Page 16 of Ivy

“I want to know everything. Are you two a couple? Luke says you are, but you seem to think differently.” I shrug. “Don’t shrug at me. Addy does that and it gets her a spanking, but since I can't do that to you, I want to know the truth.”

“Cass gets kisses withheld when she shrugs at me,” Jay chimes in. God, my brothers are evil boyfriends.

“Why would you do that? That is so mean,” Iobject.

“Hey, we have to keep you women in line somehow. You’ve met Addy and Cassie; you know how they can be.” Dex winks at me.

“Oh, Luke had better not do any of that stuff with me.” I clamp my hand over my mouth. Shit. I do not want to talk about my sex life with my brothers. They chuckle.

“Ha! I think Luke will come up with some form of sexual punishment for you,” Jay says. I shake my head at him, and Dex pipes up.

“I am not talking or thinking about you fucking Luke. Nope. No way, no how. So, shut it.” He points between Jay and me, which makes me laugh.

“Oh, Dex. Oh, big brother. Again with the non-sex thing. You know how babies are made, right? I mean you and Addy made little Phoebe. So, you kinda know that I’m not a virgin, and have had plenty of sex before.” I wink at him and he grimaces. I take a sip of my tea and settle back into the couch. My gaze flicks between Dex and Jay, my heart pounding in my chest.

“So, are we gonna start this or not?” Dex says, making me jump. I gulp and place my cup on the coffee table between us.

I shrug. “What do you want to know?”

“I want to know everything about you. I know you’ve been here for a few weeks now, but I feel like us three haven’t had time to just be us. The three Castle siblings.”

“But I’m not legally a ‘Castle’, am I? My mother never put Dad’s name on my birth certificate.” God, it feels weird saying ‘Dad’ out loud. Mum and me never talked about him much. She only told me they existed because she didn’t want me to be alone when she passed. She never liked Tim, and she tried talking me into leaving him. She knew there was something wrong about him, but she could never have imagined how much he would change after she died.

“We can get that sorted. We can change your name via deed poll. Simple,” Jay says.

“Do you want that, Ivy?” Dex asks.

“Do I? Do you?” I breathe out, shocked that they want me to change my name. “You want to share your name with me?”

“Of course we do. We’re family.” I nod my head and bury my face in my hands, feeling tears well before dripping onto my fingers. My shoulders shake with sobs. I have never felt love like this before, besides my mum and Carter. Having two big brothers makes my heart grow.

I feel the couch dip next to me on both sides, and then four arms wrap around me, clinging to me.

I feel safe and protected. I cry into their arms, releasing everything that has been building inside of me for years: the pain from Tim, losing my mother, feeling weak and a failure to my son. Then the happiness of the past few months washes over me: the love from seeing my son surrounded by family, the smile on his face, having my new brothers showing me their love and support, their own friends and families taking me and Carter under their wings.

Then Luke pops into my head. My crying slows to deep breaths, and the boys pull away a little, giving me room. I grab a tissue from the box on the coffee table. I always have them on hand because of Carter.

“You feel okay?” Jay asks gently. I nod, not trusting my voice at this moment. “From the state you just got in, I can only imagine how long you’ve kept all that emotion locked away.”

“You have us now, Ivy. We aren’t going anywhere, baby sis.” Dex pulls me tighter against him.

“Thank you, boys. It means so much that you’ve accepted Carter and me. God, all of you have been amazing.” I smile at them.

“We are more than happy to have you both in our lives. Makes everything seem complete,” Jay adds.

“So…” Dex says, leaving the question wide open.

“So… What?” I ask.

“Where did you learn to draw like that? Fuck, woman, you are awesome. Why don’t you try your hand at tattooing?”

“I’ve been drawing for as long as I can remember. It’s relaxing for me.” I get up and grab my portfolio from the cupboard. My brothers have seen my sketches at Castle Ink, but my real masterpieces are hidden inside this red leather binder. I walk back to the sofa and hand the book to Jay. “Here.” I take my seat and watch them open the book.

“As for tattooing, I could never permanently mark someone. I have zero confidence in myself to do that. I just love drawing, making something out of nothing.” I bounce my shoulders once and sit on the coffee table in front of them, watching the expressions on their faces change with every page they turn. Every now and then they look up at me in surprise. My heart swells with pride at seeing their proud, smiling faces.

“Holy-motherfucking-shit,” Jay exclaims. I laugh at his funny outburst.

“Fuck me, Ivy, these are amazing. I need to tattoo these on someone,” Dex chimes in.

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