was one of those cute little schoolgirl crushes that tweens got on movie stars. Not anything serious.
Simple.