Chapter Fifteen Ivy

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

Ivy

" A re you feeling comfortable here?" CeCe asks as we put away my things.

"Oddly, yes," I answer honestly.

"Wade acts tough but somewhere in there he's just a great big softy," CeCe says to me as she hangs a few sweaters in the small closet.

She's brought me everything I asked for, tights and yoga pants because jeans will be too structured for the next few days, big sweaters, my toiletries and pajamas, and my beloved two books that I'm currently reading so I can take a break from the TV.

"That one is spicy." She points to the "why choose" I'm reading that just came out a few months ago.

"I'm only fifty pages in, don't spoil it," I say to her.

"It takes a bit, but when they get together, damn. I had to wake Nash up before I took care of myself." She laughs, and I laugh with her.

She's nothing if not honest, and it's something I love about her personality.

"Great, I guess I'd better read it when I'm alone so I don't do something stupid," I blurt out, then instantly regret it.

CeCe's eyes grow huge, she raises an eyebrow and then she starts laughing.

"You got a little crush on my brother?"

"No … I …" I stammer. "I mean, he is a good-looking man. I—fuck." I throw my hands up, not knowing what else to do.

CeCe laughs. "You're so busted."

I am, yes. It certainly doesn't help my go-to flick roster that he's being so damn nice and sweet, not to mention cooking me dinner with his strong arms and AirPods in like he's on Top Chef . Correction: World's Hottest Top Chef.

"The fact that you even tolerate him is a wonder, when he's so cold all the time." She giggles.

I know my face is still red from blushing so I may as well stop trying to hide it and own it.

"He's actually been really nice. I mean, as nice as Wade gets. He's warmed up to me a little bit I think. He even made a joke today," I say.

"Stop lying." CeCe laughs as she disappears into the bathroom to put my makeup bag and toiletries on the counter. "Didn't even know he knew any jokes."

"I mean it was lame but I'll take it," I say, laughing now too.

CeCe looks like she is thinking for a moment.

"You know, it might be good for him to have someone around for a few days. I worry about him. Janelle really screwed him over. Maybe having you to work with, possibly becoming his friend, will remind him what it's like to have human connections again and that they aren't all bad. I always hope that he can find someone worthy of him one day. Janelle never was." CeCe tucks a piece of hair behind her ear and the massive diamond on her left hand catches the light, momentarily blinding me.

"Goddamn, that thing is like a beacon," I tell her, grabbing her hand to admire it as we giggle.

"What the fuck, Trouble?" I hear Wade call out before he even gets to my door. He's clearly annoyed as he knocks, pushing the already-open door.

CeCe and I both start to laugh at his stern demeanor. But I notice something more. His hands are on his hips and he's taken off his flannel. Wade's standing before us in his black t-shirt tight to his strong torso and upper arms, his hair is perfectly wavy and poking out slightly from under his backward hat, and a dishtowel is slung over his shoulder. Even pissed off, I admit openly to myself that Wade Ashby is … really hot .

"Uh-oh." CeCe giggles. "Dad's here to give us shit."

He grunts then turns his eyes to mine.

"The fuck are the rest of my Pop-Tarts?"

"Oh shoot, was I not supposed to move them?" I ask innocently as CeCe falls back on the bed in laughter. "I'm not sure what cabinet I put them in, you may have to check them all." I giggle.

"You wanna play, Trouble? Let's play," he says, his tone dark.

CeCe laughs even harder, but me? I just sit there and take note of all the ways it makes my body tingle when his voice does that threatening, commanding thing.