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And I have no idea what to do to heal either one of us.
CHAPTER 42: Ivy Maddox
Visiting Dad
Our flight got in late last night, and we went straight to Ev’s place in the city. I spent the night tossing and turning.
I stayed here at this very house back in May and June. It was after I graduated college and before I decided to move to Vegas.
Those were simpler times.
So much has changed since then, and not just the whole virginity thing. I’m a married woman. My father is in prison. I had my first social media client—the job I always dreamed of doing. And then I lost him, too.
And now? Well, now I’m sort of back to where I started. Same house, same indecision, same unclear future. And now with a broken heart.
I check the visiting hours at the federal facility where my dad has been, and I see I can get in at noon. I meet Everleigh in the kitchen just after ten, eight back in Vegas, and she’s already deep into her workday.
“Coffee’s fresh,” she murmurs without stopping her typing.
“Do you want to go see Dad with me?” I ask.
She glances up at me. “What time are you going?”
“Visiting hours are noon to three.”
She makes a face. “I can’t. I’m booked solid for meetings all afternoon. Are you okay going on your own?”
My jaw tightens at the question. I know she’s just trying to be nice, but it’s another reminder that she doesn’t see me as an equal. I really thought we were past this, but even though so much else has changed, clearly this is not one of those things. “Yeah. I’ll be fine.”
She tilts her head and studies me. “You doing okay today?”
I frown. “Not really any better than yesterday.”
“I’m sorry, Ivy. It’ll get easier.”
“Will it?” I ask. And then, a little more gently, I add, “If you and Mav were to ever end things, do you think you’d be okay two days later?”
She presses her lips together and gives me a sad smile, as if the mere thought of it hurts her heart. She shakes her head. “No. I don’t. Let me know if I can do anything.”
She returns to her screen, and I grab a cup of coffee. I take it with me to my room, sip and stare out the window a while, and eventually force myself up to take a shower.
After I’m dressed, I stare at my phone, thinking about where I go from here and what I do next.
Eventually I land on calling my brother.
“Hey,” Madden answers.
“Hi.”
“I heard about what happened,” he says, his voice gentle. “Are you doing okay?”
“Not really.”
“Figured as much. I’m so sorry. What can I do?”
“Is there still a place for me at VanBrad?” I ask.
“Absolutely. I can have my assistant send over the onboarding docs now if you want to tackle them, and you can get started as soon as you make your way through the packet and the training.”
