Page 150 of What About Us

“I hope so, baby.”

She swallows hard, and then Cally’s in her face, vying for Ivy’s attention, making me smile.

“She hasn’t let me out of her sight,” Ivy says as she kisses the feline’s cheek. “She’s been lonely. But she loves that huge cat tree you got her. She sits up there and watches it snow.”

I miss them both so much that I ache with it.

“I saw your dad today,” she continues, and I settle back, ready to just hear her sweet voice. “He made me breakfast. He looks great, so you don’t need to worry.”

“Thanks for going to see him.”

She smiles again. “He’s really such a good guy.”

“I know.”

We’re quiet, uncomfortably so, for the first time since she and I started working together, and I fucking hate it.

“What are you doing tomorrow?” she asks me.

“Children’s hospital in the morning. Then I have a photoshoot at the arena in the afternoon.”

She nods and bites her lip.

“What about you?”

“Oh, just a bunch of errands.”

This whole conversation is torture.

“I’ll text you tomorrow,” she says.

“I’ll answer.”

She nods, and I wish with all my might I could reach through the phone and brush my thumb over her freckles.

“I’ll see you soon,” she says.

“Sleep well, wildcat.”

She nods and then ends the call.

Fuck.

CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE

IVY

“Iknow, this is going to leave you shorthanded, and I’m sorry, Sara.”

My now-former boss shakes her head.

“I figured it was only a matter of time. This is what you’ve always wanted to do, Ivy. You’ll be so great at it.”

“But what are you going to do? You were already down one therapist.”

“I just hired someone yesterday afternoon. So, it’ll still be tight, but not dire.”

My shoulders sag in relief.