Page 2 of Ivy

“Bullshit,” Dex grinds out.

I shake my head. “It’s true. Allan had an affair with my mum. She never knew he was married until she fell pregnant with me.”

“So, why now? Why come to find us now?” the other guy says, his tone gentler than Dex’s. So, he must be Jay.

“My mother passed away a year ago. Cancer,” I whisper, as fresh tears appear. The arm around my back, belonging to the beast, tightens. He pulls me a little closer and I feel grateful for the comfort. The three girls that are in the room all surge forward and hug me, offering their condolences.

“Shit. I’m sorry, Ivy,” Jay says. He pushes through the girls and sits on the little table in front of me. He tilts his head to look at Dex and nods in my direction. Dex takes the hint and joins his brother.

“My mother, Maggie, never told me about you boys until her last few days.I looked you up and waiting until I could I ?”I stop my words. I don’t want these people to know about Tim yet.

“Until what, babe?” the guy next to me asks—I still don’t know his name. I shake my head, but he pushes. “You can tell us. You’re family now. Plus, have you seen these crazy ladies? They will hook you in and never let you go.”

“Luke,” Dex warns. They lock eyes and silent words are passed between them, but Luke just smirks at Dex.

“It’s all good, brother,” Luke says to Dex. My attention is drawn to Carter when he shifts on Luke’s lap.

“What’s up, Carter?” I ask gently.

“Are these my uncles?” He looks between the men. He’s pretty smart for a six-year-old.

“We are, little guy. What’s your name?” Jay asks.

“Carter, and I am six.” He holds up six fingers. Jay stretches out his hand to shake Carter’s.

“Hey, Carter. I’m Jay.”

Dex sits next to Jay and speaks. “Hey, little man. I’m Dex, but you can call me Uncle Dex and him Uncle Jay, if you want. Do you see those beautiful women over there?” He points to two of the girls and Carter nods. “They are your Auntie Addy and Auntie Cassie. The other two people are Liam and Penny, friends of ours, but they can be your friends too.” Dex’s tone of voice surprises me. He seemed pissed when I told him about our dad. I don’t think he’s going to let me in straight away, but I understand that. It will take time to make him see that we are family. I will do anything to prove to him that we are.

“Okay,” Carter agrees. He turns to look at Luke and asks him if he is his uncle too. His answer surprises me.

“No, bud, I’m not your uncle, but youwillbe seeing a lot of me.” Luke lifts his eyes to mine as he says the last few words. It’s a silent warning—thatIwill be seeing more of him. My heart beats rapidly in my chest and my cheeks heat up. I look closely at him and take in his features. He has chocolate-coloured hair that is short at the sides and longer on top. It suits him. The few days old stubble hides his jawline, but I can only imagine how perfect it is. His eyes are what catch my attention. One eye is blue, and one is green, the latter emphasised by the silver of the eyebrow piercing above it.The white t-shirt he’s wearing is stretched so tightly across his huge arms it looks like the material will rip open if he moves. His lips are thin but totally suit his face, and they look kissable. I blush at the thought, turning my head away from him. His chuckle snaps me out of my teenage-crushing-fog.

“I know—I want to kiss me too, but it’s impossible. You, however, can kiss me whenever you want, babe.” He winks at me and my blush burns hotter.

I knew I couldn’t let Luke into my heart or body. I had to keep myself at a distance. My head knew this new plan, but my heart and body didn’t get the memo.

I am in trouble with a capital ‘T’.

*****

Sat here on the couch, I stare at the two men opposite me.

My brothers, Dex and Jay Castle.

After I turned up at Castle Ink, Dex’s girlfriend, Addy, suggested that I go home with her until the boys closed the shop up and had time to process what has happened—mainly me and Carter showing up unannounced. Jay seems okay with me being here, but Dex is hesitant, which I can understand. Now, as just the three of us sit in Addy’s living room, his eyes bore into me, like he is waiting for me to attack or something.

“So, start at the beginning,” Dex says, his voice carrying a layer of distrust.

I tell them everything about my teenage years and how it was just me and my mum; then meeting Tim, how we started out as a couple, and then getting pregnant with Carter; the way Tim changed over the years, the way he treated me; how things got worse when his job changed; then him being there when my mother died, helping me cope, only to knock me down again.

“He was great for the first few years, then he got distant and verbally abusive after we were together awhile. But he got brave after Carter was born. That’s when the punches and kicks started. He never touched me when I was pregnant with Carter, thank God.” I take a deep breath. “He never once hit Carter—until the day I left. I know you must think I’m weak, but you don’t know Tim. He has a great job with good money. He threatened to take Carter from me every time I threatened to leave him. The way I saw it, was as long as he wasn’t hitting Carter, I could take the blows. I did it for my baby. I needed him to stay with me. I don’t know what Tim would have done if he had taken Carter away from me. I kept as much of it away from himas possible.”

“You aren’t weak, Ivy.” Jay takes deep breath and continues moments later. “I will fucking kill him if I ever see him,” Jay growls out. I cast my eyes over to Dex. He’s just looking at me. I shift me attention away from his gaze, before turning back to him, and his eyes change in front of me—they soften. He shifts in his seat, leaning forward, resting his elbows on his knees and locking his gaze with mine.

“You are not at fault, and I get why you did it. You are not weak, and anyone who says that you are, to me, will meet my fucking boot. What I’m finding hard to get a handle on, is why the hell our father cheated on our mum with yours?”

“I don't know, Dex. My mum never knew he was married until after she told him she was pregnant with me. He flipped and told her he wasn't ready to be a father and she never saw him again.But she kept tabs on you two. She was told by a friend that he died in a house fire. I’m sorry.” I bow my head and crack my knuckles.

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