Page 109 of Training the Heart

“Hmm?” she says, looking up at me from where she’s standing at the living room window watching the sun sink behind the hills. She’s nervous, and I can tell something more is going on.

“You didn’t even hear me, did you?”

“Sorry, Wade.” She sniffs, but says nothing else, which is again, highly unlike her. It’s at this moment I realize whatever is going on with her isn’t about her mother or Sam, and I’m going to find out what it is right now.

I put my kitchen tools down and walk to her, placing myhands on her shoulders, bringing her to my chest. I just hug her for a moment.

“I was right, you do give the best hugs,” she says, causing me to chuckle.

“What?”

“Nothing, Wade. Just a hunch I had about you once.” I kiss her head.

“Are you going to tell me what’s going on in your mind?” I ask

“I’m just dealing with some things today. I don’t get surprised very often …” Ivy says randomly, before she looks up at me and smiles through fresh tears.

I have not a goddamn clue what she’s mumbling about, but I can see the fight on her pretty face. Like she wants to tell me something or ask me something.

“What’s going on, Trouble? I don’t mean to sound like a prick here, but there’s never a time where you aren’t talking. If you’re waging a war in that pretty head of yours over something, let me fight it with you.”

A feeling of worry floods me as it occurs to me. It may be what I said to her this morning. Was it too much, too fast for her?

“I’m just … overwhelmed right now.” She sniffs. I get it, because the need I have to protect her overwhelmsme.I kiss her lips and she lets me in, reaching her hands up around the nape of my neck, letting them settle there in their place as they always do.

“Was it being around Sam today? Was it too much? Did she say something that upset you?”

“No, Wade, she was great, it’s just … I want that for you so badly. A future like that, a family …”

None of this makes sense.

“We could have that if you want, however that looks for us.”

“Wade, why do you have to be so perfect?” she asks as she wipes away a tear. “I mean, don’t you just think it would beeasier with someone else for you? Simpler? Even when you were with Janelle, it would’ve been easier. She could’ve given you a future, a family.”

I scoff,like fuck.I look down at her and realize she’s actually serious.

“Where is all this coming from, Ivy?” I ask.

Ivy breathes out a gentle sigh and turns to face me.

“I saw her today at the nail salon—Janelle. She said she talked to you, told you she might want to try again and I couldn’t help but wonder … I mean, I know how you feel about me, but if you want a family … maybe someone, not necessarily Janelle but … maybe that would be better.”

Wait … the fuck?

I set my jaw and take a breath, placing my hands on my hips. I try to stay calm. The fact that Ivy could even be threatened by Janelle and her lies, making her second-guess our future together, even momentarily, is too much for me.

Fucking Janelle.

“Ivy, I did see her, at Woody’s the other day, but not in the way you think. She showed up while we were there. She came in and asked me for money.”

Ivy thinks for a moment and chews on her lip.

“Did she tell you she wanted to try again? To start a family with you?”

I run a hand through my hair.

“Yes. She did, but that’s what she does. She uses people. I was just someone she needed something from. And to state the glaringly obvious, I don’t love her, I love you. I’m certainly not about to let a bullshit encounter with Janelle let you push me away. You have nothing to worry about with her, or anyone else ever, trust me.”

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