Page 60 of Saving Ian Pope

Her father seemed a poor substitute—unstable, gambler, probably a drinker. I yanked open the fridge door, almost pulling it off its hinges. I didn’t want to be that kind of father to Thea. Ivy could barely keep the disgust from her voice when she talked about her dad.

As I grabbed the steaks out of the fridge and tossed them onto the counter, my phone rang. I checked the display before answering. “Hiya, Jack.”

“Ivy get there okay?”

“She’s upstairs napping. I’m going to cook dinner, and we’re just gonna relax.”

“Good, good.”

The oven beeped for the pre-heat, and I put my phone on Speaker while I put the potatoes on the rack inside. “You sure seem interested in Ivy all of a sudden, when you were so suspicious about her before.”

Jack cleared his throat. “I just realized that this might be the real thing. C’mon, mate. You do tend to jump into relationships feet first, only to get burned later. Things moved fast with Ivy, like they usually do with you. I thought it was the same old, same old. But I can see it’s different with her. She seems to be a good influence on you.”

I slammed the oven door. “It’s mutual. I ain’t the only one benefitting from our relationship. She needs me, too. That’s why it works.”

“Yeah, I can see that.” Jack paused, which meant he was ready to change the subject. “I...uh...there’s something brewing about you out there, I mean, outside of your new record, which is getting phenomenal buzz.”

“You mean rumors?” The idea of new gossip swirling around me didn’t have the same impact on my peace of mind as it usually did. With Ivy here, by my side, the online barbs couldn’t pierce my armor. “Not interested. I haven’t been on my socials in months. Whatever you’re doing with official posts about my music seems to be working, so keep at it.”

“That part is going great. You know about some fish website or something like that?”

“Fish? Like fishing? What are you on about?”

“Nothing. Never mind. I’ll take care of it. Has Jessica tried to contact you? Made any more threats?”

I plopped the two steaks onto a cutting board. “I have her blocked every way to Sunday, so no. Is this rumor coming from her?”

“Probably. Like I said, I’ll handle it. You’re taking a few days off from recording?”

“Just till Ivy gets settled here. Ronnie is doing some re-mixing right now with a couple of the songs, so it’s a good time to break. I’ve never completed an album this fast. Reminds me of the days with the boys when we done this shit on the road between concerts.”

“Haven’t seen you this passionate about your music since then, either. So, it’s all good, mate. Vivant is thrilled.”

“Well, if the record company is thrilled, I guess that’s all that matters.” I jabbed a fork into one of the steaks to flip it over to season the other side, pretending it was everyone at Vivant Records.

“They do pay the bills. I’ll let you go. Say hello and welcome to Ivy for me.”

Jack had been expressing doubts about Ivy just last month when I told him she’d broken things off with me. Seemed chuffed at the time. Now he was all Team Ivy. Better for my manager and my girlfriend to get along, anyway.

Scruffy’s nails tapped on the tile floor, as he trotted into the kitchen, nose in the air. “This ain’t for you, Scruffy. Maybe later.”

A piercing squeal had both me and Scruffy jumping.

Ivy, another one of my T-shirts floating around her body, clapped her hands together. “Oh my, God. Is this Un-ironically Scruffy?”

“The same.” I nudged the dog with my toe. “Go say hi, Scruffy.” I didn’t have to tell him twice.

As Ivy crouched down and snapped her fingers, his little paws scrabbled against the floor in his haste to reach her. He tried to nuzzle her between the legs.

I know exactly how you feel, mate.

Unfazed, Ivy picked him up and put him in her lap, scratching behind his ear as he looked at her adoringly.

“He’s so cute and friendly.” She sniffed. Either she had an allergy to Scruffy, or she was remembering her own dog.

“Oh, I see how it is.” I raised a fork in the air. “I’m here, too. I’m cute and friendly.”

She continued her baby talk with Scruffy. “Look at you. Such a cutie-patootie. Little loverboy. You’re a good boy. Who’s a good boy?”

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