Page 72 of Yours To Hold
I shake my head. It feels like a lead weight sitting on my shoulders. “I can’t ask you to stay.”
Ivy crosses her arms, quirking an eyebrow in my direction. It’s the face that tells me not to argue with her. “And you plan on taking care of Willow like this?”
Fuck.
The last thing I want is for Willow to get sick because of me.
“I thought so.” Ivy spins on her heel. If I wasn’t feeling so fucking shitty, I’d admire her ass more. “Willow, Daddy isn’t feeling so good, so we’re going to go watch a movie, okay?”
“Okay!”
I know Ivy limits her TV time during the day as much as she can, so I know Willow’s excited about watching a movie now. “Can we watch the one where the unicorns fight off the bad clouds with rainbows?”
Am I high or sick? That sounds like the weirdest fucking shit I’ve ever heard of. But if Willow wants to watch it with Ivy, fine.
“Dry off before you go inside!” Ivy yells after her.
Both of them wrap towels around them as I head inside. Willow’s giggles follow as she tries to wipe down Daisy.
I don’t even try to make it to my room, choosing to collapse right there on the couch.
Fuck. I must be sicker than I realize because sitting here now feels better than I have all day.
“Willow, once you and Daisy are dry, why don’t you two lie on some pillows on the floor so you don’t get sick?” Ivy tells her.
“Like our fort?”
“Yes. Exactly like our fort. You can cuddle with Daisy.”
Their conversation has my eyes closing. I love how close the two of them have gotten over this summer. It’s like Ivy has always been a part of our lives.
To some extent, she has been. She’s Gemma’s best friend. She’s always been around in Dixon for as long as I can remember.
Now, I love getting to see this side of her with Willow. The caring, loving side.
I get the sexy, fun side of Ivy whenever we can squirrel away a few nights. I’ve loved getting to learn her body and what turns her on.
But I especially love seeing how much she’s connected with Willow. I only get a bit of time with them together. The two of them became fast friends before I even realized it.
Willow and Daisy run into the living room, Daisy with a new bone and Willow with a popsicle. She throws pillows on the ground as Ivy turns on the TV for her.
It almost feels like I’m intruding on their special time together.
Ivy’s hands run through my hair as her voice gets closer to my ear. “I’ll be back with some soup in a few minutes.”
I can only nod.
Bright lights and high-pitched voices fill the room as Willow’s show starts. The music lures me into sleep.
And the next thing I know? It’s dark outside and I’m flat on my back on the couch. The TV is off, and Willow isn’t where I last saw her.
I start to sit up, but a hand stops me. “Easy there, Mason.”
Ivy’s bright blue eyes hover above me. Her face is clean, not a trace of makeup. Her hair is a mess, likely from the sprinklers they played in earlier. Was it earlier? I don’t even know what day it is at this point.
“What time is it?” My voice is scratchy and my throat sore.
“Just before seven.”
