Page 65 of Rejected By My Stepbrother Alpha
Was I one of Ivy's options? Would I even make the list?
An hour later, we were wrapping up after a long day. Only Ivy, Damian, Cooper, and I were left in the conference room. Damian and Ivy were packing their things and discussing what they should have for dinner. I was trying to pay attention to Cooper telling me about a date he had last night, but all of my attention was focused on planning a way to get Ivy alone to see if she and Adrian wanted to have dinner with me.
I nodded goodbye to Cooper when he left, and I was just about to go over to where Ivy was sitting, when the sound of light footsteps distracted me from my plan. When I glanced up, I saw Adrian running throughmy office.
Automatically, my face broke into a large grin as Adrian bounded into the room.
I thought I felt Ivy's eyes on me, but when I glanced over at her, she was gazing adoringly at her son.
He was wearing a shirt with a bright red race car on it, brown shorts, and a dark green baseball cap stuffed on top of his wavy hair. Adrian's mismatching clothes just made him even more endearing.
“Hi, sweetie,” Ivy said and hurried over to pull her son into a hug. “Did you get yourself dressed this morning?”
“He sure did,” Mason said from the doorway, grinning at Adrian.
There was always a twinkle in his eyes when he looked at Ivy's son. Again, I wondered if this was because he was fond of the boy and was helping out Ivy by watching him during this business trip. Or because Mason was Adrian's grandfather.
Tonight, I will find out the answer to my questions.
I would find out the truth…even if I didn't like what I learned.
“Asher!” Adrian said excitedly, to the surprise of everyone in the room—including me.
Ivy's son raced to my side and threw his arms around me. I was frozen for a moment, but instinct took hold of me, and I embraced him back. My heart filled with so much joy that it felt like it was going to burst. Adrian carried the faint trace of Ivy's scent, but he also smelled like…me.
The room was silent as Adrian pulled away and grinned.
“I'm glad you're not in the hospital anymore. How are you feeling? Did my get-well card make you feel better? I bet it did.” Adrian said as he bounced on his toes. He was talking so fast. It took me a moment to process what all he'd said.
“I'm feeling a lot better, thank you. And it's definitely all thanks to your card,” I told Adrian.
His answering smile had the same effect on me as watching a beautiful sunrise.
“How much sugar has he had?” Ivy asked Mason.
“None,” Mason replied. “He's been begging me to take him here all day so he could see a certain someone.” He inclined his head at me.
My heart lifted.
Adrian turned to his mom, but stayed by me. “Mom, can I please go to the playground with Asher? Pretty please?”
Ivy and I looked at each other. She raised her eyebrows, and I nodded.
“Yes, you can. But on one condition,” Ivy said and held up her pointer finger.
Adrian looked at his mom with suspicion. “What's the condition?”
“I'm going to come with you guys, and we’re going to the diner first for dinner,” Ivy said and grinned.
“And dessert?” Adrian said as he jumped up and down.
When Ivy nodded, Adrian pumped his fist in victory. “Asher, you have to try this key lime pie. It's the best ever!”
“I can’t wait to try it,” I said. “You’re the expert, so I trust your opinion.”
Ivy giggled, and the sound was music to my ears. “You say that about every key lime pie you try,” she told her son.
“Yeah, because every slice I have is the best ever,” Adrian said like this was obvious.
