Page 56 of Buckin' Around

Are we still talking about Spencer?

My brows fall.

Stacey leans back and crosses her arms. “If you’re done with the job, you don’t have to stay.” She chews on her bottom lip. “Your room is still empty, Riles.” Her gaze drifts to the doorway leading to my old room.

“You know I’m not going to leave Ivy. I can’t do that.”

“You do realize that when your year is up, he will be on his own, anyway. Maybe rip the Band-Aid off now; he’ll figure it out.”

My mind flashes back to the moment Spencer and I shared in his bedroom. He’s never looked so further from figuring it out.

No, I can’t do it.

Besides, even if I wanted to give up on Ivy—which I absolutely don’t—I need the money to stay and finish my MBA. Nothing will derail me from that. My family is depending on me.

I’mdepending on me.

I will not end up tethered to some Farmer Joe for security’s sake, only to end up below the poverty line while I spit out his ten kids. I’ve seen what the majority of women in my small county end up with. What kind of role model would I be to my younger sisters if I took that route? The thought alone gives me chills, and not the good kind.

“I understand that, but I can’t dip on him now. It doesn’t feel right.”

Stace tilts her head, confusion tugging at her brows as she sucks in a breath. “Okay, your choice.”

Itismy choice.

I feel stupid for coming over here now. I’ve never needed anyone else to solve my problems before, I don’t know why I thought I did this time.

“I should get going. Thanks for the chat.” I rise and Stace does the same, adjusting her robe around her.

“See you tomorrow for lunch?” she asks as we walk to the front door.

“I have Ivy tomorrow, so I’ll have to take class online. How about Thursday?”

“What? Don’t tell me you and my brother have worked out a schedule?” she scoffs.

The irritation that flares in my veins doesn’t even surprise me at this point.

“We have. Sort of. Mrs. Henderson takes Ivy two days a week so I can get to campus. Spencer takes over after work and every second night.” Now Stacey stands with shock written over her face. “Ivy has all but outgrown her bassinet. We’ll move her intoher room in the crib in the next weeks. Just waiting for Spencer to set it up.”

Stacey’s brows flutter up. “Riles, I hate to break it to you, but you’re better off doing the crib assembly yourself. My brother is useless when it comes to that stuff.”

I clench my teeth and manage a smile before I one-arm hug her and pull the door closed behind me.

What the hell was I thinking coming here?

I’m back in the parking lot and sitting in the driver’s seat before I realize. I turn over the engine and back out of the space, and head for the penthouse.

I mull over what set me off in the first place. Logically, I am paid to take care of Ivy. It shouldn’t matter where that happens, especially on a weekend.

But it’s the idea of Spencer treating Ivy as a dirty little secret held up in some motel room out of the way that sets my blood on fire.

Like we’re the afterthought, the messy inconvenience he needs to pay penance to.

And I hate that.

For Ivy.

I hear the crying before I even get through the apartment’s oversized front door. Inside, I toss the keys in the bowl and close the door behind me before tracking toward the sound.