Page 84 of Volatile

“And congratulations,” he whispered into her ear.

Her mouth widened. He could tell she knew exactly what he meant. “How...? But we just found out yesterday.”

He’d only suspected, but he couldn’t have been more pleased that he was correct. Her life was moving full speed forward without him, and that was the only way it was supposed to be.

“Jon.”

The sound of Ian’s voice caused them both to turn. Julia rushed to his side, portrait in hand, her face brightening at the sight of him. She was truly happy. She’d made the right choice.

Ian greeted her with a kiss then held her tightly against him, taking full stock of the situation. He had not just one life to protect now, but two.

“What is this?” he asked her.

Julia held up the painting. “Jonathan gave me an early birthday present.”

Ian dragged his eyes over it, then back to Jon. A look of understanding passed between them. Ian should have been pissed as hell to see him there, and maybe part of him was, but his expression read a different story. He knew what Jon’s gesture meant and the volumes it spoke.

Ian held out his hand, and Jon shook it. “Thank you for stopping by.”

Jon nodded. A temporary truce. Whether it’d be permanent was anyone’s guess. A lot had happened between them, mistakes severe enough to run the scars deep, but anything was possible. Jon never thought he’d get to this moment, but there he was, standing before the two—three—of them and only feeling contentment. No bitterness, no resentment. He’d gained full possession of his heart back, and all he could think about was giving it away again.

He’d finished what he came to do, so he declined Julia’s offer to join them for lunch and headed out into the sunshine. There was somewhere more important he had to be.

After collecting the bundle of forget-me-nots from his car, Jon walked the short distance down the block to Seagrass Café. He ordered a cup of coffee before sliding into a booth. He was taking a gamble, one he hoped would pay big, but also one he’d be a fool not to try.

He knew when Ivy took her break, and he knew she came here more often than not. If this was one of those days, he’d be ready for her.

As much as they’d both needed this time apart, it’d been hell for him. He fucking missed her more than anything. It all started that night she’d provoked him at Rig’s, pushing him over the edge, but it was also the best thing she could’ve done. She’d forced him into making a change. He’d realized that after his failed attempt with Lizbeth at the party. Until that point, he’d thought Julia was out of his life because his only thoughts had been of Ivy, but that night it’d become clear how she was still holding him back. The simple act of keeping her picture around tethered him to her, even when hidden behind closed doors. And by refusing to face Julia, trying to avoid her at all costs, only kept his heart from fully welcoming Ivy into it.

Julia was never his, but Ivy could be. He was free to give her everything, but first, she had to accept it. She had to give him the chance. Ivy was the woman for him, every infuriating inch of her.

Jon sipped his coffee, never letting his eyes stray from the entrance. Just as he’d been dealing with his shit, she’d been doing the same. He knew that because he’d been keeping tabs on her life, not through Max but via Cherise and Jacque. Ivy had grown very close to the two and was spending quite a bit of time with them.

Thank fuck she’d never gone back to Rig’s. Not long after Cherise had given her that money, her full-time employee moved out of state with her husband, leaving the position open for Ivy. He no longer needed Max, and that was so damn satisfying.

And that deplorable reunion with her ex? He was confident it’d never occur again. Between spending a drunken night in jail and experiencing the pleasure of a visit from two experienced Doms.... Well, let’s just say that could be rather intimidating to a man like Wes. He was now staying far, far away.

Perhaps the most rewarding of all was Ivy’s reconciliation with her sister. Lily still lived with Joshua, but they were rebuilding their relationship, day by day. And true to his word, Ivy had been in good hands, but the time had come to take back what was his. To give what was hers. There’d been no other men in her life since him, and if he got his way, there’d never be anyone else again but him.

He checked the time. As the minutes ticked away, the likelihood that she’d gone somewhere else for lunch increased. Jon finished his cup and signaled for another. He’d wait a little longer and then make a decision on how to proceed. But whatever he did, there was no way in hell he was giving up. He’d already waited long enough to reach out to her.

After an hour had passed, he packed it up, throwing down a sizeable tip to cover the time he’d used the table. Grabbing the flowers, he headed for outside.

He might as well enjoy the warm day, maybe go for a run. He’d left his schedule free for the rest of the afternoon, and Ivy didn’t get off work till seven. He could easily swing by the shop later, but the plan had been to make her stomach happy with her favorite sandwich first. Then he could start proposing all the ways he’d sate the rest of her.

Jon opened the door, nearly colliding with a mass of dark curls. She immediately jumped back, acorn eyes popping. Hell, no. He needed to touch her, not scare her farther away.

“Jonathan, what... what are you doing here?”

“Hoping to see you.”

He stepped aside from the entrance and handed her the forget-me-nots, then pulled her tightly against him, probably crushing the petals. She didn’t fully embrace him, but she didn’t fight him either. She felt like heaven in his arms.

“But you don’t come to this place.”

“Baby, I was wrong. It was messed up. I’ll go wherever you want to go. And if you want normal, I’ll do normal, but it’ll be our version and no one else’s.” He buried his hands in her hair. “God, I fucking missed you.”

She stared down at the bright blue bundle in her hand and back up at him with a dazed look.

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