Page 69 of Unravel Me

What were the Hayes drinking when they procreated?

“Hi, Liam.”

“Hey you. You doing okay?”

Taken aback by his question, I look up at Sawyer before meeting Liam’s face again.

“I’m getting there. Thanks for asking. How are you? I saw Hannah the other day. Her little girl is so cute.”

“She’s somethin’ huh? Everyone’s pretty obsessed with her.”

“I can see why. Her sweet smile is infectious. I can’t wait to be a Mama someday.” The words escaped me before I had a chance to filter myself. Sawyer nuzzles into my hair before making a deep, rumbling sound that only I can hear.

Fuck. Did that turn him on?

I lift my shoulder to push his head away a bit, reminding him that we’re in public. He stands to his full height, but not before giving my neck a little bite.

I stay nestled into Sawyer’s side as I catch up with two of his brothers. The conversation is easy and some of the tension I was holding is released. Sawyer rubs my arm, providing me with comfort that he knows I need. I breathe in the crisp, salty air and it’s so difficult to not feel at home.

Chapter 26

BROOKS

Iwatch her from a distance, that piece of shit’s arm wrapped tightly around her shoulder. Anger continues to course through me at the sight of her being touched by anyone but me. I didn’t put in all that work just to lose her. Especially not to him and this little backwoods town. The entire town came together, making it easy for me to hang back and out of sight. I’ve been staying at a shitty hotel a few towns over, biding my time. I’ll get her alone soon enough and then I’ll make sure she can never leave me again.

Soon enough.

Chapter 27

SAWYER

Ivy relaxes more and more as Dallas and Liam converse with her, putting her at ease. Dallas meets my eyes and nods at something behind me, and I crane my neck to catch Carter, Kinsey, and Reid walking up to us. I squeeze Ivy’s shoulder and pull her closer to me as they join our group.

“Oh my god! Kinsey?” Ivy squeals, shocking the shit right out of me. “You’re all grown up. Oh my god. Look at you! You’re so beautiful!” I let Ivy go as she meets my sister halfway and they hold each other in a hug. I release a deep sigh of relief. Kinsey was my wild card. She was little when I first brought Ivy home, only five. Ivy was the big sister Kins never had. When Ivy leftshe had just turned eleven, a year younger than I was when I first met Ivy. My mom handled explaining to Kinsey that Ivy had moved away, and it was hard for her to get through. She’d visit me in my room every day and it was comforting my baby sister through my heartbreak that eventually pulled me out from rock bottom. Because of that, though, I’m fiercely protective of her. Us four boys don’t baby her, but I’d kill someone if she ever got hurt, and she knows how protective I feel. It’s probably why she’s never dated.

“Hi! Me? Look at YOU!” Kinsey says as she holds Ivy out in front of her. “Damn girl, you are just as beautiful as I remember. You look happy. That my brother’s doing?”

Ivy looks back up at me and I can’t help the smile I give her. She takes my breath away.

“Yeah,” she says, holding my eyes. “Yeah, he’s got a whole lot to do with it.”

Carter stays on his best behavior, quiet, but that’s better than me having to kick the piss out of him in front of the town. The conversation flows, everyone catching up, and in this moment, not much could make me happier than being surrounded by my family with Ivy next to me.

My sister and Ivy are lost in a conversation with Reid about how Kinsey wants a tattoo. Luckily, Reid refuses to tattoo Kins, which may or may not be due to me threatening to break his hands if he ever did. But, hey, that’s my baby sister.

Dallas comes up next to me with beers in his hand and passes one to me and Ivy.

“Thanks, man. Where are Mom and Dad?” I ask him. I’ve been avoiding my mom since her text demanding that Ivy and I come to dinner on Sunday.

“Dad’s having a rough day. She didn’t want to come down here and leave him. But she said to tell you that there’s no excuse that will get you out of dinner and that she expects you both. So bigole family dinner on Sunday,” he says as he smacks me on the back, sloshing my beer over the rim.

“You’re such a dickhead,” I say as I shake out my hand in his face. But he isn’t paying attention. I look at his line of sight and find Blaire chatting it up with Cole Barnes. Cole’s around our age and a top-notch douche canoe. Expert level asshat.

I smack Dallas in the stomach to get his attention.

“You gotta problem? Blaire can do what she wants and it’s good she’s out making friends.”

“No problem. Just further reason to not like her. They’re perfect for each other.”

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