Page 45 of Unravel Me

The last sentence was delivered louder and firmer than the rest and left no room for misunderstanding. It fucked him up to cause more pain for Ivy. A part of me loves him for that and wants to thank him, the other wants to gouge out his fucking eyes to make sure he can’t ever look at her again. But this isn’t just some random asshole I’m talking to, and I’ve got to figure this out.

Reid gets up from the table and walks to the kitchen, and I rub my palms against my eyes. I’ve never had to navigate something like this before. From sixth grade until the day she took off, Ivy was undoubtedly mine. She knew it and so did everyone else. I know she’s been with others since, but I wasn’t around to stop it or see it. This is different. I love Reid like a brother, and I need to make sure of a few things before I can move on.

“Is this something I need to worry about?”

“No.”

“That’s it? Just no?”

“Yep.”

“I trust you. You know that, right?” I mean it. He’s never given me a reason not to trust him. If Reid gives his word, he stands by it.

“Yep. Which is why you should know you don’t have anything to worry about. She’s off-limits. I wouldn’t do that to you. Couldn’t imagine doing that to you, brother.” I release a deep sigh of relief. I knew that was the case, but hearing it makes me feel a whole lot better.

“Someone’s out there for you. You’re gonna find her. You got all of us, too, you’re a part of this family. Whether you believe that or not, it’s the truth.”

He nods his head and I decide to leave it at that. I get up from the table and see myself out. Before leaving, I remind him of family dinner this Sunday.

I hop back on my bike and head out for a long ride. I’ve got a ton of shit to think about and process, not to mention a hundred missed texts from my siblings that I want to avoid.

Without Ivy on the back to worry about, I cut through town, speeding past the other cars and weaving recklessly through traffic. I reach the end of town where the road opens up and head straight for the lookout point at the edge of the ridge. I push my bike to the limit, the wind in my face, leaning hard into the winding mountain roads, causing my footpegs to spark against the asphalt. My thoughts don’t leave her. Ten fucking years apart and my heart is still hers. I don’t know what to do with all the emotions tearing me apart, but I know that I want her and nothing else matters. I race up the mountain, hoping time on the open road will give me a sign of a clear way forward. She needs options, and I need to make sure she knows that I’m one of them. My heart races with the possibilities of everything we could still be. I never stopped loving this woman and now that she’s back, I feel like I can finally breathe again. I know that I need to be patient, that she needs my support more than anything else, and I’m willing to give her that. I’ve waited ten fucking years, I’ll wait another ten if I have to. Our love has always been worth it, and I know deep down that it always will be. The memories of us come flooding back.

“How many babies do you want?”

“You’re not putting a baby in me, Sawyer! We’re eighteen!”

“Technically, I’m almost nineteen. We’ll obviously wait until after college. C’mon, how many are we gonna make?”

“Fine, I’ll play your game. Ten.”

“Don’t play with me, Iv, ’cause I’ll happily put ten babies in you.” I grab her around the waist and drag her across the bed of my truck, the blankets we’re laying on top of bunching under us in the process. Her legs spread open for me, and I settle my hips between them.

“Mmm,” she moans, nuzzling her face into my neck. I rub my hands up the outside of her thighs, pushing her little sundress up as I go, until my fingers meet the thin string of her panties.

“You make me crazy.” I nibble on her shoulder, switching to little kisses as I work my way up her slender neck. I trace my finger along the thin fabric of her underwear, following it down until I meet her wet center. I swipe my finger across the damp spot and her hips gyrate against me.

“Can I have you, butterfly? Let’s practice.”

“Mmm. Practice? We’ve been doing this all year, I think we’re getting the hang of it.”

“Practice making those ten babies I’m going to put in you someday.”

“Five. Just like your mom had. Five is perfect.” I look up to meet her eyes and see nothing but honesty reflected in them.

“Five then.”

I drag her panties down her thighs as far as I can and she kicks them off the rest of the way, leaving her completely bare to me. I pull out a condom from my pocket before pushing down my shorts. I sheath myself before lining up and pushing in gently, working into her tight center until I’m seated fully inside. She feels so damn good every single time. She moans and I love that she enjoys this. The first few times hurt her, and it killed me to know I was causing her pain.

“I can’t wait until I don’t have to wear one of these. I want to feel you around me.”

“I want to feel you come inside me.”

“Fuck, Ivy. You’re making it hard to not say fuck it and take my chance without wearing one.” I move my hips back and push into her again. Her legs wrap around my waist, holding me tightly. My thrusts stay quick and deep inside her.

“Someday,” she says as she holds me close.

“Someday,” I repeat before my lips crash down on hers.

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