There was always a first time for everything, and Ivy hadn''t thought she would be moved by seeing Ss so different.
She pulled him closer, letting his head rest against her chest as they both sat down,
"It''s okay," she said softly, her heart aching with pity for him.
She knew how important Thomas was to him, and i frustration.
hurt to see Ss this broken. She rubbed his back in silent support, allowing him to pour out his
Some momentster, Ss lifted his head. His
were soft and red, but they still made her shiver.
"I''m sorry," he chuckled, wiping away his tears.
"It''s okay," she said, gently rubbing his back. "Do... you want to talk about it?"
He did.
He talked about seeing Rosie, and then Thomas.
Ivy stirred in the chair, her heart dropping. "How... did she know where you were? What were you even doing there?"
"I don''t know,” he said with a shrug. "She wouldn''t say."
Her throat dried up, and she swallowed. "Guess she''sing for me too. She has been so damn close."
Ss didn''t say anything, he just took her hand and kissed it.
She allowed it. Partially because of how he was feeling, and partially because she missed thefort of it.
"I need to tell you something," he said, shifting closer.
Ivy raised an eyebrow, noting the small distance between them. "You know you don''t have to be this close."
He ignored her. "It''s about-"
The front door opened, and Cheryl and Cole walked in.
Annoyance formed inside Ivy''s chest and she scowled at her brother.
He chuckled sheepishly. "Sorry, I couldn''te in between a great love story."
"Cheryl?" Ss said, surprised. He nced at Ivy before turning to her. "Are you... how''s the baby?"
Ivy caught the meaning behind his nce. Her thoughts drifted to Aunt May, and her chest tightened. "It''s a long story."
Jonathan joined them, carrying a grey duffel bag. Cole took it from him and gestured towards the hallway.
"Let''s find you and little Cole''a room," he told Cheryl.
Cheryl nodded, holding her baby tightly. "It was nice to see you, Mr. Stone."
"Same here," Ss replied tly.
Once they all left the living room, Ivy turned back to him. "What did you want to tell me?"
He leaned forward, his voice dropping into a whisper. "Can we talk somewhere private?"
The seriousness in his expression and tone made her heart leap with curiosity. "Sure. Let''s go."
She led him into her new room. When Ss walked in, his e
eyes widened. "Not bad."
She ignored his statement, gesturing to the chair by the window. "I''m listening."
He ignored the chair and perched on the edge of the bed. She rolled her eyes behind him and sat down too, keeping a healthy distance between them.
"I was meeting Detective Spence when Rosie found me."
Panic surged through her. "Detective Spence? Why?"
He told her everything, his face contorting with pain. "The sickening part is that
Thomas wouldn''t talk," he said sharply.
"Your mother? Is that possible?" she asked carefully, moving
to show she meant no harm with her question.
"I don''t know," he admitted with a sigh. "I don''t know anything, baby. And it''s killing
me."
She reached for his hands and squeezed them. "Can I ask you something?"
"Sure."
She swallowed, moving closer again. “It''s... just a question. But do you think... Thomas might be working with... Rosie?"
She expected him to re up, but instead he sighed and lowered his head. He went silent for so long that she had to rub his back.
He lifted his head at her touch, his hazel eyes glimmering with emotions. "At this point, I don''t doubt it."
Now it was her turn to go silent.
"Because tell me why he''d lie about something as serious as this? I don''t think he''s working with her, but if he is... I wouldn''t doubt it."
His voice dropped so low that she thought he might cry again. She cupped his face, making him look at her.
"You''ll get through this," she said gently. "I don''t know why I asked that stupid question. It-"
"It''s okay. Thomas isn''t being truthful," Ss interrupted softly. "It''s okay to specte."
Guilt swirled within her. "It''s okay not to judge him, either. She''s his wife, and we really don''t know what happened. We should-"
Ss silenced her with a finger on her lips. "I don''t want to talk anymore. I want to do something else."
Before she could object, he crushed his lips on hers. She melted instantly into his arms, pressing her body against his like she had been waiting for it, aching for it.
Ss kissed her hungrily, his hands roaming all over her body. She moaned when his fingers found her nipples, desire pulsing between her legs.
"You''re the only one who gets me," he whispered, his lips trailing down her neck. Ivy closed her eyes at the touch, her fingers wing at his back.
"Come home, baby," he said, kissing the
top of her breasts. "I have no one else."
His mouth traveled down to find her nipple. She wanted it; wanted to feel those tender lips on her already hard nipples, but something about his words yanked her back to reality.
She nudged him gently and raised a brow. You want me home because you''re lonely?"
"What?" he asked, confused.
She repeated the question, pulling away.
"Not just that," he said, his eyes still clouded from the forey. "I miss you?
Ivy got up, anger bubbbling inside her. "I think you should leave."
Ss blinked, then stood too. The bulge in his trousers caught her eyes, and she quickly looked away before the feelings in her heart betrayed her.
"Baby, I thought we''d resolved this."
"Resolved?" she snapped. "I was consoling you. We didn''t resolve anything."
“Alright,” he sighed, returning to the bed. "Let''s resolve it now."
She twisted her mouth, offended that she had to exin herself. She was tired of being wanted only when there was a reason. She wanted to be loved unconditionally.
"It''s my fault for expecting so much," she muttered.
Telling someone how to treat you and them following instructions wasn''t love. It wasn''t even care. Her thoughts drifted to Aunt May again, and a sharp pain pierced her chest.
"Ivy, I don''t know what you want," Ss said carefully. "I''m trying to understand you, but it feels like a losing battle." He stood again and moved closer. "Let''s just go home and talk about it."
"You don''t get it. And that''s fine," she said, walking to the door. "I''ll let you know when I''m ready to see you
"Baby..." his voice cracked, but she looked away.
After a long pause, Ss finally left without another word. She shut the door behind him and sank on the bed.
Her chest ached, but she clenched her fists to hold the pain in. It hurt, but she knew she had to feel it. She couldn''t keep letting people use her.
Her phone chimed with a message and she reached for it. It was from Jade.
"Hey ma''am, Eliane Chase came to the office looking for you. She left her card."
ine Chase? What did she want with her?
She replied with a quick: "Thank you," then copsed back on the bed.
Shey there, lost in thought for the longest time, until her phone rang. When she
reached for it, she frowned. It was Ss.
She ignored it, rolling over to her other side. She didn''t want to think about
anything; she didn''t want to be dragged back into guilt or longing.
A knock sounded on the door. With a sigh, she sat up.
"Who''s there?"
"It''s me," Cole answered from the other side.
She opened the door. "Hey."
"I know you''re probably mad that I let him in. But, he''s your husband, I couldn''t
turn him away."
"I understand, and I''m not mad," said quietly.
He frowned. "Then why aren''t you answering his calls?"
/14164 Fri 20 Jun G. G.
vy rolled
her reyes.
She couldn''t believe
called Ss had
Cole
again. "It''s
she nothing, said,
"Well,
he told me to let you
know...
the
has man been found.
He''s in
custody.
Her
reyes widened.
"What man?"
"The from one
your surveince
footage,"
Cole said.