Page 31 of Ajax

“Dude? You told her your real name?” Cookie laughs.

“Well, yeah. She’s my girl.”

Jessie’s jaw drops. “That’s your name?”

I shoot her the side eye. “Yeah.”

She pouts. “I’m hurt you never told me.”

I shrug. “You never asked.”

Shane laughs. “That’s fair.”

Jessie glares at him, but her faux rage doesn’t last long as she breaks into a smile.

“I’ll help you move too,” Jessie says.

Ivy shakes her head. “I can’t ask you to.”

Her eyes are shining bright, and I think she’s a bit awe struck by Jessie. A lot of folk are at first, but Jessie’s just like one of us when she’s on the farm. She only puts on the Hollywood star bit when she’s in Los Angeles.

“We’ll take all the help we can get.” I lace my fingers with Ivy’s. She leans her head against my bicep, and I look around the room. Everyone has a smile on their face, and I know they’re genuinely happy for us.

I found my one.

And she was right under my nose the whole time.

We must looka sight as three trucks full of us pull up outside Ivy’s place.

I take Ivy’s hand in mine and raise it to my lips.

I know she’s worried.

I know she’s scared.

She’s not sure how her Dad will take this change—he wasn’t happy about her moving out in the first place.

But my beautiful butterfly needs her freedom. And with me, she’ll never have to worry about being kept in a cage.

Once we’re all out of our vehicles, Ivy leads us toward the house. She doesn’t have that much to shift, but there’s strengthin numbers and it’s not until we’re in the kitchen that it’s clear we’ve got a secret hidden weapon.

“Ivy? What’s going on?” Her brother eyes all of us.

“I’m here to get my things,” she says.

“You’re Jessie Lane.” Tyler’s mouth falls open.

Jessie nods. “Yeah. Now help us with your sister’s stuff.”

He just stares at her. Jessie cocks an eyebrow.

I bite down a laugh because it’s clear that Jessie’s already adopted Ivy as part of our little family, and she’s very protective of all of us.

“I … of course.” He scuttles off toward Ivy’s room and comes back out with a large box.

It’s Ivy’s turn to stare as he carries it out the door in the direction of the cars.

“What have you done to my brother?” Ivy asks.

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