Total pages in book: 90
Estimated words: 87439 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 437(@200wpm)___ 350(@250wpm)___ 291(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 87439 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 437(@200wpm)___ 350(@250wpm)___ 291(@300wpm)
Fuck. He knows.
I hustled the kids to their dad’s house. They were tired from being in the sun—Chase wanted to play video games while Ivy packed her bag to go to her mom’s, and I texted with Alli, who was on a yacht in the Mediterranean with her boyfriend.
First yacht experience. 10/10
Pics or didn’t happen, I typed.
Alli sent a selfie. Even with no makeup and her hair in a ponytail, she was stunning. And the South of France looked pretty sweet too.
“Who’s that?” Ivy asked, slipping on the barstool next to me at the kitchen island.
“My ex.”
She scrunched her nose and studied Alli’s photo. “She was your girlfriend.”
“No, my wife.”
Ivy widened her eyes comically. “You’re married to her?”
“Not anymore. We’re divorced.” I sent a sunglasses and sunshine emoji to Alli before meeting Ivy’s puzzled gaze. “You’re staring at me.”
“Sorry. I just…” Ivy stammered. “She’s really pretty. What’s her name?”
“Allison.”
“Are you going to date her again?”
I huffed a laugh. “No. She’s dating someone else.”
“Oh, yeah. The Trilogy Alpha Team guy.”
“Yep. I think you knew that.”
Another fact about kids: They were excellent at weaseling info out of you.
“Are you sad about it?” she asked quietly.
I set my cell face-down on the island. “No. We’re friends, and it’s better that way.”
“Hmm.”
I chuckled. “I can tell you have questions. Snoop if you want. I don’t mind.”
“Okay.” Ivy chewed on her lip. “Do you wish you had kids?”
“Yeah, but I still have time. I’m only thirty-six.”
“You’re thirty-seven.”
I rolled my eyes. “Right. Thanks for the reminder. Anything else?”
“No.”
“What’s wrong? You look bummed.”
“I dunno. I just…think it’s sad that people don’t stay together,” she said in a small voice.
“Maybe it is, but don’t be sad for us. We’re happier apart. Don’t I seem happy?” I pulled a goofy face to make her laugh.
She grinned. “You do. I think…you and my dad both seem happy.”
Oh. First Dex and now Ivy.
Fuck. And double fuck.
“Well…uh, yeah, but we’re friends and—”
“Hold that thought.” She hopped off the stool and rummaged through her bag, returning with a small case, a portable mirror, and her iPad. “Remember when you said you’d help me put on makeup?”
“Um…”
“Can you do it like hers?” Ivy pointed at my phone meaningfully.
I opened and shut my mouth twice. “Alli? I-I don’t think she’s wearing any.”
“She is. Trust me. I can tell it’s a professional job too.” Ivy scrolled a makeup tutorial page on her device. “I tried to follow this guy, but I can’t do the eye shadow. It’s always too dark. Will you try?”
“Dude. You’re gonna get me in trouble with your mom.”
“No, she doesn’t mind. As long as it’s not too much.” Ivy slid a small compact to me. “Please.”
I thought about texting Cooper for advice, but he was in a meeting and…
“What if you put it on me?”
Ivy gasped with delight. “You’ll let me put eye shadow on you? For real?”
“Yeah, yeah. Just…not too much, okay?”
“Okay! No problem.” She wiggled on her seat excitedly and rubbed her hands together. “Sit super still. I’ll turn on the tutorial, so I don’t get anything wrong. We’ll skip foundation, but can I try blush?”
Oh, shit.
“Sure, why not?”
Ten minutes later, I was wearing pink berry blush and two shades of eye shadow—lavender bliss and blue velvet. My captor wielded a brush along my nose, complimenting my complexion while her brother alternately giggled or made suggestions.
“I think he needs lipstick,” Chase said. “Do red.”
My growl made him laugh like a hyena. He literally slipped off his stool and chortled on the floor. Ivy was snickering too and—
Ding dong.
“That’s probably your mom. Oh, darn.”
I went with Chase to answer the door ’cause I’d read some horrible story about kids getting stolen from their homes and no, I didn’t think that would happen in Wood Hollow, but I wasn’t taking any chances.
Sarah stepped into the foyer, greeting her son with a fierce mom hug before straightening. Our paths crossed frequently now that I was coaching the kids, so spending a little time with my lover’s ex wasn’t too awkward anymore.
“Hi, Silas. Thanks so much for—” She covered her mouth, her eyes bright with amusement. “You, um…look very…nice.”
I put my hands on my hips and skewered mother and children with my fiercest glare. The one that came with a slight lip curl and a sneer designed to prove to linebackers who outweighed me by fifty pounds that I was one tough motherfucker.
It didn’t work. They weren’t impressed in the slightest.
Chase was the first to gain his composure. “Ivy was ’sperimenting on him.”
Ivy beamed. “I think I did a good job.”
“Wonderful job,” their mom concurred. “Are you two ready to roll?”
They hurried off to gather their belongings, leaving Sarah and me alone. Honestly, I was glad to have the makeup diversion between us. Having something to laugh about kept me from festering about her lack of communication with Cooper regarding her future plans. The thought of him losing this bit of sunshine was just…wrong.