Page 82 of Wasted On You

“You okay?”

They’d just pulled up to the main house on the Bridgestone ranch. It was ablaze with lights and looked welcoming. She spied a Christmas tree twinkling from the window that overlooked the porch.

Was she okay? No. Ivy was so far from okay that she wasn’t sure she’d find her way back. Mike Paul hadn’t replied to any of her text messages or picked up when she’d tried calling him. She’d left so many voicemails it was embarrassing. Each more pathetic than the last. The ball of anxiety that sat in the pit of her stomach was making her feel nauseous.

She peered up at the house once more, wishing she was somewhere else. There’d be too many people inside. All of them excited about the holidays. For the chance to spend time with loved ones.Her mother was inside.No doubt happier than a pig in shit to have Senator Lafferty and his glamorous wife as her guests.

“This place looks amazing.” Collins Lafferty sat in the back of the truck. She’d arrived in Big Bend around noon, flying in from Japan or Thailand or wherever the heck she’d been working. Ivy hadn’t paid much attention. Collins was younger and bubbly and full of life. A carbon copy of her beautiful mother, she was a nepo baby who made a generous living modeling for all the top brands. She was also the apple of her brother’s eye.

“Are we waiting for the bat signal or something?” Collin’s hunched forward, eyes on Ivy and Kip. Their grandfather was back at Ivy’s place—he’d decided to stay in, so it was just the three of them.

“Ivy?” Kip asked, his expression concerned.

“Let’s go,” Ivy said, reaching for the door. She pasted a smile on her face and led the way inside.

The house was decorated to the nines, and as soon as she walked inside, Nora Bridgestone, Benton’s little girl, came running at her.

“Ivy, I love your dress,” Nora squealed. “Do you like mine?” Dressed in red velvet and matching shoes, she twirled. “It’s like a princess dress. Auntie Scar gave it to me.” The little girl stopped spinning when she spied Collins. “Who are you?” she asked. “I like your hair.”

Collins laughed and held out her hand. “I’m Kip’s sister, Collins. Is this your house?”

Nora nodded. “Do you want to see my bedroom?”

“I…” Collins gave Kip her coat and shrugged. “Why not?”

The little girl happily led Collins up the stairs while Kip took their coats and hung them up. There was music and voices, and folks in the living room gathered around the massive Christmas tree. There were more bodies in the dining room where a table laden with holiday treats stood. Where was Mike Paul? She spied her mother with Kip’s parents in the dining room and automatically turned in the opposite direction.

“I’m just going to…” She pointed toward the kitchen.

Kip slowly nodded. “Okay.” He took her hand and leaned forward. “Go find him. Talk to him.”

Ivy tried to smile.

“I’ll end this right now if that’s what you want.”

“No,” she replied with a small shake to the head. “We’ll tell them Boxing Day. Like we planned.”

Ivy walked down the hall and found Scarlett, Vivian, and Benton in the kitchen. The siblings were bent over the counter, laughing about something. They looked so easy together. So right. It was nice to have family. To have that connection. To know you someone had your back.

She’d always been an only child, so the notion wasn’t a familiar one. Ivy had never felt more alone than she did at this moment. Feeling as if she was intruding on something private, she was about to leave when Benton glanced over his shoulder.

“Hey,” he said with a smile. “Merry Christmas.”

Ivy gave a small wave. “Hi.”

The girls laughed and raised a glass of red punch while Benton walked over.

“Cal and Millie Sue are around somewhere.”

“Yes. She messaged me when they were headed over.” She paused. Licked her dry lips. Then thought fuck it. Ivy cleared her throat and squared her shoulders. “Is Mike Paul with them?”

Benton rocked back on his heels. He shoved his hands into the front pockets of his black slacks and shrugged. “I haven’t seen Darlington tonight.”

Her face fell.

“Not yet, anyway. Mike Paul has his own schedule. I’m sure he’ll be along soon.”

“You’re right. I’m sure he wouldn’t miss your open house.”

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