“You know it.” Sebastian pointed at my dad and winked.
Little stud was stealing my moves.
My dad laughed. “You’re clearly rubbing off on him.”
I nodded and looked over to see Sebastian standing with his arms crossed over his chest and he nodded just like me.
My chest squeezed.
Like I said, the dude was a cool cat. I glanced over to see my girl flying through the dining room toward the kitchen. Shayla came over and called for Sebastian and my father to take a picture with her, and I excused myself to go find Ivy.
She was standing in front of the long table, adjusting the flowers. Talia wanted to have the rehearsal at a local Italian restaurant that used to be our favorite growing up. I snuck up behind her and wrapped my arms around her waist, settling my chin on her shoulder.
Lilies and jasmine and goodness.
The more time I spent with her, the more time I wanted. I owed her at least that much. I’d have moved heaven and earth to give it to her. Zane was pissed as hell, but I didn’t want to tell Ivy that. He was endlessly doing what he could regarding the photos of Ivy and me that had gone viral in the press. They were still calling her an old friend, but the more times we were photographed together would make it obvious there was a hell of a lot more going on here than friendship. I didn’t mind it one bit, but Zane sure as hell didn’t like it. He said it was bad for my image. I wasn’t looking forward to him arriving here next week. He wasn’t pleased with the studio we were renting, nor was he happy about staying at the Willow Springs Hotel.
But it was time he started doing things my way.
“Hey,” I said, kissing her neck.
She turned in my arms. “How are you hanging in there?”
“Fine. Thanks for sitting me next to Sebastian, he’s really pleased about it,” I said, my mouth so close to hers I grazed her lips with mine.
“Of course. I saw you talking to your dad. Did that go okay?”
“Yeah, I guess. I agreed to have brunch with him the morning after the wedding. He has some things he wants to share.” I rolled my eyes.
She smiled. “I’m proud of you. It’s part of the reason you came home, right? Lucy will be pleased too.” I’d FaceTimed with my therapist a few times and Ivy had popped in to say hi. Of course, Lucy thought she was fabulous, and she was really pleased that I’d extended my stay and pushed back with Zane when he’d fought me about it.
“She’ll be happy. But if I’m being honest, I’m only here for you.”
“Stop it. You’re here to heal. Go do all the healing, because tonight you’re mine. I thought maybe we could go hang out at the lake. It used to be our favorite place.”
“Ahhh… skinny dipping with my girl, I can handle that,” I whispered in her ear, and she shivered.
“Yeah?” She fisted my button-up and pulled me close.
“Ivy!” someone shouted from the kitchen, and she jumped.
“Stop distracting me, Greene. Go heal and let me work,” she said, before pushing up on her tiptoes and kissing me quickly. She turned to leave, and I smacked her ass because I couldn’t help myself. She yelped and I laughed, and I fucking loved how easy it was between us.
I turned around to see my mother and Craig walk in and my father was standing right there to greet them.
Here we go.
Game time.
The next hour went by in a blur because there were family and friends here that I hadn’t seen in a long time. Some that I didn’t even realize that I’d missed. My mother handled my father with such grace. The woman had more class in her pinky finger than my father had in his entire body. We were called to the table by the amazing wedding planner who kept things moving and never let anyone see her sweat. But I knew her, and I knew she was multitasking even though she played it cool. Sebastian sat on one side of me, and my mother was on the other side of me.
“How are you holding up?” I leaned in and asked her as everyone was taking their seats, all involved in their own side conversations.
“I’m actually doing great. I thought it would be hard to be back here, but I have to say, I’m pleasantly surprised. And your father seems really good. Sebastian is a wonderful little boy.”
I nodded. “He’s a great kid. I’m glad I finally came and met him. Talia was right about that. Although, Dad’s still the same.”
“Ty, you need to let it go. I have.” She shook her head and chuckled. “Maybe it’s the five years of therapy, but I think your dad and I are both much happier now. I don’t think we were ever really happy together, if I’m being honest.”
My eyes bulged. “What? You were devastated when your marriage ended.”
“Ty, my family blew up. And yes, it hurt like hell, but there were issues before that happened. I was sad for my family. For you and Talia. And the financial side of what happened was very devastating. But my heart? It didn’t break for the reasons you think,” she said, looking around to make sure everyone was still involved in other conversations.
“You weren’t in love with him?” I asked because this was news to me.
“I didn’t know it at the time, but I truly don’t think we had been for a long time. I own my part in that for sure. The way he handled the situation was not okay, and I stand by that. But things were broken long before they actually broke. I just didn’t want to see it. Now that I’m in a healthy relationship, I’m able to recognize just how bad things had gotten between me and your father.”
I shook my head. My mom and I never talked about this stuff. We’d spent the first year just surviving and then from there, we just tried to keep moving forward.
“I’m happy you’re happy now, Mom. You deserve it.”
“You do too, my boy. You’ve spent so much time being strong for me and Talia, but I worry about you, you know?” She patted my hand, and her smile reached her eyes.
“I’m doing okay, Mom.”
“You seem happier than you have a long time, Ty. I think our wedding planner has a lot to do with that.” She looked up as Ivy bent down beside the table to talk to my sister.
“She’s the best. I’m glad I extended my trip and gave us this time.”
“Don’t put a deadline on things. Just enjoy it. It’s okay to be happy, you know.”
I scrubbed a hand over my face. “My life isn’t here, Mom. Ivy’s is. She wants a family. She wants the white picket fence. That’s not for me.”
“Ty Greene, you listen to me, and you listen clearly.” Her face hardened. “You are not your father. You are not responsible for his actions. You have the kindest heart and you put everyone first. Always have. But you deserve to put you first now.”