Page 70 of Every Single Wildflower
“It wasn’t like that huh?” Emily waltzes up to Ivy. “What happened in the barn, Ivy?” She lifts a brow. “I followed y’all.” She peers back at me. “I’m pretty sure what I saw was fucking.” She faces Ivy, her hands planted on her hips. “I would know. He’s fucked me plenty of times.”
The hurt on Ivy’s face practically rips my heart out. I bolt toward Emily, right when Brady’s fist connects with my jaw. Shaking my head, I lunge, tackling him to the ground before he can do any more damage. Loud voices filter around me, and I feel two arms catapult me off of him. Cooper holds my arms, as Hoss and Shorty wrangle Brady.
“You stole her from me!” Brady yells as he fights against their hold. “You took him from me too,” he spits. “You took dad, and you just couldn’t help yourself. You had to take her too.”
“Enough!” Shorty growls. “Penelope, call the station!”
“You good?” Cooper asks as I break from his grip.
“I’m fine," I grit out. My eyes scan for Ivy, and when I find her, Emily is still in her face, spewing her venom that I take complete responsibility for.
I take one stride on the way to my girl when Laiken comes out of nowhere, her palm meeting Emily’s cheek with a force I had no idea she had in her.
“That’s the last time you will insult her or my brothers.” Laiken’s tone is sharp, her eyes blazing.
Holy shit, I’ve never seen Laiken even get remotely angry.
“Don’t worry guys. I’ll take out the trash.” Dakota saunters up, grabbing a fist full of Emily’s hair before leading her out the exit, kicking and screaming.
I look around the room, examining the shit show that just took place when my gaze lands on Ivy in my sister’s arms. And I’m terrified that I just lost her.
After the officers spoke with Penelope, I convinced them to let Laiken take Brady home. The last thing he needed was a night in jail to compromise his place at the fire house and I knew tonight was just a bad night in general. Add in the Emily show, and he was bound to blow.
Dakota has her arm around Ivy. I watch them leave through the front entrance as I walk over to Cooper.
“Ivy is driving Dakota,” he says, running a hand over his clean shaved face.
“I’m sorry it came out this way.” I palm my neck. “We planned to have a normal conversation and let everyone know.”
Cooper just shakes his head. “I’ve known for a long time, Maddox. Honestly, I was surprised it hadn’t happened yet.”
“You knew?” I ask.
Amusement shines on his face. “You demanded to be the one to care for Ivy’s horse when she left. Inmybarn.” He points to his chest. “You staked your claim in a lot of subtle ways, man. And I caught on pretty quick.”
“And what do you think about it?”
I shove my hands in the pockets of my jeans, waiting on his answer.
“I think if you make each other happy, what else matters?” He slaps my shoulder. “Let’s go Romeo. I’ll drive.”
Chapter fifty-two
Ivy
“Here.” Dakota hands me a t-shirt and I tug it on before climbing up into her loft bed in the trailer.
It’s a tight fit, but I’ve slept on beds much smaller with her when we were kids. Sighing, I bring the handmade quilt up to my chest and stare at the ceiling.
“Is that JB Mauney?” I laugh.
“Hell, yeah it is.” She climbs up next to me, pointing to the poster taped to the interior of the trailer over the bed. “Who needs a man when I have JB to keep me company at night.” She winks.
Such a Dakota thing to say.
We both settle back, neither of us talking about the cluster that just unfolded. I felt like I had done enough damage tonight, which is why I’m currently in this horse trailer instead of in the cabin with Maddox. He needs to think. Have a chance to process just like I do.
“I’m sorry I ruined your birthday,” I say quietly.
