Page 89 of Recovering Ivy

“Oh, yeah. Zane and I are... umm.. together,” I stammered.

Just then Zane and Leo made their way to our table.

“Baby.” He crouched beside me and kissed my forehead. As nice as that felt, I wished he’d kiss me the way he used to. Maybe he thought I was dirty now that another man had seen me naked. Lance hadn’t had the opportunity to touch me there but he did see me. “I see you’ve met Wolf and Abe.”

“Who?”

The table chuckled and Caroline spoke up. “Mine is Wolf, Alabama’s is Abe. You’ll find there are a lot of names you need to memorize. Everyone has at least two.”

Yes, I had learned that. Zane’s team all had nicknames they used as well. It had taken me a few days to remember what call-sign went with whom. Both Matthew and Christopher were whispering something to their wives. Both women nodded, and the men stood.

“Viper, you gotta minute?” Matthew asked, his tone much harsher than he’d used when speaking to the group of women.

Zane gave him a nod and turned to me. “I’ll be right back. You need anything?”

The pain I saw behind Zane’s gaze gutted me. I didn’t know how to make it better. Maybe he was done with me and didn’t know how to tell me. Perhaps he needed an out. If I told him I was leaving I bet I’d see relief.

I’d tell him after the wedding, when we get home to Zane’s house. I had to stop thinking of the penthouse as home – but yes, I’d tell him then.

“No. Thank you,” I answered.

“I’ll be back, tesorino. Please drink your water.” I heard Leo tell Olivia.

The men walked away from the table and Olivia, Alabama, and Caroline jumped into a conversation about the baby. They were obviously close and were smiling and laughing, catching up. Once again I was an outsider in my own life. I didn’t belong here with all these great people. They were good and clean. I was the same white trash, daughter of an addict whore, as I’ve always been.

I waited until there was a lull in conversation before I stood. “If you’ll all excuse me, please. It was really nice meeting you all.”

I didn’t bother waiting for them to say anything. I knew I was being rude, but I couldn’t sit in Jaxon and Violet’s backyard any longer and pretend my life hadn’t unraveled. I was thrilled everyone was smiling and happy. They all deserved it, they’d earned it. I, on the other hand, didn’t belong. Zane was done with me, which meant his friends were, too. For all I knew, they all knew he was trying to find a way to scrape me off and were being nice, simply because they’re good people.

I was almost to the side gate when I heard Alabama.

“Ivy, wait.” I plastered on the fakest smile I could muster and I turned to face her. “We need to talk.”

“Okay.” I glanced around the side yard. “Everything alright?”

“I know what happened.”

The flinch was involuntary, and I tried my best to fortify my shields, but I was struggling.

“Well, I don’t know everything. But Christopher did give me the heads up that Tex had called and they were on standby in case you were taken west. The guys would be ready to intercept you.”

“I’m sorry for the trouble I caused.” Alabama narrowed her eyes. “You won’t ever have to worry about it again.”

“You’re misunderstanding,” she tried.

“No, I’m not. I get it. Zane is a great man. He deserves more than me. You can tell everyone after today he’ll be free to find her.”

“What in the actual fuck!” I heard growled. “I’m getting Zane.”

“Leo, don’t. Let them talk,” Olivia begged her husband.

“No, tesorino. That’s jacked.”

“Trust me, please. Let them talk. Please, baby.”

“You have five minutes,” he warned.

I wouldn’t need five minutes. I’d be long gone before that.