Page 91 of Griffin

“If you ruin her life in any way, I’ll kill you. Ivy isn’t a new momma for Melody, and she’s not gonna be a pretty fucking housewife. She’snotyour fuck toy; she’s mydaughter.”

Kevin snarls every word into my face, spittle landing on me as I nod.

“I know.”

Kevin pushes me back, panting, as he stares down at me.

“I’ll be damned if I’ve worked like I have for her to end up with anyone who isn’t worthy of her. She’s never even left this fucking town, Griffin, and youknow it.”

I can’t say anything because my lip is pouring with blood, the split deepening every time I try to talk.

“You want to be with my daughter, fine. If she wants your sorry ass, that’s up to her. But you don’t fucking hold her back, you hear me? You don’t fuckingkeep her here.”

My body throbs as I grit my teeth, hauling myself to my feet in time to see Ivy step through the door, a hand clapping to her mouth when she sees me. Her ice-blue eyes move to her father with disgust.

“Daddy, what the hell were you thinking?!”

Ivy moves forward, lifting a t-shirt from the rack beside her to press to my mouth.

“I’m okay, Ivy.” I glance outside to see Shelby playing with Melody, who laughs in the sunshine as they splash one another. “Hey, I’m okay.”

I tilt her chin up to see tears filling her eyes.

“I’m so sorry,” Ivy whispers, turning to glare at her father, who is leaning against the counter, his head dipping between his outstretched arms. “Why did you tell him without me?”

I shake my head, wincing as the t-shirt pulls at my lip.

“I didn’t. He thought I’d spent the night with your friend.”

Ivy’s eyes bulge as she glares at her father, who completely ignores her.

“Shelby?”

I shrug, and she wraps her arms around me, pressing her head to my chest despite the blood pooling there.

Kevin looks over at us, sighing heavily before heading to the fridge.

“I need a fucking drink.”

29

IVY

Dad calmed down after a while, but something didn’t sit right with me. Why did my dad get so angry at the thought of Griffin with Shelby? Part of me is relieved Dad knows about us because Griffin and I don’t need to hide anymore. Not that we’d had to for long, but it took everything I had to keep my hands off him.

We took Melody home after Dad’s fury was unleashed and explained to her that Griffin had fallen over.

I’d not heard from Dad since, but it’s only been two days.

Shelby stayed behind after we left, and I didn’t bother asking why. It was obvious something was going on there, no matter what they said.

“She’s asleep.” Griffin enters the room in thin gray joggers and a thin black t-shirt, revealing his delicious body. His lip is slowly healing, and his black eye and bruised purple cheek somehow make him even more handsome.

He slumps onto the sofa beside me, his hand moving to my thigh. He rolls his head to me, his eyes half-closing.

“I’m too old for this shit.”

“You’re not old,” I say with a laugh. “You’re gorgeous.”

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