by Fox, Cathryn
“Okay, and Ella, thanks again. You’re the best.”
“My pleasure, Landon.” She gives me a soft smile and points the phone at Piper again so I can say goodbye. I blow her a kiss and then Ella ends the call—to go let asshole Nathan in so they can work. He’s probably not an asshole. I’m just in a shitty mood now and that’s selfish on my part.
I drop my phone and stare at the ceiling. I’m about to put a pillow over my face and try to fall asleep without my thoughts on Ella when Brady comes bursting in. He takes one look at my pathetic self, and goes still.
“Everything okay?” he asks, and shoves his phone into his back pocket.
“Yeah, was just talking to Ella. She has Piper tonight.”
“Piper is good?”
“Yeah.”
His eyes narrow in on me, and sometimes I hate how well he can read me. “You good?”
“I don’t know.” I grab a pillow, put it on my lap and give it a little punch.
He stares at me for a second longer. “Come on, we’re getting a drink.”
I’m about to protest but he has that look on his face that says he won’t take no for an answer. “Shouldn’t you be off with a girl or two by now?”
“Not when my buddy needs me.”
“Fine.” I throw my legs over the side of the bed and grab my wallet. Twenty minutes later we’re in the hotel bar, sitting at a table where I’m nursing a beer. I stare at my best friend. He doesn’t think I should marry Ivy, not when I’m in love with her sister, but how can I let everyone down, including my child? I need to step up and be the man everyone needs.
What about what Ella needs?
Two women come over, their eyes wide with recognition. “Great practice today,” one says, and puts her hand on my arm as she sits down next to me and leans in to showcase her cleavage. The brunette cuddles up next to Brady.
“Thanks,” I say. If there’s one thing I’ve learned it’s that cleat chasers don’t care if I’m a dad or not. They all still want a piece of the player, but I’m not a cheater. Never was and never will be. But would I really be cheating? Ivy and I aren’t engaged or married. But I feel I have to be committed to her, which Brady thinks is crazy.
“Why don’t you girls grab a seat at the bar, and I’ll meet you there in a minute,” Brady says. “My buddy and I have something to discuss. Tell the bartender to put your drinks on my tab.”
“Don’t be too long,” the blonde purrs with a giggle. The two stand, head to the bar and I shake my head at Brady. “Aren’t you getting tired of that?”
“Don’t be mad that I’m getting laid and you’re not.”
“Have at it, my friend,” I say, even though I get the sense that he’s getting a little played out. Marriage would look good on him, but his parents’ loveless relationship is likely scaring him off.
“Speaking of getting laid, you—”
I hold my hand up to cut him off. “Don’t want to talk about it.”
He sits back in his chair and picks up his beer. “Aren’t you getting tired of living a life that makes you miserable?”
“I’m not miserable.” It’s a lie. I am miserable. “I love my daughter.”
“I know you do. But that’s not what I mean. You don’t have to marry Ivy. It’s not the 1950s, for Christ’s sake.”
“My mother is a minister, Brady,” I say for the umpteenth time. I am so tired of this same old argument. “There’s no escaping it.”
“I love your mother and honestly I don’t care if she’s the pope. She shouldn’t be pushing this on you.”
“I don’t want to talk about it.”
“You can still go after the girl you want. Jesus, Landon. I see the way you two are together. The chemistry, the way you both look at each other. Even after all this time. That’s the real deal, my friend.”
I take a long pull from my bottle. “Why me? Why not you?” I ask, bringing up another subject that we’ve beaten to death. “Ivy never paid any attention to me until I showed interest in Ella. Why did she even climb into my bed that night?”
“Those are questions for Ivy,” he says. He’s right, and I’ve never really asked too many questions. She was sick for nearly her whole pregnancy, and now she has post-partum. We never really talked, and truthfully, once she got me, it seemed like she no longer wanted me. Maybe she just wanted to secure her future with an NFL player, which once again leads me back to Brady. He was the kind of guy she went for, but he never seemed to want to hook up with her. I’m not even sure if he likes her, and he once tossed out the theory that she was jealous of Ella—wanted what her sister had.
I still can’t quite wrap my brain around that. Ella always stood in the shadows for her sister, always let Ivy shine, she fucking stole lipstick for her, for Christ’s sake. Sisters care for one another, stand up for each other, and always want what’s best for the other one, right? That’s what my sisters do. That’s what Ella does, but I’ve never seen Ivy stand up for Ella. All I know is Ivy wasn’t as liked as I thought she was, not like Ella. Yeah, everyone likes Ella. Me, though. I don’t like Ella. Nope.
I fucking love her, and I’m so fucking tired of doing the right thing, which doesn’t feel like the right thing at all.
So what the hell are you going to do about that, asshole?
21
Ella
“Hey sweet girl,” I coo to Piper as I put her in an adorable red and white dress, with an equally adorable Santa’s hat. I’m going with Ivy today to the pier to get Piper’s pictures taken with Santa for the big Christmas in July festival, and I just love the outfit Ivy purchased for her.
I check the time as Ivy comes downstairs, dressed in a sexy little cocktail dress that showcases all her curves. Over the last month, she’s been working hard to lose her baby weight, and there are times like now, and I feel like crap for saying this, but I can’t help but think her mental state of mind is just fine, and she’s taking advantage of me. Ugh, I feel so horrible for thinking that, and really I’ve never had a child and don’t really know what she’s going through. One thing I do know is that her dress is a little over the top for visiting Santa.
“She’s all ready,” I say and scoop little miss Piper into my arms. I adjust her hat over her abundance of red hair, and she sticks her tongue out at me. Not on purpose of course. She’s not quite two months old yet.
Ivy takes her from me, and rubs noses with her. “How is my beautiful little girl?” she asks and I smile and Piper coos and giggles at her mom. “Were you a good girl letting Auntie Ella dress you while Mommy got ready?” My heart fills with love as I watch mother and daughter. The bond between them is strong and it makes me want a family of my own. Only problem is, the man I want to father my children, has already fathered my sister’s child.
“You ready to go?”
She holds her daughter. “Actually, something’s come up,” Ivy explains quickly and averts her gaze like she can’t meet my eyes. What the hell? She steps up to the hallway mirror in Landon’s gorgeous Santa Monica home. Over the last couple of months, I’ve spent more time here than in my own apartment, what with Landon in Atlanta and Ivy needing help with a newborn. “Would you mind watching her?” she asks, as she gives herself a once over in the mirror.
My heart dips into my stomach. Ivy is great with her daughter, but she’s putting more and more responsibility on me. At first she was so excited to get pregnant, but now that the baby is here, and while she loves her madly, she’s less than thrilled with the responsibility. Heck, I’m working full time and up through the nights with her more than Ivy is. Am I enabling her? Jeez, maybe I am.
“What’s up?” I ask, and cuddle my sweet cooing niece as Ivy hands her over.
“Job interview.” She smiles widely as she teases a few blonde curls.
Okay, now that’s a big surprise. “I didn’t realize you were even looking for a job.”
“A friend put me in touch with this director. We’re meeting for dinner.”
“Tha
t’s amazing, Ivy. Congratulations.” I glance at the big clock on the wall. “But dinner at two o’clock in the afternoon? That seems odd.”
“Directors are busy people, and if you prefer you can call it a late lunch.” She pouts at me, the same pout she always uses to get what she wants—even with me. “Would you mind watching Piper tonight as well? I’m just not sure what time I’m going to be back.” I take one look at my sister in her sexy dress that does little to hide her abundance of cleavage and the salad I’d eaten for lunch sinks like stone in my gut. An uneasy feeling creeps through my veins. I don’t like the looks of this. Not one little bit.
“I can watch her,” I say, and mumble under my breath. “It’s not like I have a life or anything.”
“What was that?” Ivy asks as she swipes a bright red lipstick over her lips.
“Nothing. I don’t mind watching her. Go ahead. I’m sure you’ll do great. Is there a particular part you’re up for?” Ignoring me, Ivy drops the lipstick back into her purse, gives Piper a big kiss, leaving her lip marks on her cheek, and is about to walk away when I ask, “Have you talked to Landon today?”
She turns to me, her eyes narrow. “No, why?”
“I don’t know,” I adjust the bow on Piper’s dress. “He’s home in three days. Will you be able to pick him up at the airport? I mean, I can if you can’t. I can help out.” Shit, shit, shit. Do I sound anxious to see him? I lift my head and another burst of unease worms its way through my body when a flash of anger—at least I think it’s anger—blazes in her eyes. Why the hell would she be angry? Maybe it’s not anger, maybe it’s something else that looks like anger. Something like jealousy. But that doesn’t make sense. She has everything I want, it’s not the other way around.
“I’m pretty sure I can pick up my lover,” she bites back, her choice of words stinging a bit.
“Okay, just checking.” I swear I’m more excited to see him than she is. A knock comes on Ivy’s door, and I say, “That’s probably Peyton. She wanted to come to the pier with us.”
I open the door, and Peyton tugs on Piper’s hand. I smile at her, and she seems much happier and more confident now that she’s shed her college weight. “How’s the little chicken nugget?”
“Don’t call her that,” Ivy snaps and Peyton raises her brow at me. “She’s a beautiful little girl.”
“She’s in a mood,” I whisper under my breath. Clearly, asking about Landon set her off. I don’t know what is going on with them, but suspect I talk to him more than my sister does. Peyton walks into the house, and gives a low slow whistle when she sets eyes on Ivy’s dress, or lack thereof.
“You’re going to make Santa one happy man when you sit on his lap.”
Ivy twirls, obviously loving the compliment. “Thank you, but I have an interview. Ella will explain. I have to go. I’m running late.” She flies past us, stopping for a second to give Piper another kiss and heads out the door.
Peyton jerks her thumb over her shoulder. “It’s nice to see her smiling.”
“She does seem to be doing better.” I frown. “I think.”
“What’s this interview she’s talking about? I didn’t realize she was going to work. Who’s going to take care of Piper?”
“That makes two of us and I have no idea what the position is for, or what she plans to do with Piper.”
“Girlfriend, no one dresses like that for an interview, and the only position—”
“Stop,” I blurt out, but suddenly can’t stop visualizing Ivy in all kinds of positions, and none of them sit well with me.
Peyton, ever astute, which is what makes her a great social worker, gives a slow shake of her head and I can almost hear the wheels turning. “I don’t like this. Something is off here.”
My heart drops from my stomach to my toes, because it’s not the first time I thought things were off. Ivy and I both have naturally dark hair, and so does Landon. Piper’s stark red hair seemed a little off, but Landon said one of his sisters was a redhead. Still, there’s just something that doesn’t sit right with me.
“I was thinking the same thing,” I admit. “Do you think she’s…seeing someone?”
“I don’t really know. But she’s pretty dressed up, even for an interview, don’t you think?”
I nod, unable to deny it, but I don’t like drama or trouble, and something tells me it’s lurking right around the corner. “She’s been going out a lot with the girls, too.” I purse my lips. “I’ve been babysitting this chicken nugget a lot. I practically live here now.”
Peyton takes Piper from me, and talks to her softly as she walks to the living room and drops down into the sofa. Her head lifts. “Landon is home soon?”
“Three days.” I grab a clip from my purse and pile my hair on the top of my head. I’ve had very little time for selfcare lately. Is it any wonder I can’t get a date? Then again, have I really been putting myself out there?
“Do you think they’re having problems?” Peyton asks.
“No clue. I really try to mind my own business. I have to, otherwise I’d go insane.”
She gives me a consoling smile and I let out an exaggerated breath. “This isn’t easy for you, Ella.”
“Ivy is my sister and Piper is my niece. I have to be there for them.”
“Your sister stole the man you were, or rather are, in love with right out from underneath you.”
“That’s the thing, she didn’t know.” She arches a brow like she doesn’t believe that for a hot second, but I like to give my sister the benefit of the doubt. “She can’t steal what was never mine, now can she?”
“He was yours. He slept with you that night. He chose you, Ella.”
“Then why was Ivy in his bed after me?”
She gives a frustrated groan. “For the life of me, I can’t understand why you two refuse to talk about what happened.” I open my mouth, about to explain, when she cuts me off. “He had to know it was you. Anyone with half a brain can tell you two apart, even in the dark, and Landon is no dummy.”
I check my watch. “Doesn’t matter now, though, does it? He’s with Ivy now.”
“Is he, though? I mean she lives here with his child, but that doesn’t mean they’re a couple.”
“Ivy is waiting on the ring, Peyton. Don’t think for a minute she’s not.”
“What’s Landon waiting for then? If he plans to marry her, wouldn’t he have asked her by now?”
“Something to do with her baby weight,” I say.
“Maybe, but maybe there is another reason he’s waiting. Maybe he’s waiting for a sign from you, and believe you me, he will not put a ring on her finger, or do the right thing by her if you tell him how you feel or if he finds out she’s cheating,” she says.
I bite my lip, hard. “Jesus, if she is, do I tell him?”
“Of course.”
I give a fast shake of my head as my pulse leaps at the thought of going behind my sister’s back. It’s not right, but if she’s cheating, that’s not right either. “I don’t know, Peyton…I…”
“Fine, I’ll do it for you. Wait, do you think he could be cheating on her? I mean, you know these girls hang out at training camp just to sleep with the players.”
“No, he’s not a cheater,” I say vehemently.
Peyton gives me a look like she just won the lottery—like she just made a huge point. “Exactly, Ella,” she says, going into professional mode.
“I’m not one of your patients, Peyton.”
“He’s not a cheater. You just defended him. Vehemently. That means you don’t think he would go from you to Ivy in the same night.”
Ohmigod, can we stop this constant back and forth battle? “Because he thought I was her to begin with.”
“You know I don’t believe that. I’ve told you that numerous times.”
“And in numerous ways,” I remind her, but that just results in a knowing smirk from her.
She stands and I take Piper from her. She fusses in my arms, and I hold h
er against my chest and rock with her the way she likes. Peyton stands there staring at me, but honestly, what is the point of all this now anyway? He’s with my sister. I grab the diaper bag and put it over my shoulder. “We better go.”
We head out into the gorgeous sunshine, and after I buckle little Piper into her seat, I pull into traffic. We drive through the downtown core, on our way to the Santa Monica Pier.
“Why don’t we go to Third Street Promenade? I hear they’re doing a fun parade and have a really good Santa.”
I cast a quick look Peyton’s way. “Yeah, how do you know that?”
“Clients. We talk, you know.”
I laugh at that. After college, Peyton got an amazing job at a behavioral health clinic, working with kids of all ages. She loves it, but I’m sure I’d burn out in a heartbeat. “I don’t know. Ivy wanted to take her to the pier.”
“Do you see Ivy anywhere here?” Peyton blurts out.
I cast a quick glance her way, and take in her raised eyebrows. I think she’s tired of my sister running off and leaving me with the responsibility of her child. “No.”
“Then trust me on this.” She wiggles and settles herself in her seat.
“When did you get so bossy?”
“I’ve always been bossy,” she says. “Caleb is the only one who has ever had a problem with it.”
At the mention of Caleb, I cast her a glance. She’s not brought him up in a long time, and I can’t help but wonder if there is more going on, or if she’s seen him around or something. I’m about to ask, but she holds her hands up to stop me. She always did know what I was thinking.
“The Promenade Santa is better, and you want Miss Piper to have the perfect first Christmas photo, don’t you?”
I let it go. “As long as I’m not in it, I’m happy.” I take a left, changing direction, and as we drive by a downtown hotel, I glance out my window. “What the hell?”
“What?” Peyton asks and glances around.
I slow down and point. “Is that…”
She peers out the window. “Yeah, it’s Ivy.”