Chapter 6

Ivy

I turn down the long drive that leads to the big house on Hardtail Ranch, where Peaches and Gunnar live. Sage and I are always invited when the MC hosts parties and family gatherings. The call to show up at two this afternoon hit differently, though. This was no party.

"What are we doing here today?" Sage asks in a whiny tone.

Oaklee, Gray's kid sister, flashes a wide smile and leans forward between the seats. "We're here because when Peaches and Mom say jump, we ask how high." At eighteen, she's already a stunner, with thick brown hair and brown eyes that go from gold to coffee, depending on her mood.

Sage laughs. "Can't argue with that. Ella Mae will have made some kind of food, so I don't really care what they want. I'm going inside." I pull to a stop in the parking circle, and she pushes open the door, hops out, and darts into the house without a look back.

"Hungry bitch," I whisper under my breath, but Oaklee's bark of laughter says it's not low enough.

"Ugh, we were too busy drinking last night to even think about food. Then we slept in until you came knocking earlier. Neither of us has had a single thing to eat since yesterday." She pauses, then adds hastily, "But don't you dare tell my Mama and Daddy about that."

I grin as we climb out of my beat-up sedan. "Tell them what, exactly?"

"Exactly," Oaklee repeats with a smirk. She bounds up the stairs ahead of me. I hang back, eyeing my junky old ride. Maybe it's time I treat myself to a sweet new ride. I have enough money saved up.

"Everything okay?" Peaches' voice pulls my gaze from my car to the woman who is a second mother to me.

"Yeah. I was thinking I need a new car. Any tips?"

"Yes. Take Gray with you so these good ol' boys don't take advantage of a pretty face. And don't get a big-ass pickup truck, please."

I laugh. "You have one."

Peaches laughs before she wraps me in a hug, kissing my cheek the way she always does in greeting. "Yeah, well, I'm a crazy old lady, so I get to do dumb shit like that. But in a few years, it'll be hard as hell to get my old bones up in that thing."

I stop and stare at her. "Old? Peaches, you'll never get old."

Her burgundy brows shoot up in surprise. "Aww, hon, you're such a sweetheart."

"Now, what's happening that you called everybody over here to help?"

Peaches' expression changes to one of pure excitement. "A party. We need you girls to help with, well, with everything," she says with a laugh.

No one throws parties like the Reckless Bastards. At least, no party I've ever been to has stacked up to theirs. There's always a ton of food, booze, and anything else you might want to enhance your party-going experience.

As a dumb kid, I always over-did the party favors. But when I hit twenty-one, I learned that a couple of shots, a beer, and a hot biker are the perfect combination for a fun time. "What are we celebrating?"

"Being alive," Peaches answers in that sassy way of hers that's sweet but leaves no more room for questions.

I shrug and follow her inside the kitchen, where Ella Mae is already feeding Sage and Oaklee. Her smile brightens when she sees me, and I accept her hug and offer up my cheek for a kiss. Sure, I'm Gray's old lady, but she's more to me than my boyfriend's mom.

"You look beautiful," she whispers.

"Thanks. I showered."

"Did you?" Sage asks sarcastically before taking a big bite out of a burrito.

"Ivy, more burritos are warming in the oven. Egg, potato, and black bean. Sage and Oaklee, I need you girls to help with the food."

They both groan in unison, and I laugh. This scene has been playing out for years. The only difference is we're all a little older this year. "Have fun with the food, girls." I shouldn't taunt them, but it's fun, and I already know what my assignment will be.

"Ivy will help me set up the bar and chairs in the yard," Peaches says, trying to make Sage and Oaklee feel better.

It doesn't work. Oaklee rolls her eyes. "Oh no. Ivy gets to work on her tan while sipping beers and margaritas. We get to sweat in a hot kitchen. Not fair. I can't wait until I'm older."

"I can," Ella Mae adds with a smile before shoving her kitchen helpers out the back door.

I quickly eat a burrito—okay, two burritos—and turn to Peaches. "I'll get the bar set up first if that's cool?"

She folds her arms, glaring at me like I've offended her. "You callin' me old, Ivy?"

I laugh again. "Did we not just talk about this outside? You'll never be old. But if you really want to haul the bar slats across the yard, I'll happily set up the chairs."

"Smart ass," she growls, making me laugh. "Anyway, there's no need to haul anything. You haven't been here since the last party, and I bought something." She looks like a kid in a candy store as she drags me out of the back door and points.

I stare for a long moment, unsure what to say at first before I settle on the obvious. "You bought a tiki bar?"

"I did. I know the tiki thing clashes with the whole cowboy biker thing, but it's adorable, right?" Peaches doesn't wait for me to answer. "I have a few things to biker and cowboy it up, so I'll do that while you stock the bar and fill the coolers."

"Sounds good." I smile at Peaches one last time before carrying boxes of liquor, beer, and ice to the bar. She's adding cowboy decals to the bar, sticking cowboy hats on top of the palm thatch roof and adding MC colors with a smile. She's in a good mood, better than usual, and I feel like I'm missing something. "Peaches?"

"Yeah, honey?" Her focus is on a big-ass Reckless Bastards sticker she's slowly putting on the front of the bar, but it feels weird, like she's purposely not looking at me.

"What's all the fuss about? This seems a bit over the top for a regular MC get-together."

"Oh yeah," she replies, smoothing the sticker's edge. "We're celebra?—"

"Hey Ma! I'm home!" The voice cuts through the air, familiar as the Texas heat. Haven't heard it in, what, five years? But I've played it in my head more times than I'd like to admit, always wondering if we'd ever cross paths again. As I turn around, my heart does a full-on rodeo. Stone Nilsson. My best-fucking-friend turned ghost.

To say I'm in shock would be the understatement of the century. He's tall, blond, and grinning like he's just stepped out for a quick ride, not vanished for half a decade. I'm frozen to the spot, clutching a box of tequila like it's my lifeline, my jaw practically unhinged.

"Stone?" I manage, my voice barely a whisper as our eyes lock. His shock mirrors mine. Peaches is on the move and rushes across the yard with a big smile.

"My baby's home," she hollers out as he meets her at the edge of the driveway and scoops her into a hug, spinning her around.

"Ma. You look as beautiful as ever."

I can't peel my eyes away. That blond mane is a dead giveaway, now pulled back with a black bandana, framing a face that's somehow grown even more handsome. Manly. The scruff, those dancing blue eyes, and that smile that could light up the darkest nights. He's got big, broad shoulders, and those jeans fit him like they were molded to his thighs, very sculpted thighs, thank you very much.

Not that I notice. I've got a man of my own, after all. Stone's just a chapter from a past life.

But then he strides over, his smile widening as he zeroes in on me. The box of tequila is suddenly out of my hands, and I'm pulled against a chest that feels like it's carved from marble.

"Damn, Ivy! It's so fucking good to see you," he breathes, his embrace wrapping me in a familiarity I didn't realize I'd missed so much. "I'm so glad you're here."

"Stone," I say, but my voice is muffled against his chest.

He pulls back, eyes scanning me like he's memorizing every change. "You grew up nice, Ivy."

A small smile tugs at my lips. "You too, Stone." My eyes do a quick sweep, strictly nonchalantly, as I catch myself admiring the solid feel of his arms. "What brings you back? Staying for good?"

He slings an arm around me, as easy as breathing. "Yeah, I'm home for good," he says. It feels like no time has passed, yet everything's changed.

Pulling away, I busy myself with unloading bottles, needing the distraction. "You could've reached out. Not even a goodbye, Stone."

"I couldn't." He scrubs one hand down his jaw before sighing heavily. "After what happened with that dude, Dad told me to get the hell outta Dodge and never look back. I didn't want to leave, Ivy. And especially without saying goodbye. Believe me, I would've reached out if I could have."

I'm not sure how I feel right now. It's been five years. I've moved on but seeing him now brings all that hurt and confusion right back to the surface.

"I'm glad you're safe, Stone. And I'm glad you're home." I blow out a long breath and get back to work. We have a party to finish setting up.

"You don't sound happy," he notes, a hint of concern in his voice as I tear into another box.

"Well, I am dammit. It's just, never mind. I really am glad to see you, and by the time the party starts, I promise to be in a better mood." My smile's as bright as I can muster, squinting against the sun so I can't see his reaction.

That's probably a good thing. I've moved on. I thought Stone was gone forever. Hell, we all did.

"I'm going to make it up to you, Ivy. That's a promise." With that, he turns and walks away. I'm left feeling like I just got the wind knocked out of me.

Shit. Seeing Stone after all these years has stirred up a whirlwind of emotions I never expected.

On one hand, I'm overjoyed to have my best friend back in my life. The relief of knowing he's safe and happy is overwhelming.

Yet, beneath the safe and happy is a sense of hurt and anger. Five years ago, he disappeared without a word, leaving me to navigate the hardest years of my life alone. I understand why he had to leave, but understanding doesn't erase the pain of his absence.

I take a deep breath, trying to reconcile the warring emotions inside me. I want to embrace the joy of Stone's return, to fall back into our easy friendship as if no time has passed. But a lot of time has passed, and the weight of those missing years holds me back, reminding me that things can never be the same.

Just like that, my world's flipped on its head. Again.