Page 78 of Griffin

My head aches.

“I think you better go,” I mutter, waving at the door. “Sorry.”

Christina laughs, shaking her head. “You will be if Kevin finds out. But from how Ivy was with that Bentley boy earlier, I don’t think you’ve got a chance in hell.”

Christina swipes the remaining wine from the kitchen counter, glaring at me as she leaves, her stifling perfume filling the air.

Dragging my hands through my hair, I lean forward, shaking my head.

Ivy is out on the town. She could’ve been here with you, but she went out. Now she’s with another guy.

Red-hot anger slices through my veins as I grit my teeth.

Doesn’t she feel what I feel?

I stare around the room, the soulless, empty room.

No family photographs.

Nothing.

Christina was right about one thing — I need to settle down. I want to — with Ivy.

But Ivy isn’t ready.

“Fuck this.”

I head to bed, not even bothering to put the glasses in the sink. I go upstairs, pausing to look at Melody, who is sleeping soundly. I loved her mother. I had a family once.

I stand there for twenty minutes, watching Melody’s little chest rise and fall.

She deserves better than this.

If I got into things with Ivy and she changed her mind, where would that leave Melody? I’m over nights out in town with buddies, drinking and fucking all night long.

Maybe we’re just too different.

I check my phone, hoping to see a text from Ivy, but there’s nothing. The jealous part of me knows that if I didn’t have Melody tonight, I’d probably find Ivy in town and show her what a good fucking was.

But I do have Melody. I have responsibilities.

I’m a daddy, and I won’t risk that for anyone.

Not even Ivy.

25

IVY

It ends up being one of those nights where the alcohol takes over, and the world becomes your playground. We’d reminisced, danced, and drank more than we should have, and now it was time to go home.

I lean against Shelby as she hiccups, insisting we get a cab to my house.

“Mine?” I nod in agreement. “Yeah, onlyus,though.”

Finlay had suggested taking the party back to his, and I had shut him down quickly.

“Ah, come on,” Finlay complains, wrapping his arm around my shoulders and hugging me close. “You can sleep in my bed.”

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