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“Brady!” Wren cries, scooping down to pick it up. “Calm down.”
“Calm down?” he shouts. “Calm down? Harley’s world has just been obliterated. His mum was everything to him, and now this? He’s going to be absolutely gutted.”
“Well, there’s nothing you can do about it tonight. You’ve all been drinking, and I can’t drive a manual. Let’s just sleep it off and drive back first thing in the morning.”
Brady follows her over to the Kombi muttering curses the entire way. He climbs in behind her and slams the door shut so hard that the entire van rattles.
I haven’t moved from where I’m crouched in front of Conrad. I think I’m in shock. Lily Breed was the sweetest, kindest woman. She’d loved baking and would always send Harley to school with extra treats. Before she died, we would always go to Harley and Tom’s after a morning surf because she’d have breakfast muffins straight out of the oven waiting for us. How could Sam do that to her?
“Ellie?” Sophie’s voice behind me pulls me out of my stupor. “What’s going on? Are you okay?”
A sob tears from Ellie and she jumps up from her chair, running into her best friend’s arms.
“I don’t understand,” I say slowly, looking at her. Kody and Dave stand to the side, wide-eyed and wondering what they’ve just walked into. My stomach churns as I realise the implications for Harley and Ellie dating. “Is she–”
“Just me,” Conrad interrupts, his voice bitter. “Apparently Mum went crawling back.”
“What’s going on?” Dave repeats the question of the night. Conrad just shakes his head. Dave rubs the back of his neck. “Yeah, okay. Well… I guess we’ll see you guys in the morning.”
He nods at Kody, and they disappear into their tent. Kody casts a quick glance at Sophie, but she’s busy comforting Ellie and leading her into their own tent.
I rub my forehead as if it will stave off the headache forming. Nothing makes sense to me right now. “Are you okay?” I ask Conrad.
He shrugs and my heart breaks for him. “Don’t shut me out,” I beg, reaching up to cup his cheek in my hand. “Talk to me.”
He shakes his head and stands up. “I shouldn’t have dragged you into this. I should have stayed home.”
I grab his arm to stop him from walking away, my heart splintering to pieces. “Please don’t walk away from me, Conrad. Let me be here for you like you were for me. I want all of you–the good and the bad.”
Conrad stares down at me for a moment, and I can almost see the emotions flickering in his eyes. I hold my breath, terrified that he’s going to walk away from me. If he does, it’ll end me. Finally, he pulls me into his hard body, squeezing me tight as he buries his head in the crook of my neck. “I don’t even know who the fuck I am anymore.”
“You’re mine,” I breathe out.
I can feel his heart racing against my cheek. His fingers trace a delicious path down my spine that has me shivering. “Will you stay with me tonight? I don’t want to be alone.”
I tilt my head up to look at him. “Of course.”
He leans down and brushes his lips over mine. “Thanks, Ivy. I don’t know what I’d do if I didn’t have you.”
I take in the lost, hopeless expression in his eyes–and tears start to burn behind my own. He takes me by the hand and leads me over to his tent. Without a word, Conrad hands me one of his t-shirts and I quickly change into it. His scent consumes me, and I pull the collar over my nose to take in a deep breath.
I don’t know exactly when it happened, but I fell for Conrad–hard. As I watch him sit there with his head in his hands, I regret every time I tried to push him away. I crawl over to him and circle my arms around his waist. “Hold me.”
He lets out a weighted sigh and lies down next to me, spooning his body around mine. “You’re fucking perfect, Princess. I’m never going to let you go.”
His words instantly ease the anxiety coursing through my veins. I tried to be there for Lachy when he lost his mum, but he pushed me away. He left. I don’t think I even realised what I needed to hear until Conrad said it.
“I’m here for you,” I whisper into the dark.
“We’re here for each other,” Conrad whispers back, pressing his lips to my shoulder.
I close my eyes trying not to think about what’s to come for him. Whatever it is, we’ll get through it–together.
THIRTY-FIVE
CONRAD
I STARE AT the roof of the tent wondering how I got so damn lucky with Ivy. I thought for sure when she found out about everything, she’d cut and run. But she’s still here, draped over me as if it’s the most natural thing in the world.
