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“Mom, you brought her half a dozen muffins this morning,” Ian said. “And I know this because they were the last half a dozen muffins.”
Mom gave him a sharp, quelling look, and Ian swallowed, shrinking down in his chair.
I exhaled heavily. “I doubt Ivy is going hungry, Mom.”
Then she gave me a sharp, quelling look, and I swear to all things holy, sweat started to bead on my forehead. Professional interrogators could learn a thing or two from Sheila Wilder.
“I’ll bring it,” Poppy said. “She seems lonely, if you ask me. I’d love to make friends with her.”
Mom’s gaze didn’t waver from mine, and she slowly arched an eyebrow.
A lonely Ivy.
Why did the thought of that feel like someone shoved a knife straight between my ribs?
“I’ll do it,” I said in a gruff voice.
Her smile turned knowing, and I barely managed not to roll my eyes.
“Can I come with you?” Poppy asked.
“No,” Mom and Greer said in unison.
Poppy exhaled loudly. “Fine.”
Ian watched me carefully while I cleared my dishes and loaded them into the dishwasher. Mom packed up a leftover container of some grilled chicken and corn and mashed potatoes. It was enough to feed three people, but I kept my mouth shut because I had a healthy sense of self-preservation. Greer snorted when Mom added some cookies, then paused to consider the last half of the pie she’d made.
“Mom,” Poppy admonished. “She’s one person.”
Mom tutted. “I know, I know. I just can’t help myself. I already told her I’d love for her to come over for some tea, so I can always give her more if she does.”
“Make sure I’m gone,” Ian muttered.
Mom pivoted slowly, her eyebrows raised. “Oh, I will,” she said in a warning tone.
Poppy threw a roll at Ian’s head, and he snatched it out of the air, eating half of it in one bite. She rolled her eyes.
Greer stood, kissing Dad on the head. “I need to head back home. I promised Olive I’d be home before Beckett tucked her into bed.”
“Bring her with you next time,” Dad said. “I like my granddaughters more than I like the rest of you.” He gave me, Ian, and Poppy a pointed stare. “And that’s not an invitation to spring some children on me just because I’m dying. Only have kids when you’re ready.”
Ian held his hands up. ”I’m not getting married, so you’re fine there.”
“It’s tough when no one wants you,” I told him consolingly.
He slicked his tongue over his teeth while Poppy laughed. “Poppy won’t either because she’s too in love with Jax to consider anyone else, and he’ll never think of her that way.”
Poppy’s cheeks turned red. “When are you moving back to London again?”
I gave Ian a hard stare.
He smiled back. “And Cameron won’t because all the women in Sisters have much better taste than that.”
“When are you moving back to London again?” I asked.
His grin was smug, and I wanted to punch him in the throat.
Greer smacked the back of his head when she passed. “Quit being a dick. Your firstborn bully tendencies are showing, and it’s not cute.” She gave me a hug. “Ignore him,” she said quietly.
