Page 64 of Unravel Me

It’ll be worth it in the end.

I hope.

Chapter 25

IVY

Isit down on Sawyer’s couch while I wait for the lasagna to finish baking and pull out my phone to check in with Zoe. Ever since Brooks showed up at her house, I’ve been checking in with her daily, not that she’d have it any other way. So far he hasn’t reappeared, and although he’s still trying to contact me, I’m doing my best to brush it off. There’s no way he felt strongly enough to chase me all the way to Aspen Ridge.

Me: How’s Seattle and the finance world?

She answers immediately.

Zo: Not the same without you. Ugh. Annoying AF honestly. People continue to surprise me with their stupidity.

Me: LOL Still nothing from Brooks right?

Zo: Nope. Haven’t seen him. He still texting you?

Me: Yeah. Was not expecting all this. It’ll fade.

Zo: You still planning on coming back here after all this?

Me: I don’t know anymore. I’m so confused.

Me: It’s too much for text but it's like I’ve been in this haze and being back here, especially being with him, the fog cleared. Does that even make sense?

Zo: It does babe. You gotta do what’s best for you. Am I gonna miss the hell out of you if you stay? Duh. But it’s not like we won’t visit. If he’s home to you, you gotta make that decision. I support you no matter what you do. But sell that fucking house so you can be done with your parents baggage. Yeah?

Me: I love you, hussy, you know that?

Zo: Yeah yeah. Call me when you get space to talk and not text. Ily

I swipe away the notifications from Brooks and power down my phone, really not wanting to work Sawyer up if he sees them.

The timer on the stove goes off so I walk back into my dream kitchen and pull out the lasagna to let it cool while I toss the salad together and drizzle it with my homemade house dressing.

“It really smells amazing, Iv. Thank you for cooking,” he says sweetly as he kisses my cheek from behind. “Anything I can do to help you?”

“Thank you for letting me use your kitchen, I’m nervous for you to try it, but excited at the same time. Grab the plates?”

“Whatever is mine is yours, baby. Make yourself at home.” He smacks my ass as he reaches for two plates and pulls out silverware. I plate the food and we sit together at the table to eat. It’s easy and comfortable.

“Ivy, holy shit. I mean, I assumed you could cook, but this. Wow.”

I watch as Sawyer takes another large mouth full of lasagna. I love watching people eat. There’s something so fulfilling and wholly satisfying about preparing a meal and watching others enjoy it.

“Thank you. I enjoyed making it.”

“How was going to the store? I wasn’t sure if you would go out or not.”

“Well, I’ll keep to myself just how long it took me to find the courage to get my ass out the door, but it wasn’t that bad. Granted, I wore a hat, kept my head down, and used the self-checkout option. I hustled, in and out.”

“So no public stoning then?”

“Sorry to report. I did not get stoned.”

“No shame-walk through the town square?”

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