Page 102 of Training the Heart

I lose my shirt and get into bed beside her. Before Ivy started sleeping here, my room always felt lifeless. The deep walnut cabin walls against the rustic log headboard Cole and I made last summer. The navy blue bedding covering my California king-size bed. Everything was neat and cool. Now that she sits in the center of it, there is life here, it’s warmer, and crawling in besideher naked little body every night, wrapping my arms around her, is the only place on this earth I truly care to be.

“Support is the most important thing. I just have to figure out how to do it all with Angel’s juvenile year ahead.” Her pretty features knot as she thinks about the responsibility on her shoulders. It’s a look I know well because it’s one I wear most days, wishing there were more hours than twenty-four to get things done.

“We’ll figure it out. Where there’s a will, there’s a way, right?” I ask as I use my thumb to swipe rogue whipped cream from the corner of her mouth and lick it off my own thumb.

Her eyes turn to mine and she smiles.

“You remember my dad’s words?” It’s the simplest statement but I blink at her. I hadn’t even thought. It just seems to me, we’re in this and everything else going forward together.

“Ivy, I remember everything you’ve ever said to me. In case it isn’t obvious, I’m fucking crazy about you.”

She kisses my lips. “Meh, you’re alright.” She giggles.

I’m grabbing her ice cream from her and setting it down on the table, ready to show her just how crazy she actually is for me too, when my phone buzzes on the bedside table.

“Fuck, I’m waiting on something,” I say, as Ivy sits back up and happily starts munching on her ice cream again, continuing her read through Walnut Grove Rehabilitation Center’s website. And it’s the text I’m waiting for.

BOSS LADY

I talked to the contractors, they’re coming in the morning. You’re doing the right thing.

I know, I just don’t want to put any pressure on this yet, so it stays between you and me until it’s done.

BOSS LADY

One thing I know for certain is you can’t ever be too loyal. I know you’re not the heart on your sleeve kind, but Wade at some point you have to try to trust the universe has your back.

Thanks for the Ted Talk.

BOSS LADY

Stop being a smart ass. She’s going to love it. You’ll see.

You know this because you’re always right?

BOSS LADY

Because you’ve got something special here. Because that girl loves you.

BOSS LADY

Also because I’m always right. *Wink face*

I set my phone down and look over at Ivy; she’s leaning against my headboard, knees bent, iPad in her lap. Her hair is pulled up high on her head in one of her scrunchies and the strap of her tank top hangs off her shoulder just slightly. Her mouth opens into one of her cute little yawns and something about how she looks is so easy, so natural.

All my worries about taking such a big step for her disappear as I settle in with Ivy in my bed, inourbed. Her arms come up around me and I instantly know I am doing the right thing.

And fuck, my motherisalways right.

CHAPTER FIFTY-THREE

Ivy

By Saturday morning, I’m up early, ready to head to Jellico and then to the hospital to see my mother off to her new rehab facility.

The ranch is quiet when I head over to the barn to see Wade before I leave. The only sound is hammering coming from Spirit, the cabin two over from mine. Wade has contractors working on some of the worn-down cabins on the property over the next few weeks. The sun isn’t even up yet and the air has a spring-like quality to it. This is my favorite time to be at the barn, I know Rowan is already out working with Angel and Dusty on our practice track, and he’ll be leaving before us for Florida. My brain is buzzing as I enter the silos office; there is so much riding on this gate card, so much riding on my mama.

It all floats upward when I open Wade’s door and see him deep in thought, wearing his glasses with a pencil between his teeth. He’s looking at blueprints for the first cabin that is being worked on. His cowboy hat is off and his hair is rustled. His warm leather and spicy scent fills my senses, and I feel the need to just hug him. His eyes rake over me when he sees me, setting something off in me without him even touching me. He smirks atme—we’re matching, both of us in black and gray flannels and blue jeans.

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