Page 110 of What About Us

“Ava’s been busy,” she says with a chuckle. “Because I asked her to pick it up and hang it for you. For a surprise.”

“She didn’t ruin it.”

Ivy shakes her head and slips her hand in mine. “Nope. It’s all yours.”

I fucking love it. The mountains, the color of the sky. The little blue flowers in the foreground.

It’s so damn good.

“Thank you.”

She smiles up at me. “Thank you. Now, I need a little time to myself. Not because I don’t enjoy being with you every minute of every day, but I just need to unwind. So, I’m gonna go take a shower.”

She walks to the stairs, and I follow her up, but when she stops by the guest room that she’d been using when she first moved in, I shake my head.

“Fuck no. That’s not your room.”

“I was just going to use the shower.”

“No.” I kiss her hand and lead her into the other bedroom. “You’ll use our bathroom, in our room, Red. That other space no longer exists in your world.”

“It’s really pretty,” she says with a scowl. “But yeah, I prefer this one. With you.”

“Good.” I kiss her forehead. “Get comfortable and take your alone time. I’m going down to work out in the gym.”

I turn to leave, but she catches my arm.

“Only upper body,” she says. “Do not hurt your knee.”

“You’re so fucking bossy.”

That makes her grin. “I know. But listen to me, Hendrix.”

“Go shower, Ivy Rose.”

I wink and then leave her, shutting the door behind me, and rub my hand over my chest.

I hate her uncertainty. The self-doubt. And I know that none of it is my fault. It’s her goddamn mother’s fault.

The one who called me and asked me for money while Ivy was out shopping with Britney in Denver.

The one who threatened to call the press and tell them that I sexually assaulted her if I didn’t pay up.

The one who took it another step further and threatened to make my woman’s life a living hell.

I have her being watched, and there’s no way she’ll get anywhere near Ivy.

My girl deserves so much more than what she’s been given. And it might take some time, but I’ll eventually help her see her worth.

I make my way through a ton of core work. Medicine ball, sit-ups, kettlebells, pull-ups, more medicine ball. I’m a sweaty mess when Ivy walks into the room and strides right over to where I’m sitting and sits in my lap, wraps her arms around my neck, and kisses me hard.

“I love you,” she says against my lips. “So much. And I sounded like an ungrateful bitch earlier, and I’m not ungrateful.”

“Call yourself a bitch again and see what happens.”

“You know what I mean. I am so thankful for everything from that ginormous cat tree for Cally to the blankets, to the soothing hair brushing, to the orgasms, to⁠—”

“I get it.”