Page 98 of Twins for the Mountain Daddies

The silence stretches, thick and suffocating, before she lets out a sharp, humorless laugh. “Oh, this is just perfect. Another of Ivy’s ridiculous messes.”

Holt steps forward, his voice a low warning. “Watch yourself.”

But she’s on a roll now. “Allowing Caleb’s mistakes to go public was bad enough and then disappearing like an angry child—do you have any idea how much work we had to do to clean up that mess? And now this? Shacking up with multiple men?Letting themuseher like this?” She shakes her head, her lip curling. “It’s disgusting.”

My blood goes red-hot, boiling under my skin.

Wyatt moves first, taking a step forward, but I throw an arm out, stopping him. My stomach is a knot of fury, but my voice comes out low and even. “You don’t know a damn thing about her.”

Her mother scoffs. “Iraisedher.”

“No,” I grind out. “You shaped her. Mapped out every step, every choice, every part of her life. But you don’t know her. Not really.” I take a slow step forward, leveling her with a look that has made grown men back down. “And if you think for one second that you’re gonna come here and rip her away from the life shechose, you’re even more clueless than I thought.”

Her nostrils flare. “This will not end well. And shewillcome home with her tail between her legs expecting me to clean up after her. Again.”

A muscle jumps in my jaw. I don’t give a shit what this woman thinks about me, but I hate that she’s using us as ammo against Ivy.

“You’re trespassing,” Holt cuts in. “And we don’t take kindly to that around here.”

She lifts her chin. “Ivy is my daughter.”

“And she’s a grown woman,” Wyatt fires back. “One who doesn’t want anything to do with you. Now, I suggest you get back in that overpriced tank and drive your ass back to wherever you came from before we call the sheriff.”

Her lips press into a thin line. “You wouldn’t dare.”

Wyatt smirks. “Lady, I’m halfway to dialing. Sheriff’s a friend. So’s half the damn town.” He gestures toward the house. “You’re not welcome here. And if you push it, I guarantee you won’t like what happens next.”

For a second, I think she’s gonna argue. But then she exhales sharply, like we’re inconveniencingher, and turns on her heel, stalking back to her SUV.

“Give Ivy my love,” she tosses over her shoulder before slamming the door shut.

We stand there, watching as she throws the car into reverse and tears out of the driveway.

Holt shakes his head. “She’s gonna be a problem.”

Wyatt sighs. “Yeah. But not today.”

They head back toward the house, talking quietly, but I barely hear them. My feet move on their own, carrying me inside, straight to Ivy’s door. I press my forehead against the wood, breathing deeply. Listening for any little sign of her.

That’s all I get now—scraps. A glance. A muttered word. A door closing in my face.

And I hate it.

I don’t want scraps.

I don’t want distance, or cold shoulders, or the weight of my own damn mistakes pressing down on me every second of the day.

I don’t want to push her away anymore.

I don’t want to lose Holt and Wyatt.

And, God help me, I don’t want to lose Ivy. Or the babies.

I press my forehead harder against the wood, wishing I could say the right thing, do the right thing. But I’ve never been good at that. I’ve always been better at pushing people away.

I’ve never felt so damn helpless in my life.

The door jerks open, and I almost fall into her room. Ivy’s standing there, looking at me like I’ve lost my mind. I may have.

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