Page 53 of Unravel Me

“Yeah. I don’t know what you saw, but it’s fine. He won’t chase me here and he’ll move on soon enough. It’s nothing.”

“Those texts didn’t seem like nothing, Ivy. He’s deranged and he’s harassing you, and I’m not okay with that.”

“I’m ignoring him, and he’ll get bored and find someone else to mess with. It’s fine, Sawyer, really. I’ve got bigger things to worry about than Brooks.”

She bites her bottom lip between her teeth and grasps her hands, kneading and pulling at her fingers. My head cocks to the side as I watch her. She’s anxious, panicky. So much has happened over the last ten years that has wound her up tight and left its mark on her. It’s more than just a piece of shit ex-boyfriend. If it’s the only thing I get to do for Ivy, I’ll unravel all of the trauma, anxiety, and weight she bears, and make her feel like a goddess in the process.

I’ve got my work cut out for me, but I would do anything for this woman, and I’m going to prove it.

Chapter 20

IVY

We park out front of Sawyer’s house and I climb out of his truck. He grabs my two bags effortlessly and I follow him into the house. It’s a gorgeous home and it’s clear he’s worked hard on it. The front door opens to a small mudroom, where I kick my Converse off and set them to the side, then walk behind Sawyer down a short hallway that leads to an open-concept living space.

“I know you’ve been here before, but I didn’t really give you much of a tour. My mind was elsewhere,” he says.

“It’s okay. Mine was too.”

“Let me brew us some coffee, you mind if I shower first?”

“No, go ahead. I’m sure you want to get out of those pants. I can figure out the coffee.” I give him a cheeky, knowing smile. He smiles back at me, his face lighting up, before dropping his lips to my forehead for a quick kiss.

“I’m happy you’re here. I don’t know if I’ve said that yet. I won’t be long. Make yourself comfortable.”

“K.”

I watch Sawyer jog to the short hallway off of the main living space before disappearing. I make my way into the kitchen to make a cup of desperately needed coffee. I fell in love with his kitchen when I woke up looking for coffee the other morning. It’s a sleek modern design, but somehow compliments the natural aesthetic of the rest of the house. The room makes a square “U” shape, with a large island in the center. The counters are a gorgeous white marble, and the contrast of the black cabinets pulls the room together beautifully. The top cabinets have glass doors, so it’s not so dark that it feels like the room is closing in on you. I drop a K-Cup into the Keurig and walk over to the gas range while it brews. My heart aches to create in here. I miss cooking. Zoe’s kitchen isn’t much more than a kitchenette, and it’s been weeks since I was let go from the restaurant. I run my hands across the stainless steel before grabbing the milk, sugar, and cinnamon to finish making my drink.

Coffee finally in hand, I head to the floor-to-ceiling windows that run the entire length of this side of the house, coming to an arch in the center. I look up at the exposed beams and practically drool. When I was out here the other night it was completely dark, other than the light given off by the fire, and the next morning I was so preoccupied I didn’t really look around. I knew we were on the edge of town, but I had no idea the views he had. Past the tall Sitka spruce trees lay the gorgeous mountains with their white tips standing guard over our peaceful little town.

I turn to the living room and walk over to the brown leather couches that make an “L” in front of a large, stone fireplace. A flat screen tv rests above it. I sit down and curl my legs under myself, staring out the window while sipping on my hot coffee. For the first time in a very long time, I feel calm.

My thoughts drift to Sawyer moving on top of me this morning, making a heat bloom from my chest to my cheeks. That connection between us never faded, just laid dormant. It’s like no time passed at all. Just being in his presence, I’m absorbed wholly, nothing else matters. He has the ability to knock down every wall I’ve built over the last decade and reduce me to my raw and bare form. He sees right through my carefully constructed façade.

I expected him to hate me. When he showed up that first night, while stunned, I braced for wrath, a slew of angry questions, and a demand for answers. But none of that ever came.

It was as if the moment he saw me, everything he had been harboring was whisked away with the breeze. All that remained was concern and relief.

Everything since then has been nothing but supportive, holding me, both physically and metaphorically, with so much tender care.

I look around Sawyer’s space, his woodsy sweet scent surrounding me, and can’t believe I’m here. I know the truth now, deep down I always did, but I was terrified and wanted to make my mom proud. I didn’t want to be the final straw that broke her completely by staying in Aspen Ridge because of Sawyer. It would have ruined her. I know I never should have left. The life I wanted was always right here with him.

But can I come back from that decision?

Can I just stay here after being gone for so long and leaving the way that I did?

Would this be what life was like with Sawyer? Comfort and safety, peace. Happiness that didn’t ebb and flow, just calm and steady—so much like him.

Sawyer returns, shirtless, a pair of gray sweatpants hanging low on his hips, exposing his V. Why is it so ridiculously arousing to see men in gray sweatpants, no shirt, and bare feet? Panties are dropping all over the world every time a man dresses like this.

I slowly peruse his body from bottom to top before meeting his eyes. He’s so fucking sexy.

“Like what you see, baby?”

I give him a seductive smile, unable to resist this power that he has over me.

“You know I do. You see yourself, right? Time has been good to you, Sawyer.”

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