Page 76 of Unravel Me

“Hi.”

I lean forward and put on a few coats of mascara before meeting his eyes in the mirror.

“You look gorgeous.”

I roam over his appearance in the mirror. He’s wearing a button-up shirt with the sleeves cuffed up to his elbows, and a pair of jeans that hug him perfectly. His hair is styled on the top, and he’s cleaned up his beard to a perfect scruff that begs for my touch.

“Not too bad yourself, handsome. I’m ready if you are.”

“Let’s go, baby. You’ve got this.”

We pull up to Sawyer’s parents’ house and I wait in the passenger seat of his truck for him to open my door, something I’ve learned he likes to do. I think it’s just an excuse to touch me more but I’m not complaining. Once I’m righted on my feet in front of Sawyer, I reach for his free hand instead of wringing mine together like a nervous wreck. He settles me, calms all of my fear and anxieties, and brings me a peace I had long forgotten existed.

He lifts my hand to his lips and kisses the top of it. His parents’ house is exactly how I remembered it. Instead of sitting further into the woods like Sawyer’s, or surrounded by trees like my parents’ house, Craig and Amy Hayes’ home sits all by itself in the middle of a wide-open space, wild lupines growing as far as you can see. The backyard hosts a custom-built table that sits well over a dozen. Their deeply rooted Sunday dinner tradition centers around that table until the winter months force them inside. We make our way to the steps of the porch when Amy swings open her front door and steps out. She’s aged, sure, but she is still absolutely stunning. A life spent surrounded by her loved ones, being adored by a man who puts her at the center of his world, and living out her life exactly how she wants to. She’s the picture of happiness.

“Ivy Paige.”

“Ms. Amy,” I say with a hesitant smile. Sawyer squeezes my hand in reassurance, a silent reminder to trust him and to breathe.

I take the last step up the porch where she meets me and wraps her arms tightly around my shoulders.

“Welcome home, honey.”

I sob into her. My chest heaving.

“Absolutely no crying. This is a happy thing! You’re home. I’m so happy to see you. Look at you!” She holds me away from her and looks me over in such a motherly way.

I let a small laugh loose and she swipes her thumbs under my eyes.

“I’m okay. I just missed you.”

“Oh honey, I missed you too. We’ve always loved you like one of our own and I’m so happy to see you again. Right now there’s a houseful of people waiting to be fed, so let’s get in there before they start to riot.”

“That sounds great, yes please.”

Sawyer recaptures my hand and together we walk into his childhood home with his entire family and friends waiting.

“Look who it is! Glad you two could leave the bedroom long enough to join us,” Dallas announces as we walk into the kitchen. Sawyer smacks him on the back of his head which causes Dallas to laugh. I know my cheeks have flamed a bright crimson.

“Dallas, don’t even start. Do you two have to be so feral? Ivy, I tried my hardest, but these two are thicker than rocks. I apologize for their behavior.”

I laugh out loud, and it makes my chest feel so much lighter.

“Oh, I remember.”

“Mom, Ivy made this. Want me to leave it in here or bring it out back?” Sawyer holds out the pan containing the apple frangipane tart I made.

“It smells delicious, Ivy, thank you. You can leave it in here. Go. Go say hi to everyone.”

“C’mon, let’s go see everyone out back,” Sawyer says as he pulls me to follow him.

We walk through their home, and I stop at every photo on the wall, memories of our childhood hung everywhere. Sawyer and his siblings growing up, their faces throughout different stages that I remember so clearly. I stop at one that takes my breath away. Sitting on the mantel above their fireplace is a photo of Sawyer and I. We’re sitting on some driftwood at Grace Beach after Sawyer brought me out to surf for the first time. I remember being terrified.

“Do you trust me?”

“Sawyer, you know I do. But this isn’t me. This is you! And you’re out of your mind. That water is freezing! Even with a wet suit.”

“I would never let anything happen to you, Iv. Pull up the suit and get your ass over here,” he says with a smirk, knowing full well I’ll listen.

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