The toilet and front room are lastly carried out. My bed room’s subsequent and might be carried out as quickly as I make a dent on this mountain of laundry. That leaves the kitchen, which I hate, for final.

“I ought to’ve sprung for that rattling dishwasher,” I grumble as I fill the sink with sizzling, sudsy water.

The doorbell sounds, and once I decrease the quantity of the music, I notice it’s ringing frantically as if there’s an emergency. I dry my palms and rush to the entrance door, peeking out to see who it’s since I’m not anticipating—or wanting—firm at the moment.

I see a well-known face and unlock the door. “Stone. What are you doing right here?”

He flashes a large grin, excellent enamel on show, and raises a well-known brown bag with Tio Tito’s mustached smile holding a margarita glass. “Thought I’d shock you with lunch.”

He didn’t simply deliver lunch—he introduced my favourite. I’ll guess all of tomorrow’s ideas that inside that bag is the taco trio. Rattling him and his thoughtfulness. I step apart and let him in, preventing a smile as a result of I don’t need him to assume I’m blissful he stopped by. I’m not. I’m nonetheless mad concerning the ghosting.

Stone seems to be round the lounge after which turns to face me, blue eyes filled with mischief. “Cleansing day?”

I nod. “Hazel gave me the time off, so I figured I’d sort out some housekeeping.” Alone, I need to add, however I don’t.

“You have got time to cease for lunch? These tacos aren’t gonna eat themselves.”

“For Tio Tito’s? At all times.” I cease preventing the smile and let her free as I seize the bag from his palms and head to the kitchen. “I simply began cleansing in right here.”

He frowns, shrugging as he takes the bag again and begins unloading the gadgets inside. “Appears clear to me.”

“Beer or soda?”

“Beer,” he solutions. “And water.”

I seize two waters and a bottle of beer in a single arm, plates within the different earlier than Stone takes the plates. “Thanks.”

We each sit and dig into the tacos—the trio for me—in a mildly tense silence at first. Ultimately, Stone breaks the silence. He’s not one to let rigidity settle with out going through it head-on. I’ve missed that about him, missed having him pressure me to face my bullshit.

“I’m sorry, Ivy.”

“Sorry for ignoring my calls and texts?”

He smiles. “Some, I assume.” He laughs on the frown his reply causes. “I didn’t like seeing you in Grey’s arms yesterday, and I couldn’t perceive why. At first.”

Uh. Oh.

“I seen how stunning you are actually as a result of I’m not fucking blind. You’ve all the time been stunning, Ivy. I can’t deny the attraction I really feel, to not myself anyway. However that’s not your downside. I assume I’m fucking jealous that Grey has you now once I was going to make you mine that summer season.” He clears his throat. “Earlier than all of the shit went down.”

His jaws clench, and I do know he’s proper again in that fucking car parking zone, replaying occasions he can’t change.

My coronary heart jumps at his phrases. Stone is interested in me. Admits that he needs me. That he needed me 5 years in the past. Shut up, silly coronary heart.

I sigh. “I’ve plenty of guilt about that evening, too,” I admit. “I shouldn’t have dressed up like that. If I’d simply dressed usually, you wouldn’t have fought that prick, and he would nonetheless be alive to get his ass kicked once more.”

“Fuck that, Ivy. Nobody has a proper to the touch you, not even in case you’re butt-ass bare strolling round downtown Opey.”

I smile at his protecting streak, nonetheless current and overbearing. “Nonetheless. I bear a few of the blame, however you bought all of the punishment.”

He nods, and my coronary heart sinks. “I felt that means at first, too.”

“What modified?”

He lifts his broad shoulders earlier than letting them drop dramatically. “I grew up. It wasn’t a punishment, or it wasn’t meant to be. They had been making an attempt to maintain me and the MC protected. And I realized rather a lot whereas I used to be away. The worst half was lacking you.”

“I missed you too, Stone. Lots.” Too fucking a lot.

“So we’re good?” The hope in his eyes is so harking back to the playful glint that’s danced in my thoughts since he left.

Supply: www.seynovel.com