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“So, Ivy,” Sloane stopped hard at the stairs, “is everything all right with you?”
“Me?” I gripped the railing, so my body language wasn’t as obvious. “Of course. Why?”
Her eyes narrowed in on me, and she thought for a moment. “You just seemed a little off yesterday.”
“Oh, that. One of my patients from home isn’t doing so well.” I realized my hand ran through my hair and forced myself to drop it. She caught it and let me know she had. It was a tell that I was lying. “I guess it got my head going,” I finished with a lame smile.
“I’m sorry to hear that.” She stepped back and gave me a look. “Okay, I’ll meet you down at the lake?”
“Sounds good.” I whisked up the stairs to get changed.
I choose a white bikini and a pair of wedge heels more for height than look. I slipped on a loose, oversized button-up shirt and headed out the back door and went down to join the others.
I’d already noticed that whenever the house did anything, it was never subtle. Sure enough, there was a huge bonfire, and I passed a table with bags of marshmallows and chocolate for s’mores. The kids ran by with drippy popsicles, and John and Mike were singing as they strummed their guitars. The best part as I came down through the yard was the laughter. My uncle always said the best thing about where he worked was how happy everyone seemed. He said he didn’t know whether it was from his mandatory psychology sessions, or the extreme way Blackstone lived their lives. Many were on their second chance at a better life, but it really didn’t matter to me. It was a beautiful scene.
“I’m loving all of this.” Savi waved her finger up and down my outfit. She linked arms with me. “Your bikini makes your eyes pop.”
“Thank you.” I eyed her pink one and made a sound of approval, and she smiled at me.
“Come. I want you to meet Abby and June. If you thought I was bad for meddling, just wait until you meet these two. Abby is sneakier and quieter, but June has no shame. I love it!” Two older women turned around when Savi called out to them.
“Oh, my, you must be Ivy. I’m June, Abby’s younger sister.” She winked.
“Hi, Ivy. I’m Abby, Mark’s mom. I’ve heard such wonderful things about you.” I remembered reading his file and the story of how Abigail adopted him.
“That’s nice. Thank you.”
“She’s also dating Doc Roberts,” June added, and my chin nearly hit the ground.
“June!” Abby swatted her.
“Oh, my God,” I studied Abby, “everything just clicked for me.” I chuckled. “We need to spend some time together because I just have so many questions.”
“No questions,” Mark huffed. He balanced Tabby, his youngest, on his shoulders. Both her hands had a tight grip on each of his ears like handles. “There’ll be no questions.” He cringed.
“Relax, Mark.” June waved him off. “No man is taking your mother from you.”
“Listen, you little gecko,” he yelped. I watched as he peeled one of his daughter’s hands off his ear, and just as quickly, she latched a hand over his eye like a sucker fish. As fast as he moved it, she grabbed his chin.
I laughed as he continued the battle and spotted Ty as he walked down the hill with Cole and John. Ty was in black board shorts, a ball hat, sunglasses, and flip flops. His arms flexed when he reached down to pat Butters, who insisted on some attention. His body looked like sculped steel.
“Sometimes I pinch myself when I see my husband.” Savi sighed. Her words forced me to rip my eyes away from Ty. “There’s just something about an Army body that speaks to me.”
“Well, there goes my dinner,” her daughter, who I hadn’t even noticed was behind us, groaned.
“Oh, please.” Savi pulled her in for a hug. “It just means your parents are happy.”
“I love the happy part, but talking about Daddy that way…” She made a face. “Besides, the littles are back.” She waved at the kids who were all younger but not that far from her age. “Show some self-control, Mom.”
“I have none when it comes to your father,” she called, which made Olivia run up the hill as fast as she could. “I really think I have this parenting thing down pat.” She grinned at me.
“I’m taking orders.” Keith came up next to us. “What can I get you?”
“White wine for me.” Savi looked at me.
“Same, please. Thanks.”
Ty made a little small talk then gave me a sexy smile, and I tried hard to act like it didn’t affect me at all as I returned it. I huffed out a breath as he went to help Keith, who was balancing all the drinks as he made his way toward us. Then he handed Savi and me our drinks, playing the part of a waiter with a napkin over his arm.
