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“I’ll book my flight as soon as we’re done with this call. I wanted to make sure you were free.”
“Oh, sweetheart, you know this is your home too. You can come any time you want without checking with us first.”
Tears flow down my eyes. Suddenly I can’t wait to go to Florida to be with my parents. I can’t wait to see their reactions when I tell them they’ll soon be grandparents. I wish I had a boyfriend to show off, too, but it is what it is, and I’m hoping they’ll be happy that I’m expecting a baby.
We hang up after chatting for a few more minutes, and I immediately go online to book my flight. Only when it is done, do I text my sister to tell her.
Molly: How long will you stay?
Me: I’m not sure. A week. Maybe more.
Molly: How will the delectable Dr. Anderson survive without you?
Me: I’m sure he’ll be just fine.
I’m pretty sure that Alec won’t even notice that I’m gone. After the scan appointment today, we don’t have a reason to meet again until the next appointment with Dr. Brown. Even then, he doesn’t need to be there.
23
Alec
I’m stewing as I walk into the bar. My brothers are already there, and I join them at the bar.
“You look ready to punch someone,” Dylan comments.
Jace wisely keeps quiet.
The bartender comes to me. “What would you like to have this fine evening?”
It’s not a fine evening, I want to bark at him, but it’s not his fault that I feel like shit. The person responsible for my bad mood is, at this moment, strolling down the beautiful, tranquil Florida beaches. Without a single word of warning.
“I’ll have a whiskey on the rocks.” I pull out the stool and sit down.
“Long day?” Jace says sympathetically.
“Ivy left for Florida yesterday without letting me know, and her phone has been switched off since then. I had to find out from her asshole of a housemate.”
“She left without telling you?” Jace asks.
“I’m not surprised,” Dylan mumbles.
The bartender brings my whiskey and places it in front of me. “Enjoy your drink, sir.”
I nod absentmindedly and turn to Dylan. “What do you mean you’re not surprised? Did she say anything when she was shadowing you?”
“No, but I could tell she wasn’t happy about that dinner at Mom and Dad’s. I don’t blame her. Mom behaved horribly. She went out of her way to make Ivy feel that she didn’t belong. I apologized on behalf of us all,” Dylan says.
“I felt sorry for her, but she was an absolute star,” Jace says. A puzzled look comes over his features. “That was so unlike Mom. For once, I was embarrassed to be her son.”
“She doesn’t like Ivy,” I said.
Both of my brothers turn to me.
“No shit, but why?” Dylan asks. “Ivy is a sweetheart. We were lucky that she was the one who got your sperm. It could have been anyone, really, including a married woman.”
I inhale deeply. “Ivy is a struggling writer. She’s just starting her writing career, and as such, she lives a pretty simple lifestyle. Her home is not in the best neighborhood—”
Dylan interrupts me by raising his hand. “Wait, what does all this have to do with Mom not liking her?”
