Page 10 of Marry Me, Maybe?
He stepped forward again like he couldn’t help himself, jaw clenched. “What the hell did you expect?” he snapped. “You married the goddamn town whore.”
The words hit like a slap. Hot, sharp, and low. Everyone knew what Heather was like, but people were usually polite enough to whisper it behind the back of their hands. Matty, on the other hand, would rather punch me in the face with my wife’s notorious infidelity. Because every day he had to put me through hell to punish me for breaking his heart.
Micah shook his head. “Damn, Matty. That wasn’t cool, man.”
But Matty didn’t take it back. He didn’t blink.
I didn’t answer him, didn’t give him the satisfaction. I turned and walked out of the barn without another word, rage simmering under my skin, grief clawing at my chest, and one thought ringing louder than the rest:
Ivy.
I didn’t stop moving until I reached my truck, an old, dust-caked Ford that coughed awake when I turned the key like it hated being useful.
I yanked the gearshift and tore out of the Bristle M’s lot in a storm of gravel and exhaust, heart hammering. Matty’s voice echoed in the back of my mind, cruel and sharp, but I shoved it down. I didn’t have space in my head for anything but Ivy.
Please don’t let her be scared. Please don’t let her know what’s going on.
The sun was low by the time I hit the winding street back into town. It wasn’t far as the crow flew, but the road curved like it couldn’t decide where the hell it wanted to go. Every mile dragged like an hour.
By the time I turned onto my street, my stomach was in knots.
The house looked normal from the outside. No bags on the porch. Just the same modest bungalow with the peeling mailbox and the dinosaur-shaped lawn sprinkler still tipped on its side from the weekend.
I hopped out of the truck and slammed the door shut. As soon as I entered the house, Ivy came barreling toward me in jelly sandals and a T-shirt that said I Make My Own Rules in glittery letters, arms outstretched, smile so wide it made my knees weak.
“Daddy!”
I dropped to the ground fast and caught her full on in my chest.
“Hey, baby girl,” I murmured into her hair, holding her so tight she squealed again, laughing against my shoulder. “God, I missed you today. Did you miss me?”
“Yea, miss you, Daddee.”
“This much?” I extended a thumb and index finger to show a little. She giggled and shook her head, spreading her arms wide. “This much, Daddee!”
I kissed the side of her face and held her for another second because I could. Because she was here. And for a split second, I’d been terrified that I might have lost her.
Footsteps shuffled close as Estelle came up behind her, gray eyes filled with pity. I loathed that look. People had been giving it to me since the day I got married.
“Honey, why don’t you get a ball so we can go outside and play for a bit?”
“Yay!” She zipped ahead, giving me privacy.
“She left, didn’t she?” I asked.
Estelle sighed, brushing her curly bangs back with shaky fingers. “Yeah. She packed a bag after lunch. When I asked her when she was returning, she said she didn’t know. She peeled out like her hair was on fire.”
“She say anything else?”
“No explanation. Just… gone.”
That tracked for her.
“Thank you,” I said hoarsely. “I owe you one.”
“You don’t owe me anything. I’m sorry about this. Maybe she will come to her senses and be back by tonight.”
I nodded. I would be fine regardless.
