Chapter 16

Ivy

I refuse to deal with Gray after he gave me shit about hugging my friend. After all, Stone rescued me from a pack of wild bikers. But Stone has been straight-up ghosting me for the past twenty-four hours.

What the actual fuck? Who even are they anymore?

So, I'm having a day at home to myself, a day full of exciting activities like laundry and dusting, cleaning windows while I shake my ass to any music that will make me forget that yesterday ever happened.

I need a reset. ASAP.

Between late nights blending into mornings and hitting snooze a few too many times, the house has been neglected for way too long. I throw my hair up in a messy ponytail, tie a bandana around my head, and get down to business.

Adulting: 1, Ivy: 0.

The living room's a breeze, aside from Sage's shoes and socks scattered around. Girl, the hamper's right there! I clean off the coffee table, do a quick dusting and vacuum.

I'm a little sweaty, but my music keeps me company. No worries about waking Sage—that girl could sleep through the apocalypse after last night. And if she does wake up, she can join the cleaning party.

The bathroom and living room are finally done. My bedroom's next and will be done as soon as I make a dent in this mountain of laundry. That leaves the kitchen, which I hate, for last.

"I should've sprung for that damn dishwasher," I grumble as I fill the sink with hot, sudsy water.

The doorbell sounds, and when I lower the volume of the music, I realize it's ringing frantically as if there's an emergency. I dry my hands and rush to the front door, peeking out to see who it is since I'm not expecting—or wanting—company today.

I see a familiar face and unlock the door. "Stone. What are you doing here?"

He flashes a wide grin, perfect teeth on display, and raises a familiar brown bag with Tio Tito's mustached smile holding a margarita glass. "Thought I'd surprise you with lunch."

He didn't just bring lunch—he brought my favorite. I'll bet all of tomorrow's tips that inside that bag is the taco trio. Damn him and his thoughtfulness. I step aside and let him in, fighting a smile because I don't want him to think I'm happy he stopped by. I'm not. I'm still mad about the ghosting.

Stone looks around the living room and then turns to face me, blue eyes full of mischief. "Cleaning day?"

I nod. "Hazel gave me the day off, so I figured I'd tackle some housework." Alone, I want to add, but I don't.

"You have time to stop for lunch? These tacos aren't gonna eat themselves."

"For Tio Tito's? Always." I stop fighting the smile and let her loose as I grab the bag from his hands and head to the kitchen. "I just started cleaning in here."

He frowns, shrugging as he takes the bag back and starts unloading the items inside. "Looks clean to me."

"Beer or soda?"

"Beer," he answers. "And water."

I grab two waters and a bottle of beer in one arm, plates in the other before Stone takes the plates. "Thanks."

We both sit and dig into the tacos—the trio for me—in a mildly tense silence at first. Eventually, Stone breaks the silence. He's not one to let tension settle without facing it head-on. I've missed that about him, missed having him force me to face my bullshit.

"I'm sorry, Ivy."

"Sorry for ignoring my calls and texts?"

He smiles. "Some, I guess." He laughs at the frown his answer causes. "I didn't like seeing you in Gray's arms yesterday, and I couldn't understand why. At first."

Uh. Oh.

"I noticed how beautiful you are now because I'm not fucking blind. You've always been beautiful, Ivy. I can't deny the attraction I feel, not to myself anyway. But that's not your problem. I guess I'm fucking jealous that Gray has you now when I was going to make you mine that summer." He clears his throat. "Before all the shit went down."

His jaws clench, and I know he's right back in that fucking parking lot, replaying events he can't change.

My heart jumps at his words. Stone is attracted to me. Admits that he wants me. That he wanted me five years ago. Shut up, stupid heart.

I sigh. "I have a lot of guilt about that night, too," I admit. "I shouldn't have dressed up like that. If I'd just dressed normally, you wouldn't have fought that prick, and he would still be alive to get his ass kicked again."

"Fuck that, Ivy. No one has a right to touch you, not even if you're butt-ass naked walking around downtown Opey."

I smile at his protective streak, still present and overbearing. "Still. I bear some of the blame, but you got all the punishment."

He nods, and my heart sinks. "I felt that way at first, too."

"What changed?"

He lifts his broad shoulders before letting them drop dramatically. "I grew up. It wasn't a punishment, or it wasn't meant to be. They were trying to keep me and the MC safe. And I learned a lot while I was away. The worst part was missing you."

"I missed you too, Stone. A lot." Too fucking much.

"So we're good?" The hope in his eyes is so reminiscent of the playful glint that's danced in my mind since he left.

"Yeah, Stone. We're good."

"Good." He rises from his chair and rounds the table, pulling me to my feet and wrapping his big arms around me. "Because I want you however I can have you, Ivy."

My breath catches, and I swallow hard to clear my throat, even though I have no fucking clue how to respond to that. Worse? My body is reacting to Stone in a big way. My nipples are hard, and there's a telltale pulsing between my thighs. I pull back a few inches to put just a hint of space between us, but when I look into his eyes and see the heat, my eyes go to his lips.

His nostrils flare, and he leans forward just a little, or maybe I lean forward. Either way, the result is the same. We're so close that our breath mingles. So close I can see his gaze as it darkens with desire.

Desire for me.

We move together at the same time, closer and closer.

The bell sounds again, three knocks following it, and I know who it is. "Gray," I whisper.

"Right," Stone replies, dropping his hands and stepping back. "Sorry."

"No, I mean, that's who's at the door. It's his knock." My gaze refuses to look away from his lips, forcing me to wonder what they taste like. No. I can't care what Stone's full lips taste like. Not even a little bit. That's what I tell myself as I open the door for Gray who's wearing a thunderous expression. "Hey, Gray."

"Why is Stone here?"

My brows dip in confusion, and the guilt I felt a moment ago is replaced by anger. "He brought lunch."

"You said you wanted to be alone." His tone is accusatory, which pisses me off.

"I did want to be alone, but Stone dropped by with lunch."

"And suddenly, you didn't want to be alone anymore?" He steps inside, brushing his shoulder against mine instead of giving me his usual peck on the cheek or lips.

"Gray, what is your problem? I didn't know he was coming, but he brought lunch for fuck's sake." I follow him into the kitchen and witness an epic stare-down between him and Stone.

"You need to leave." Gray's voice is tight, but his anger is clear. "Now."

Stone flashes a cocky smile that's sure to piss off Gray even more. "You're her boyfriend, not her owner or her daddy."

Gray's hands ball up into fists, and he steps forward.

Stone doesn't flinch, and worse, he keeps smiling.

"I said leave. Now."

Stone ignores Gray and shoots me a look of concern as if asking if I'm all right.

I appreciate it, but the truth is that this tension is just stressing me the fuck out. "Both of you get out. Now."

Gray whirls around, brown eyes wide with shock. "You're kicking me out?"

I nod and give his chest a shove out of the kitchen. "Yeah, I am. So, go. Both of you." I give him one last shove until he's on the other side of the threshold.

Stone steps around me and stops beside Gray. "See you around, Ivy. You too, Sage." His grin grows at my sister, who I assume has appeared from her beauty sleep behind me, taking it all in like trashy reality TV.

"Bye, Stone. See ya, Gray," she says, still groggy from too many hours, conked out on her pillow.

I slam the door and lock it for good measure before pressing my back against it. I stare at Sage and let out a feral growl of frustration. Men complicate everything.

"Too bad," my sister grins at me. "It was just getting good. I was ready to make some popcorn."

"Glad I can entertain you," I reply sarcastically.

"Me, too!"

I shake my head and return to the kitchen to clean and distract myself.

Ivy bounds through the kitchen on her way to her room. "Uhm, Sis, by the way, I saw and heard everything. He's hot. And you're stupid."

Dammit to hell.