Chapter 4

CHAPTER FOUR

COLTER

I can't believe Rome and the rest are here, but I'm pissed that he brought Will with him. Seriously, who the fuck does he think he is coming here after what he's done to Ivy? My jaw tightens as they get closer, but Ivy intertwines our fingers, and my anger subsides.

"Hey, Ivy." Rome throws his arms around his sister and hugs her tightly. She hasn't moved from my side or let go of me.

"What are you doing here?" Ivy's tone is clipped.

Rome's gaze moves from Ivy to me and back and answers. "Well, after you left, Campbell found your phone at the dressing room at Lioncrest. We went to Mom's and Dad's to try to find you. You left the message that you were coming here when we arrived."

"So what? You hopped on a plane?" Ivy frowns, but I'm positive it's not because her brother's here.

"Well, yes." Rome's eyes dart to mine and then Ivy's again. "We didn't know you weren't alone."

Ivy purses her lips. "Colter's my friend too, Rome. I asked him to come so I wouldn't be alone. I don't need a babysitter."

"Not here to babysit, Sis. We simply didn't want you to be alone." Rome's smile fades. "Do you want us to leave?"

"Not all of you." She glares at Will. "Why is he here?"

I nod. "Good damn question."

"He said he wants to talk." Rome holds his hands up as if pleading for everyone to stay calm.

Ivy leans over so she can stare Will in the eye. "As far as I'm concerned, the time for talking has passed, and I have nothing to say."

"But I do have something to say, Ivy." Will raises his voice, which sends a jolt through my body.

"Watch your damn tone with her." I lace my words with venom as I point at him.

Rome steps between us. "Hey guys, let Ivy decide if she wants to talk."

"Fine, but I'm not leaving this area, and you have ten minutes." Ivy's fingers loosen, and I feel her slip away. There's that odd pain in my chest as if my lungs have no air.

"Ivy?" I question her, and not only for her best but for my sanity.

"I'll be right back." She squeezes my hand.

"Promise?" I force a small smile for her, but my heart feels like it's breaking.

She smiles with a nod. "Promise."

My pulse races as I watch her walk away with him. I can feel my face red as anger boils from my gut. It's telling me this isn't good for Ivy or me.

"Let's get a drink." Rome taps my chest, dragging my attention from his sister.

"Sure." I stomp over to the bar with Rome and Shane, another friend of ours from the neighborhood.

Shane pats me on the back, chuckling. "Ole Colter's hackles are up over Ivy, Rome you better watch."

"Why in the hell would you bring that son of a bitch here with you?" I glare at Rome, hoping he feels the daggers intended for Will.

Rome tosses back a shot of whiskey. "No one invited him, but when I called to ask if he had talked to Ivy, he overheard Campbell saying she had come here."

"I still don't get it." I seethe. "He leaves her at the altar, only to follow her here. Why?"

"He wants her back," Shane says, handing my drink to me.

I down it and slam the glass on the counter. "He can't have her."

"Well, that's up to Ivy and you," Rome interjects with a smirk.

Shane ducks past me and hurries behind Rome. "Here it comes, you ready?"

"For what?" I snap at them.

"First, it's on Ivy if she wants to take him back." Rome tried to explain.

"She doesn't," I grunt.

Rome then squares up with me, and my gut tells me I'm about to hear something I might not like. "Unless you finally ball up and tell her you're in love with her, she has no idea that she's wanted by anyone better than that scum.'

"I've told you he didn't deserve her for years, but you wouldn't listen!" I shout at him angrily, paying no attention to what he's saying to me.

Rome shakes his head and pins me with his ire. "I heard you every time you would get mad or drunk and go on about how she needs someone who loves her and appreciates her, but not one time did you ever say that it was you that wanted her."

"I-I…" I'm stunned into silence. "You knew this entire time how I felt?"

"Yes, but you didn't see it. I didn't want to push you two together and not work out. So, I waited, but you never spoke up." Rome waits for me to respond, and I struggle to find words.

Shane hands me another drink. "We all know, Colter. Pretty sure she loves you too but is as afraid as you are for whatever reason."

"I guess it's kind of like Rome said, but what if it doesn't work out?" I rub my forehead, hoping my headache dissipates so I can think clearly.

"You have to tell her, or she's going to end up with that asshole and miserable for the rest of her life." Shane nudges me as we watch Ivy walk back into the room.

Rome waves her over, he's worried, and as soon as she's close enough, she asks. "Are you okay?"

"I am." She refuses to look at me, and my stomach sinks. "Same bullshit, different day."

Rome hesitates, and I can't wait a moment longer. "So, you're not going back to him?"

"No," we look over as Rome and Shane wander off. "I'm hoping there's someone better for me in my future."

I step closer to her, inhaling her scent as I do. "Ivy, if what Rome and Shane say is true, you must know too."

"I might, but I'd prefer to hear it." She chews her bottom lip and my heart ratches.

"I'm in love with you." I blurt out. Her head snaps up, her eyes glistening. I can no longer stop myself. "I've loved you since you were twelve and I was fourteen. I feared Rome would disapprove, and I had to make something of myself before telling you. I've always believed you deserved the world.

"Then, Will came along, and you're with him. I didn't want to tell you if you were happy, so I've waited. I need you to know I'll wait if you need to, but I don't want you to be with anyone else. I love you." All the words I've ever thought about have come out and are messy. Not at all what I had in mind or ever wanted to come out like this.