I found Ivy standing off to the side. She’d changed into the most beautiful peach long dress that ran to the floor. There were ruffles that crossed over her chest and cream and pink flowers on the fabric hugged all her curves just right.
I’d hit a nerve with her earlier. I was behaving like a jealous prick. After all, I was just the guy who came back for a few weeks trying to stake his claim. What kind of asshole gets jealous when they aren’t willing to stick around?
Maybe I could convince Ivy to leave this shit town and come with me. But that would be asking her to give up everything she wanted. I was wrestling with this every day.
I couldn’t help but chuckle when I saw Sebastian coming down the aisle with a pillow carrying the rings. He shoved his glasses up his nose again and focused on balancing the pillow on the one hand. He tripped over his own feet a few times and I realized his dress shoes looked like they were about three sizes too big. I figured Shayla hadn’t taken the time to get that fixed and that just pissed me off more.
The vows were said. The rings were on their fingers. My sister was officially married.
I’d survived the wedding I’d been dreading for months, and now I wasn’t even leaving town as quickly as I’d expected to. The paparazzi had snapped a few pictures of me alone on my way into the venue, and that had been enough for them for the day. A few shouted out, asking where Ivy was and Isaac winked at me like we were buddies. The dude had been pretty decent to us in the way that he’d kept everyone out of my hair. Ivy had arrived earlier and we’d both agreed it was best not to be photographed together too often.
I posed for family pictures, tensing when my father clapped me on the shoulder. Ivy was calling people for different poses, and my gaze locked with hers several times. She looked stunning with her hair tied back in a long, wavy ponytail running down her back.
“Okay, y’all. Let’s get this party started,” my sister shouted, and Jake dipped her back and kissed her hard. I wondered how she could go into marriage so blindly after what happened to our own family. I knew she wanted kids, and she’d be a hell of a mom. But did she not fear how badly she could fuck them up if things went sideways with Jake? She was so trusting. So open to love that I just didn’t understand it. My mom seemed to be feeling the same way. Like she was ready to jump back in. Did they not remember the hell we went through?
Fool me once, shame on you.
Fool me twice, shame on me.
I’d never allow the rug to be pulled out from under my feet again. I had control of my business. Control of my music. Control of the people I associated with. And that’s the way I liked it.
When we finished up photos, I hugged my sister and searched the area for Ivy. She must have gone to the tent to talk to DJ Douchebag, and I already missed her. I was so fucked. I should have gotten the hell out of here tomorrow. The longer I stayed, the harder it would be when I left. For both of us. But I was still holding out hope that somehow we could make this work. Long distance if necessary. But I didn’t know if what I had to offer would be enough for Ivy.
We got introduced and the music bellowed throughout the tent. I made my way inside with Cara, Talia’s lifelong best friend. After my sister and Jake made their entrance, I looked around for Ivy.
“Ty,” Jett called out and waved me over. Before I made it there, Coco lunged at me and hugged me tight.
“Hey there, country star. Long time no see,” she purred. We’d always been close. Hell, Ivy’s best friends were my best friends growing up.
“I hear you’ve got some explaining to do.” I raised a brow after we pulled back and looked at one another. “The girl who was never getting married ran off and got hitched?”
Her head fell back in laughter as a tall dude with dark hair walked over and extended an arm. “Hey, Ty. I’ve heard lots about you. I’m Roman Amato.”
“You can call him Big Sexy,” Coco said.
“Please don’t,” Roman said with a smirk on his face that immediately let me know I’d get along great with the guy.
I laughed. “It’s nice to meet you. I’ve heard a lot about you as well.”
“This is our little angel, Valentino,” she said as a little boy popped out from behind her.
“Hey there, buddy. I’ll have to introduce you to my little brother. He looks about your age.”
“Was he the ring bearer?” he asked.
“He sure was.”
“I got to carry the rings for my daddy and Comie,” he said, and Coco scooped him up in her arms.
“That’s cool,” I said to him before turning to Coco. “Happiness looks good on you, girl.”
“I could say the same to you.” She smiled. “So what’s the story, Greene? You extended your trip, I hear,” she said, wriggling her brows just as Gigi came hurrying over.
Gigi rushed at me and hugged me. “Missed you, Ty.”
“Missed you too. I can’t believe you and Gray are together. That must have been quite the shitstorm with Cade,” I said. I’d played football with Cade and Gray in high school, and they were more like brothers. Ivy had filled me in that it had been an obstacle for Gray and Gigi when they first got together.
“Oh, you know it, dude,” Gray said as he pulled me in for a hug. “I can’t believe I’m going to admit to you that you made me a country music fan. But we weren’t allowed to admit we listened to your music before now.”
“Stop.” Gigi slapped him on the chest and laughed. “Although it’s true.”
Maura and Crew were each holding a glass of wine as they walked toward the table, and her eyes locked with mine. She set her glass down and ran toward me, hugging me just as tight as the others had. “It’s so good to see you, Ty. We’ve all really missed you. You remember Crew, right?”
I did. He was a few years older than we were, but I’d always liked him. “Of course I do. I loved hearing that two rival families finally put their feud to rest.”
Crew extended a hand and laughed. “Hell yeah. I think you could probably write a song about that, right?”
I nodded. “Abso-fucking-lutely.”
I dropped to sit at the table, and we all caught up, reminiscing about all our times together over the years. My chest squeezed more than once, and Sebastian came over and I pulled him up on my lap and introduced him to everyone. He and Valentino became fast friends and ran off to spy on the two flower girls.
I looked up to see Ivy enter the tent. She nearly took my breath away when she smiled at me. She moved my way, and I was on my feet, pulling her close before I could stop myself.
“Okay, I’m off the clock. Dance with me,” she said. Ivy led me out to the dance floor, and I pulled her close as we moved to the music. And I couldn’t remember the last time I’d had so much fun.