Page 50 of A Very Merry Matchup
Ivy
Well, I certainly never could have planned for this moment.
My mom is helping Cecilia put out an assortment of snacks on the kitchen table while sneaking bits of cheese to Hamish. My dad is sitting on the couch getting peppered on the chin by kisses from Pinky Collar as he talks football with Janey’s husband, Walter. Nana, Janey, and the girls are playing an intense game of Candy Land in the dining room. My brother and sister-in-law—not used to saying that yet—are upstairs resting in the green room.
And me? I may be making excuses to linger beneath anyand all bells hanging around the house because... well, who doesn’t like bells? It has nothing to do with Beau.
It may have everything to do with Beau. He somehow convinced my family to spend Christmas Day together. And he did it for me. I know he did.
If I wasn’t in love with him before, I certainly am now. So where’s a conniving matchmaker when I need one? Doesn’t anyone see me lingering beneath the bell by the kitchen? I’m doing my part. Why isn’t anyone doing theirs? And where in the world is Beau right now?
I clear my throat. “Anybody know where Beau ran off to?”
“No idea,” says Janey without sparing me a glance.
“Probably shoveling,” says Nana. “He’s just like his father.”
“Did you check the bathroom?” says Cecilia.
“Didn’t he say something about needing to talk to the neighbor? Crystal or something or other?” My mom feeds Hamish another piece of cheese and shrugs. “What? It’s Christmas.”
I’m not worried about her feeding Hamish, although I probably should be at the rate she’s dishing out that cheese to him. Who knew my prickly mom was such a pushover when it came to dogs?
But my bigger concern is why Beau felt the need to runover and talk to Crystal now of all times. Is it because he finally witnessed my family dynamics firsthand and realizes what I’ve been trying to tell him all along? That he’d do way better with the girl next door than the traveling nurse with the broken family?
He’s obviously realized something. When I casually peek out the living room window, I spot him talking to Crystal in the driveway. Not just talking. Smiling.Hugging.My stomach suddenly feels like I’m the one who’s eaten too much cheese.
“Ivy?” I jerk back from the window like I’ve been caught spying. Probably because I have been caught spying. My brother’s wife—nope, still not used to saying that—is leaning on the banister halfway down the stairs. “Have a minute? Jordan wants to talk to you.”
I rush up the stairs before I catch any more smiles and hugs between Beau and Crystal. They would have the nerve to look adorable together.
While Abbey ducks into the bathroom, I step into the green room.
“You okay?” Jordan asks me as soon as I close the door behind me. He’s resting on the bed with his casted arm propped up on three pillows.
“I’m supposed to be asking you that. How’s your arm?I’m still surprised the surgeon didn’t want to keep you overnight.”
“I’m fine. But tell me the truth. Are you freaking out as much as I am right now? I mean, Mom and Dad. Here. Together. On Christmas. And they’re not at each other’s throats. Is this really happening or am I still on a pain med high or something?”
A quiet laugh escapes me as I find some space to sit on the bed near his legs. “Oh, believe me, my brain is trying to wrap around the fact that we’re all together on Christmas. How long has it been?”
“Too long. That’s something I’ve been meaning to apologize to you about.”
“Why? Not your fault.”
“Yeah, but I should’ve done a better job staying in touch with you.”
“I could say the same thing. And not just with you. I’ve been so busy working and trying to stick to my perfect plan that I’ve practically lost touch with everyone.” Case example, Lucy. A better friend wouldn’t have missed out on the fact she got back together with her ex-boyfriend months ago.
“Can I tell you something?” Jordan’s knee nudges me. “I don’t really want to get into the details right now, but I’m done playing hockey.”
“Because of your arm?”
He shakes his head and adjusts his arm on the pillows. “Even before I broke my arm I was done. When I said my coach was going to kill me, I said it because... well, I ran off with his daughter. We’re in Iowa because we just started driving, and somewhere between Pittsburgh and here I decided we should head to Grandma’s old hometown in Nebraska. I don’t know. Guess it just felt like a safe place to land for a while. Because thing is... Abbey and I... we’re not actually married. Not yet.”
I twist further to face him straight on. “When can I expect the detailed version of this long story?”
“Later. Right now things are still complicated. Before I broke my arm, Abbey and I got into a fight. At the hospital, the wordwifejust sort of slipped out. I guess I was scared to death I’d wake up from surgery and never see her again. I thought calling her my wife might help convince her to stay at least through the surgery. Guess it worked. But I sent a message to Mom too, just in case. Never expected for all of you to show up.”
