Page 122 of What About Us

My girl is naked, in bed.

And I want to hold her.

CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE

IVY

My house looks fantastic.

Better than when I lived in it, honestly. There’s nothing personal here, no fluffy blankets or things that say that a person lives here, but it’s clean and fresh.

And it’s not really my home anymore.

“You okay?”

Xander walks up behind me and loops his arms around me, kissing the top of my head, and I lean back against him.

“It looks great,” I say, meaning every word. “Walker and his guys did a good job.”

It took a couple weeks for the flooring to arrive, and then he had to work me in, between other jobs, but that was okay because I wasn’t in a hurry.

I don’t even live here.

“You don’t seem happy.”

I sigh and pace away from him, around the empty living room.

“I’m not unhappy.” I cross my arms over my chest and turn to face Xander, who’s tucked his hands in the pockets of his jeans and is waiting for me to elaborate. “I don’t know what to do.”

“Talk to me, wildcat. I can’t help if I don’t know what’s going on in your head.”

I blow out a breath and tuck my hair behind my ear.

“The house is great, and Walker did a great job. I’m happy with the work.”

“Okay.” His voice is calm, but his jaw is tight.

“But now what? What do I do with it? Am I moving back here when you go back to Denver to rejoin the team? Do I sell it? Do I rent it out? Do I keep it, in case⁠—”

I stop and frown down at my feet.

“Finish it.”

I sigh and shake my head. “In case you decide⁠—”

God, I can’t finish the thought because it makes my chest catch and my stomach hurt, and suddenly, he’s in front of me, and his fingers are under my chin, tilting my face up.

“Decide what, Ivy?”

“That you don’t want me anymore.” It’s a hushed confession. One that I’m not comfortable saying out loud, and I can see by the way his face falls that it was the wrong thing to say. “This is still new, Xander. What if something changes, and you don’t want me with you anymore? Do I keep this house on standby? Keep paying the mortgage and let it sit empty in case you fall out of love with me and ask me to leave?”

He gently brushes his thumb over my freckles.

“Sell the house, baby.”

I blink in surprise. “You don’t have to say that just because I’m having a moment, and⁠—”

“Do you want to know what I love about you, Red?”