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“No, he’s not,” I scoff. But my chest tightens, and I try to keep my face neutral so he doesn’t pick up on the lie. “The only reason he’s around this week is because of the volunteer program through the school.”
“Yeah,” Brady notes with an arched brow. “And why is he doing that? I know all that Jasper stuff wasn’t directly his fault, but you know he’s been into drugs too. Look at what he did to Tom.”
“Maybe that wasn’t him.”
“Don’t be naïve, Ives. It’s not like he ever denied it. Why are you sticking up for him?”
“Just forget about it, I don’t want to argue with you.” There’s no point in continuing the conversation about Conrad. Brady’s made up his mind.
“Me either. Just please be wary around him.”
“Mmhmm.” I take the opportunity to change the subject. “What’s everyone else doing today?”
“Wren’s working, Harley’swith his dad, and Jordan and Ronnie don’t get back from Adelaide until tonight. I thought I’d come hang out with you.”
“So, I’m your last resort?” I roll my eyes at him. “Geez, thanks a lot, B. Way to make a girl feel valued.”
“You said it, not me.”
I swat him over the head with a pillow. “You’re a real jerk sometimes.”
“When do you leave for Dad’s?”
“Tomorrow.”
Brady sighs. “I can’t believe they’re having another baby.”
Tarshia is due to have their second child in the next week or so. After everything that happened between the two of them, Brady still has a… strained relationship with Dad to say the least.
“I guess it’s not a bad thing,” Brady continues.
“What?”
“You going to stay with them for a bit. At least it gets you away from Conrad.”
I groan. How did we manage to circle back here? I’m almost tempted to tell him the truth, just to see what his reaction. Instead, I decide to keep the peace. “You don’t have to worry about that.”
“Good,” he grunts, turning back to his surf show.
I sigh as I open the latest book I’m reading on my Kindle. It’s something new for me: a dark romance about a hockey player and his brother’s girlfriend. I’m not sure what it is but the whole possessive thing is turning out to be my new kink. I wonder what that says about me?
* * *
AS I’M PACKING later that night, Mum walks into my bedroom. She picks up a pair of jeans from the pile on my bed and begins to fold them.
“How are you doing, sweetie?” she asks, placing the jeans in my overnight bag.
“I’m fine, Mum.” I snake my arm around her waist and give her a squeeze.
“I know things have been crazy around here with Brady moving out and me starting to see Alec. Is that weird for you?”
I shoot her a cheeky smile. “I’m not running away because you’re dating, Mum. I’m happy for you. Going to visit Dad after the baby was born was always part of the plan. They’re going to need an extra pair of hands to help out with Theo.”
Mum pulls me in for a hug, and I close my eyes breathing in her comforting, familiar scent. “You and your brother have gone through a lot over the last couple of years, but I’m so proud of you, you know that? You have a good heart, Ivy Willis.”
“Thanks, Mum.”
She kisses the top of my head. “Love you, baby girl. Dinner will be ready in an hour.”
