Page 9 of Moonlight & Matrimony
I glance around the yard, searching for Ivy, and the move doesn’t go unnoticed as my sister approaches.
“She’s not here. I’m babysitting while she’s out making a delivery.” She gives me an assessing stare. “You crushing on my bestie, big brother?” she asks.
“What? No. I was only concerned about Rylin being out here on her own.”
“Uh huh. A likely story,” she teases. “Ivy’s a catch. You’d be lucky as fuck to be with her. But I’d be remiss if I didn’t remind you to be nice to my fucking friend or I’ll cut your balls off.”
“It’s not like that at all. I swear.” I hold out my hands in a gesture of surrender. “Just worried after the whole —”
I don’t have to finish my sentence. Paige gives me a solemn nod. “Keep an eye on them for me, will you? She’s strong as fuck, but I get the sense there’s more shit than she’s letting on. And I need to know someone has her back since I’m carrying around this watermelon.” She absentmindedly smooths a hand over her belly.
“I’ve got them,” I assure her. “Ivy has my number in case anything happens.”
“Good.”
Rylin grunts in frustration as her swing comes to a stop. “Need a push?” I ask. Rylin’s face lights up at my offer as she nods excitedly. My hand engulfs her back as I give her a gentle push forward.
“Faster!” she demands.
I give her another push, this time a little more forceful. She lets out a squeal as my sister watches us from the tree stump. Her speed picks up, along with her excited squeals. “Look, Auntie Paige! I’m flying!”
“You sure are, Ry.”
I watch as she uses her legs to keep up the momentum, and once I’m sure she’s got the hang of it, I take several steps closer to my sister.
“That girl thinks you’re the best thing since sliced bread,” she says.
I smile, taking in the excitement on Rylin’s face as she flies. “I think she’s pretty great, too,” I admit. “I’ll never understand how anyone could mistreat them.”
Paige nods, giving my arm a squeeze. “You’ll be a great husband and father someday.”
“Nah. That’s not in the cards for me.” Paige frowns in confusion and I’m thrust back into memories of a past long dead and buried. Thoughts of a future and a family all but evaporated after everything with Sienna came crashing down. At 34, I thought I’d be married with at least one on the way by now. Instead, I’m starting over in a small town, watching my sister live out the life I dreamed of having — a life I could never begrudge her.
The unwanted thoughts instantly dissipate when Sienna’s face flashes on my phone screen. I quickly swipe the notification away, and rush to my workshop — the one place where I can tune out the world, erasing any desire for things I can’t have.
Ivy
I won’t lie — I’ve been avoiding Luca like the plague, remaining distant but pleasant, smiling and waving politely whenever I run into him around town. Rylin is smitten and takes every opportunity to brag about our new neighbor. Unfortunately, he’ll be unavoidable today, since we’re both attending Paige’s baby shower.
When I arrive at the cabin two hours early to help decorate, Luca is already there trying to diffuse the Cade-shaped bomb that’s about to go off if Paige doesn’t sit down and relinquish control.
Cade watches me with pleading eyes as I approach his wife. “Paige, honey. Can you help me in the kitchen?” I’m speaking as gently as I can, knowing how fragile her emotions have been lately. She’s constantly a hair pin trigger away from dissolving into tears.
“Sure!” she says with exaggerated enthusiasm. She playfully sticks her tongue out at her husband before trailing behind me into the kitchen.
“Ok. So. I got all the stuff you wanted for the platter. Sit. I’ll wash and you can chop.”
“I see how it is… pander to the pregnant woman while you find a way to get her to sit down so you can take over.” She rolls her eyes dramatically, but there’s a slight smile forming. “I’m onto you, Ivy Jo.”
“I regret ever telling you my middle name,” I say, not an ounce of genuine irritation in my voice. “Seriously, Paige. Nobody here is licensed to help you give birth, and your husband is about one inconvenience away from jumping in the lake. Just relax and let the rest of us fuss over the details. Once she’s no longer residing in your body, you can get back to micromanaging everyone.”
“Fine. I guess you have a point.”
“Everything ok in here?” A chill skates up my spine at the sound of Luca’s husky voice. I don’t understand why he has this effect on me. Ok, maybe I understand it a little. He’s dressed like a lumbersnack again with jeans that hug his ass in all the right ways, and it should be illegal to look that good in flannel.
Paige narrows her eyes at me, then resumes cutting up a bell pepper a little more forcibly than necessary. “Maybe we should take away the sharp objects,” I deadpan.
Luca snorts out a laugh, and his sister responds with a disapproving scowl.
