Page 59 of Recovering Ivy

“Ivy, this is Violet, Jaxon’s woman.” He pointed toward a beautiful brunette woman and then to a pregnant blonde and continued. “That is Olivia, Leo’s wife.”

My God, could these two be any more stunning? I was plain and average looking on my best day but next to these women I looked like a gutter rat, especially in my ripped-up jeans and plain black fitted tee. They were both in stylish outfits, complete with accessories and hair done nicely. If I’d known there was going to be a meet and greet I would’ve at least tried to look halfway decent.

“Sorry to barge in on you. We were at some hoity-toity luncheon thing for my father and thought we’d stop by and see if you wanted to go to the mall with us,” the blonde one, Olivia, asked.

I didn’t know who her father was, but if they had to dress to the nines to go to lunch with him she had to come from money. I hated to sound like a reverse snob, but I had nothing in common with rich people and tended to get tongue-tied and sound like an idiot.

“Jesus, that sounded pretentious. I hate having to get dressed up and put on the whole dog and pony show. I promise we both have a change of clothes in the car. I am in desperate need of greasy mall food and an extra-large Coke.” Olivia smiled.

“Water. Tesorino, you’re not supposed to drink soda,” Leo said, entering the conversation.

“The doctor said I could still have one a day, Mr. Bossy. I plan on having one. Besides, after lunch with the DC crowd I deserve an alcoholic drink, but I’ll settle for a soda,” she said, placing her hand on her hip.

“A small,” he countered.

“A medium.”

“Fine. Come here and give me a kiss. I gotta roll.”

She walked over to Leo and gave him a soft lip touch. “I love you. Be safe.”

“Always, Tesorino.” Then he looked at Zane. “I gotta lead. I’ll call you from the road.”

“Roger that,” Zane said.

“Anyway.” Violet rolled her eyes and said, “So the mall? You up for shopping?”

“Negative,” Zane answered for me.

“Zane! Don’t be rude.”

“Baby, you’re not going to the mall.”

I knew I couldn’t go to the mall with Sarah lurking around. I would die a thousand deaths if she found me and had one of her episodes in front of Olivia and Violet, but I didn’t like being bossed around.

“Says who?” I asked.

“Says me. You can go to the mall and shop ‘til your heart’s content after the douchebag and his sidekick are behind bars. Until then? It’s a no-go.”

“What if Garrett or Linc goes with us?” I was grasping at straws but I wasn’t ready to concede without a fight.

“Garrett has work to do and Linc doesn’t know what the inside of the mall looks like.”

“What if…”

“No,” he cut me off.

“Stop talking over me. You don’t even know what I was going to say. You’re being unreasonable.”

“About your safety and mental wellbeing - goddamn right I am. Just no, Ivy. I’d prefer not to spend a few hours in lockup on a Saturday afternoon while my team gets bail money together. And that is exactly what would happen if that bitch comes around you again.”

“Ahh, I knew under all that gruff there was a sweetheart hiding,” Violet said. “I’ve changed my mind. Your new nickname isn’t asswipe - it’s sweetcakes.”

“Jaxon!” Zane billowed.

“Yo.” Jaxon walked into the kitchenette, grabbed Violet around the waist, and kissed the top of her head.

“Get your woman out of here. And if she ever calls me sweetcakes again, I’m shooting someone. Probably you because you can’t control your woman. Christ, I knew it was a bad idea when my men started collecting women.”