Chapter 18
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
XANDER
“Ireally don’t have to stay for this,” Ivy says as she cuts up vegetables for a green salad. “It’s your family. You should just enjoy them without worrying about me.”
I don’t know how to make it clear to this girl that she’s not in my fucking way.
“A couple of things.” I wash a head of lettuce and pass it over to her. “First, you live here, and I will never ask you to leave simply because someone’s coming over. That’s a dick move, wildcat. Second, you know my family. All of them.”
“I know, and I like them, but—”
“No buts. I want you here.”
She sighs, as if I’m the one being difficult, and I wipe my hands dry. I carefully take the knife from her, set it aside, and wrap her up in my arms, kiss her head, and wait until I feel all her muscles loosen.
“What’s going on in that perfect brain of yours?”
“What are you going to tell them?”
I frown. “What do you mean?”
“About us. About why I’m here and what we’re doing?”
“I mean, it’s none of their business, but if they asked, I’d tell them that you live here because I want you to and I’m fucking you every chance I get.”
She turns her face up to me and doesn’t look amused.
“You’re cute.” I kiss her nose.
“You’re annoying. I’m serious, Xander.”
“Me too. But if you don’t like that answer, I’ll tell them that you live here because I don’t like the idea of living without you, because we’re a we, and it’s handy having my physical therapist live with me. I won’t tell them about all of the sex.”
She takes a deep breath. “Okay.”
“Is any of that wrong?”
“No, same page.”
“Great. Easy peasy.”
“Did you invite Indigo?”
I feel my stomach drop because no. I didn’t invite Indie.
Tucker and Easton had dinner with Dad and explained everything to him, and because my dad is a fucking saint, he called every single one of us and encouraged us to be welcoming when it comes to Indie.
But that’s the man who adopted Harper when she was twelve and her parents died.
The man who’s always been a father to Zack, Tucker’s best friend, because he didn’t have a man in his life and he was at our house as much as he was at home.
My dad is the best there is, so I knew that he’d welcome Indie with open arms.
“I take your silence as a no.”
“Shit, it wasn’t even on my radar.” I pull my hand down my face and feel like an asshole. “I’ll call her and see if she wants to come join us.”
“You don’t have to,” Ivy reminds me and rubs her hands up and down my chest. “There’s no rule book here, you know. It’s your party, you should invite who you want.”
“I know, but it’s a family dinner, and—”
I sigh and shake my head.
“If you want to call her and extend the invitation, fine. Do it. But if you don’t? No one will blame you if you don’t.”
“My dad will not be happy with me.”
Her eyebrows climb in surprise.
“The man is basically Jesus,” I reply. “He’s way too good.”
She smirks, and then her phone rings with a video call, and she smiles.
“It’s Britney.” She swipes across the screen and holds it up. “Hey, how’s it going in Denver?”
“It’s still hot as hell,” Brit says. “But things are good. Hey, what are you wearing to the charity gala next weekend?”
Ivy’s face flushes, and now I feel like an even bigger asshole.
I forgot to tell her about it.
“I don’t . . . I’m not going to that,” Ivy says, and I can tell that her feelings are hurt.
Fuck.
“She’s going,” I call out. “I just haven’t told her yet.”
“Men,” Brit says, and it makes me chuckle.
“What is the charity gala?” Ivy asks.
“So, Mark and Xander cohost this really beautiful charity dinner and auction every year. It benefits the Denver Children’s Hospital, and it’s not just hockey that shows up.
The NBA guys, the NFL guys, the MLB guys .
. . they all come with WAGs, of course. It’s surprisingly fun, and there’s always great things to bid on in the silent auction. ”
Ivy shakes her head. “I have literally nothing to wear to something like that.”
“Oh, thank fuck, I was hoping you’d say that. I need to go shopping too. So you guys come to Denver a few days early so we can shop. And I’ll book us hair and makeup for the day.”
That’s Britney. The ringleader.
“Oh, I—”
“Sounds good,” I call back, and Ivy narrows her eyes at me, but I give her a smile. “You don’t want to shop and get all fancy? Fine, go like that. You’re fucking gorgeous. Doesn’t matter to me as long as you’re there.”
“Aww, that’s precious. So, you two are getting along well, then? Honey, I need all the tea. I’m going to need a full report when you get here. Just text me when you have your travel figured out.”
“This is a lot of new information,” Ivy says, rubbing her forehead. “But thank you. I’ll keep you posted.”
“Great, I’m excited to see you. Also, I need something.”
I return to washing vegetables for the salad but keep my ears trained on my girl.
“What’s up?” Ivy asks.
“When we were at your place, you had the cutest painting of sunflowers, and I need that for my guest room. I’d like to buy it from you. Can you bring it to Denver with you?”
I’m already wiping my hands dry again as I watch Ivy’s response.
“Oh, um.” She clears her throat. “I’m sorry, it got ruined.”
Brit gasps. “What? How? Oh, honey, don’t cry.”
“I’ll call Coop with travel plans, Brit.” I take the phone from Ivy and fill Britney’s screen with my own face.
“I didn’t mean to say anything wrong.”
“I know. It’s been a shitty few days. But we’ll see you soon.”
“Okay. Sorry, Ivy! I can’t wait to see you.”
Ivy nods, and I end the call, set the phone on the counter, and drag my finger down her cheek.
“It sucks,” she says as she swallows the tears.
“Big time,” I agree. “But you can paint more.”
“It doesn’t matter.”
She shakes her head and goes back to cutting vegetables, and an idea starts to form. I’ll need to talk to Ava. In the meantime, I change the subject.
“I think I’ll invite Indie,” I tell my girl.
“I think that’s great,” she replies, and I take my phone out of my pocket, pull up Indie’s number, and press Call.
She answers just before it goes to voicemail.
“Hello?”
“Hey, Indie, it’s Xander. Did I catch you at a bad time?”
“Oh, no, I was just . . . no, it’s all good. What’s up?”
“Hey, I’m having a very casual barbecue at my house today. The other sibs are coming, and my dad will be here. He knows about you, and he’s the best, so he’s cool. I’m wondering if you’d like to join us?”
She’s quiet for a full fifteen seconds, and I have to pull the phone away from my ear to make sure she’s still there.
“Indie?”
“Yeah, I’m here. Sorry, you caught me off guard. Um, you don’t have to—”
“I know.” I take a breath. “I don’t have to do anything. But it’s just a casual meal, and it’s nice out here. If you want to join us, you should.”
Ivy’s grinning at me, and I reach out to push a lock of her hair behind her ear.
“I’d like that,” Indie finally says. “But only if you really think it’s okay.”
“It’s more than okay.”
“What can I bring? I have a shit ton of ice cream.”
I laugh and shake my head, even though she can’t see me. “Just bring yourself. I think Darby is bringing a dessert. Tucker’s doing the grilling because he’s the best chef in the family. Just come enjoy it.”
I give her the time and directions to the house, and when I push my phone back in my pocket, Ivy nods.
“You did well with that.”
“It’s not her fault,” I reply. I still don’t love it, but it is what it is. And if I learned nothing else from my father, it’s that everyone deserves a chance.
“I’m proud of you.”
Ivy turns to keep cutting carrots, and fuck.
I think I just fell in love with her.