Page 10 of Clint & Ivy

Showered and dressed, I headed back downstairs to find Ivy still in the secondary bedroom. When I pressed my ear against the door, I didn’t hear the shower running. I figured she was nearly ready.

My phone had lit up with messages while I was in the shower. Plenty of people saw me riding into town with Ivy. I suspected every single one of them had contacted my parents with the gossip.

“Who’s the dime-store floosy?” my dad, Ford, texted. “Your mom is worried.”

My mom, Shay, also messaged me and asked, “Did a Missouri hick dig her claws into my boy?”

When I didn’t immediately respond to their messages, they followed up with, “We’re sending your sister.”

Ford added, “Better hope your dog likes your new bed buddy.”

“I’ll give you details later,” I texted back. “Leave me alone.”

The phone instantly rang, and I saw Shay’s number.

“Too late,” Ford said as soon as I answered. “Elle’s already left. We can’t get hold of her. She doesn’t drive and text. I know how to raise my kids.”

“Yes, you do,” Shay said, and I imagined them having a ball messing with me. “I mean, I did all the work, and you mostly just took credit, but whatever.”

“I played with them.”

“Anyone can play with kids.”

“Are you fucking nuts?” Ford growled at his wife as they enjoyed their usual games. “Kids are boring. I suffered from spending time with those shitheads. Sutter’s cool, though.”

I assumed my seven-year-old nephew was listening to their crap and gave them a dismissive glance.

“Who is coming with Elle?” I asked while grabbing a bottle of kombucha from the fridge.

“Just Hanzee,” Shay replied.

“Why?” Ford asked. “Are you in trouble and need us to call in the troops?”

“No, I want to be left alone.”

“Oh, we knowexactlywhat you’re doing here, son,” Ford said and snickered with Shay. “Back in the day, I also got involved with a devious blonde.”

“Yeah, a real ballbuster,” Shay said, and I suspected they were now flirting.

“I’ll bring Ivy to dinner tomorrow. She can meet the family, and you can interrogate her. Just leave me alone until then.”

“Sure, but if Elle says you’re in the throes of a mental breakdown, were racing over to kick the Missouri hick to the curb.”

“She isn’t from Missouri,” I said while walking to the windows to check the direction Elle would be heading in from.

“Wait, who is this woman?” Ford asked, getting serious.

“I just met her today. If you all climb up my ass, I won’t be able to figure things out. Stop distracting me. I’d also appreciate if you sent out a message to the rest of our family and friends, so they won’t bother me, either.”

“What the fuck do we get out of obeying you?” Ford demanded.

“I already said I’d bring her to dinner tomorrow.”

My mom sighed. “No offense, baby, but how is making me cook a reward?”

“I can bring takeout for everyone.”

“Free shit,” Ford said, sounding less pissy now. “Make sure to get enough to feed us and your uncle’s posse. Wouldn’t mind leftovers, too. Shay’s gotten lazy about cooking.”

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