Page 24 of Unravel Me

“You don’t have to thank me, sweetheart. Glad I was here. No one should be alone when they’re this upset.”

Unsure of what to say in return, I sit in silence while he half holds me until my tears run completely dry and I feel like I have more control over myself.

“Will you tell me what’s wrong? I hate to see anyone cry.”

I lean back to study him for a moment. He is such an enigma. This huge, tattooed, burly man is so soft and tender. He hasn’t shown me anything but kindness.

I take a few cleansing breaths and dry my face on the sleeve of my sweatshirt, even though the rain makes the effort futile. He waits patiently for me to talk, and I realize he’s not expecting me to at all.

“I equally loathe and love this place. I haven’t been back since I left here at eighteen. I had a really hard time at home, didn’t have the best parents, and emotions weren’t really tolerated. This beach was my safe place and I’d always let it all out here and feel better. I guess my body just knew I was safe, and after holding my shit together for the last ten years, I needed the release.” Reid just looks at me and lets me talk. He’s so patient and easygoing, I decide to give him just a little more.

“I’ve been too scared to ever come back here. To Aspen Ridge, I think. But . . . my life went to total shit and I had no other options. So here I am, back at the beginning and starting over with absolutely nothing to show for the time I was away. I don’t belong anywhere. I’ve been walking aimlessly through a life Inever wanted and now I’m back and I don’t even have anything here, either.”

“I’m sorry. For whatever caused you pain, Ivy. But everything will be okay. You need to believe that.”

“I don’t know about that. But thanks. I’m glad I ran into you and not anyone else. I don’t know how I’m going to live in this town and not face everyone.”

“I haven’t lived here nearly as long as the rest of the people, but not much seems to change. I’m sure everyone will welcome you back just fine and be happy to see you again.”

I let the silence stretch between us before whispering so low that I’m not sure he even heard it.

“Not everyone.”

Chapter 9

REID

Idrop Ivy off at her house and jog across our lawns and into my own. I make it into the entryway before stripping out of all my wet clothes and heading straight to the shower. I’m so torn between what to do that I feel sick. Ivy is so goddamn beautiful, and fuck if she isn’t breaking my goddamn heart. I’ve never seen someone in so much emotional pain. Whatever brought her back here coupled with the fact that she’s back at all, has really done a number on her. I know that I need to tell Sawyer that she’s here. But at what cost? I don’t know if I can handle causing someone else more pain.

Fuck.

The way she looked at me when she asked me to keep her secret. The way her body relaxed into mine when I held her through her breakdown. The way she felt in my arms, even if she was crying, just felt too good. I’m obviously very attracted to her, and there’s a clear connection there, but if anyone in the world is off-limits to me, it’s Ivy. It figures that the first girl that stirs something inside me is my best friend’s long-lost love. Sawyer has seen me through some rough times with my family and he’s been a brother to me. I’d never cross a line that would jeopardize our friendship. But if I can’t explore what I felt from the moment I saw that girl, I at least want to be her friend. Especially since it’s clear she needs one right now.

I wash my body quickly and throw on some clothes, knowing that I’m heading to Sawyers’ to face him. I know the damage I’ve already caused by not telling him as soon as I knew she was here, I’ll be damned if I make it worse by keeping it from him any longer.

I just hope Ivy forgives me.

Chapter 10

SAWYER

Feeling drained from the longest fucking day, the moment I’m home I head straight to my bar to pour a drink of whiskey, tossing back the alcohol and enjoying the burn. I pour another two fingers and take a seat on my leather couch, drink in hand, when the doorbell rings. A frustrated sigh escapes me, and I hope like hell whoever it is will just go away. Resting my head on the back of the couch and closing my eyes, my effort to relax is futile as whoever it is just keeps rapidly ringing the bell and following it by pounding a fist on the door. I begrudgingly drag my feet toward the door, heading to greet the asshole when my best friend’s voice bellows from the other side.

“Open the door, Sawyer, I know you’re in there.” I whip it open, surprised to see Reid looking rumpled as fuck, but after the long day I’ve had, I’m really in no mood for whatever he’s got planned.

“Hey, man, didn’t expect you. Been a long-ass day, not really in the mood for company tonight.”

“We gotta talk.” He seems agitated as he walks past me, ignoring my attempt to get him to leave. I push the door shut and follow him into my living area where I find him pacing. Something isn’t right. My shitty mood retreats and I go into concern mode.

“What’s up, man, you okay?” I ask, not sure what the fuck is going on. He looks at me, his face only giving away how torn up he feels. He rubs his hands through his hair and closes his eyes for a second longer than a blink.

“Reid . . .”

“It’s Ivy.”

Two words.

That’s all it takes for my world to flip upside down. My body is frozen to the spot. My brain takes a full minute to process his words. Shocked, I gape at him as confusion fills my head. I know that Reid knows about Ivy because we’ve been best friends since college, but he’s never met her. He knows what she meant to me all those years ago. He was also there when I fell apart last year after her parents’ funeral and she didn’t show up like she damn well should have. But what the fuck is he talking about right now that has him all worked up like this?

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