28. JJ Woodford
JJ WOODFORD
I slept a lot better than I thought I would.
When my father rang me with the news about my mother’s treatment, I went outside to let everything out because I didn’t want to disturb anyone. I failed that mission as soon as I saw Ivy crouch down beside me and flash me a look of concern.
At first, I didn’t want her there. I didn’t want her to see me like that. But when she placed her hand so delicately on my arm, I couldn’t help but fall into her chest. I needed her comfort and company.
Anything to make me feel human again.
I’m miles away from my parents, and I was struggling with the loneliness of it. Until Ivy lay down with me and we looked up into the sky with our fingers entwined and her head on my chest.
We went up to bed before Finn could catch us cuddling on the grass. Although I could have easily spent the night out there with her. I thought it would take me hours to fall asleep. Instead, I took Ivy’s advice and tried to think positively. My mum needs me to be strong for her, and I will.
All my prayers are with her right now, and I hope someone out there will give her another chance at life because she doesn’t deserve this. I don’t want to lose her. I can’t imagine life without her.
But it’s not the end.
I wake up earlier than usual, no doubt my mind is working overtime, but at least I got a solid seven hours of sleep. I stand from my bed and jump in the shower before heading downstairs.
I make myself breakfast and sit at the kitchen island in silence, dwelling on last night and trying to digest the phone call, forcing the pessimistic thoughts away.
Finn walks down the stairs twenty minutes later, he’s shirtless and rubbing his eyes.
“Morning, bro,” he calls out as he makes his way to the fridge and drinks orange juice from the carton. “You good?”
“Morning.” I nod as I take my plate to the dishwasher. “Yeah, fine. You?”
Finn studies me as he leans on the fridge. “You don’t sound good.”
I shrug it off. “I got a call about my mum last night,” I admit, and Finn’s expression softens. “But I don’t want to talk about it.”
“Okay,” he says gently. “But if you do want to talk, I’m always here. You know that, right?”
I chew on my lip and meet his green eyes. “Yeah, of course.”
“Shall we head out today?” he suggests. “Grab some lunch at the pub, have a drink, go for a walk. What do you say? It’ll keep you distracted.”
His plans sound like exactly what I need.
If I stay in this house all day, I’ll find myself staring at my phone hopelessly, waiting for a call to tell me that everything will be okay.
But realistically, I know that’s not going to happen as these things take time, and I don’t need to torture myself with that possibility.
“You’re not working?”
“Nah.” He shakes his head. “Got today and tomorrow off. So let’s head out, I’ll buy you a beer.”
I perch back on the stool and smile as he downs another gulp of the juice. “Are you sure you’re not broke?”
“That’s why I got a job.” He holds up his hands in defence. “And note how I only said a beer.”
A small laugh passes my lips. “Alright, fine. Sounds good.”
Soon, another pair of footsteps makes it down the stairs, and I glance up to find Ivy dressed in one of those summer dresses that make men go feral. What is it about them? Most likely the way you can flick up the back and pull down their panties easily, sexy and cute all at the same time.
I almost slap myself for having such thoughts when her brother is standing right beside me.
Her hair is slicked back into a tiny ponytail, and I get a good view of those cheekbones and plump, glossy lips. The blue dress that clings to her body has me quivering in my seat after last night.
I want her wrapped up in my arms. Even if Finn will never allow it.
I’d kill for a moment like that again. Just us and the stars.
Yeah, I’ve gone soft for the woman I should be staying away from.
Her eyes collide with mine as she inches closer. “Hey,” she calls out to both of us, but doesn’t look away from me. Her expression is warmer than I’ve seen in the past, and it makes me want to take a picture and hold onto it forever.
“Hey.” I offer her a smile.
Ivy turns to Finn, and she grimaces. “Ew, why do you always do that? I don’t want to drink your saliva.”
Finn spills some of the orange liquid down his bare chest, and I cringe at how sticky he will be. “I’ll buy some more.”
She snatches it from his hand and scowls at him. “You are a monster. Wait till Mum and Dad get home and you can’t parade around like a caveman anymore.”
He rolls his eyes. “Like they’ll care.”
“When are they coming home?” I ask.
Ivy flicks her eyes to mine and grabs a napkin to wipe the lid of the carton. “Next week, I think,” she comments. “Who knows. They like to extend their holidays at the last minute.”
“What are you doing today?” Finn asks Ivy.
She shrugs and pours herself a glass of water and starts making breakfast. “Not sure,” she says. “The weather’s nice and I didn’t want to waste it in bed.”
“Want to come down to the pub with us for lunch?” he suggests, and Ivy blinks back at her brother.
“The pub?” She quirks a brow.
Finn blows out a breath. “For food.”
Ivy glances over her shoulder, our eyes meet again, and I notice the way the corner of her mouth tips up in deliberation. Please say yes, I beg pathetically in my head. Having her in my eyeline today will definitely be the distraction I need to stop looking at my phone.
“Sure.” She nods. “I could do with some good food.”
My chest eases off its tightness, and I grin.
“You spoken to Daisy lately?” Finn asks as he slumps on the stool beside me.
Ivy reaches for a knife to butter her toast. “Yeah, we spoke yesterday, actually.”
I turn my head to her with intrigue.
“Oh, really?” Finn asks. “How did that go?”
“We spoke about our differences, we apologised to each other, and we made up. Not much more to it.”
“Well, I’m glad,” Finn says loudly as Ivy walks past with her breakfast. He leans over to tug on her ponytail gently. “So, out for lunch and a drink?”
Ivy sits opposite me, and I have no shame in keeping my eyes on her. She picks up her toast and takes a bite, crumbs sticking to her lips. I study her tongue as she extends it to lick them clean, and I hate myself for being mesmerised.
Lips that have been imprinted into my brain from when she wrapped them around my cock the first night we met. Fuck. Blood rushes to my crotch, and I glance towards Finn instead to somehow distract myself, but immediately start feeling guilty.
“What time?” Ivy asks as she dusts off her hands over the plate.
“Twelve?” Finn suggests, tapping the screen of his phone.
She hums and hops off the stool, placing her plate in the dishwasher. “Sounds good to me.”
As she walks away and back up the stairs, I find myself staring at her ass and the way her hips sway without intention. After last night, I’ve fallen another thousand feet for this woman, and everything she does makes me feel like I’ve touched an electric fence.
I run a hand over my head, grazing my buzz cut. Yeah, I’m fucked.
“I’m going to go and shower,” Finn calls out.
“Alright,” I respond as he leaves me alone in the kitchen.
I take back what I said; having Ivy with us is a terrible idea. Especially because I’m sitting with Finn, and when I find myself staring at her, I want her to myself. Not wanting to share her attention with him.
She’s still got on that baby blue sundress; one I’d love to hike up to run my fingers across her round ass and silky thighs. I shake my head subtly. Stop it. Stop it. Her lashes are now darker and curled, they’re so long they almost touch her eyebrows.
I glance down at her sternum. The dress is high enough to cover the scar on her chest, but gives off a beautiful view of her shoulders, collarbones and neck. I clutch onto my beer and grind my teeth down against one another.
She’s fucking torturing me and has no idea.
Ivy laughs at something that Finn says, and someone might as well dig me an early grave because at this rate, I won’t make it to the end of the day. Not when I can’t act how I want around her with Finn in the picture.
God, I want to clasp the back of her neck and tilt her head until our lips meet. Listen as she pants out my name before I press a kiss to those lips that have been begging for attention since I last kissed her.
My fist clenches, and I glance away. I’m not doing myself any favours by fantasising.
“I can’t believe the lobster attacked you.” Ivy chuckles and lifts her glass of wine up to her lips. “You’re such a crybaby.”
Finn gawks at her. “It hurts, alright?” He holds up his fist that has a massive blue plaster across his skin. My eyes scan the plaster, and I smack his hand, only for him to jolt back. “You asshole.”
I look at Ivy. “You’re right, total crybaby.”
Ivy’s cheeks heat, but she continues to smile at me before her eyes slip to something behind me. That smile disappears from her face within seconds, and I tense.
“What?” Finn asks, noticing her change in expression.
He glances over his shoulder, and I do the same. My eyes collide with a group of guys, but I don’t recognise any of them. Finn’s shoulders tremble as he turns back to the table.
“Ugh,” he murmurs and drags his hand down the back of his head. “Ignore them. They won’t come over here.”
Ivy gulps, and I despise the way her face pales. “They did before.”
“What?” Finn hisses under his breath, and for a moment, I see fear flash behind his eyes. “When? W-what did they say to you? Did they say anything?”
She nods, and her hands immediately begin to judder, and I despise every second of it. I resist the urge to cup them with my own, to calm her, to do something. But I can’t. “When I was with Daisy.” She takes a breath. “They came over then.”
Finn curses. “Why didn’t you tell me about it?”
Ivy’s eyes flick to mine, and she gulps. My brows draw in together. “I-I don’t know,” she stammers.
“What did they say to you?” I ask, leaning into the table more.