I stand and step out of the tub, slipping on the wet floor. I yell as I drop the phone but grab onto the sink. My heart is pounding as I look around. “Shit,” I whisper to myself. I look down and see my shattered phone on the floor. I shake my head as I drop a towel on the floor to stand on and another to wrap around myself. I squat down and look at the completely broken phone. As if it wasn’t bad enough, now I need to get a new phone.
I don’t even bother picking it up, I go into my bedroom to dry off and get dressed. I opt for pink and white striped sleep shorts and a long sleeve white shirt that hangs off one shoulder. I pull my wet hair into a bun on top of my head and forego the makeup.
As I make my way to the kitchen, I feel exhausted. My emotions are all over the place and it’s draining. I know Mia is coming over, but I wish now I could just crawl into bed and sleep. I don’t though, I make a cup of tea and sit down on the couch to focus on the beautiful view. I have no idea how much longer I will see it, which breaks my heart. I really thought coming out here was going to be the change I needed, but it seems that everything is dragging me back to Vegas. I have no idea how long it will take me to find a new job here, but I’m pretty sure if I asked Harper, she’d hire me back in a heartbeat. I know that I wouldn’t be homeless there either.
As I watch the sun shining through the palm trees, I start to wonder if coming back to Vegas is my best option. I’ll be close to the only friends I have besides Mia, I’ll have a job, and I’ll be close to Kace. I decide that once I get my new phone, I’ll call Harper and talk to her, but for now I’m going to enjoy my view.
I have no idea how much time has passed when my door opens, and Mia’s cheerful voice fills the silent apartment. “Honey, I’m home,” she says laughing.
“Hey,” I say, standing to meet her in the kitchen.
“Ivy, I’m so sorry about today. I can’t believe Debra fired you. Are you alright?” she asks, pulling out all the Chinese food she brought.
I lift my shoulders and grab some plates. “Not really. I have no money, no job, and I broke my cell phone. I have n
o idea what I’m gonna do.”
We quickly fill out plates and take them into the living room. “You’re going to tell me what happened when you went to Vegas and we’ll go from there,” she says smiling.
I spend the next half hour telling her everything that happened. She doesn’t interrupt or even make a facial expression that would let me know what she’s thinking. So, when I finish, I stare at her as my stomach turns.
She smiles that bright smile of hers and puts down her empty plate. “Are you scared of him?”
“I know he’d never hurt me, it’s the club,” I say honestly.
“I don’t know anything about the club, so correct me if I’m wrong, but aren’t they furiously protective of their families?” she asks.
I think for a second, even though it’s not necessary. I know from everything that happened with Harper just how furiously protective they are. “Yes,” I whisper.
“So, you have a guy that would be protective of you and the baby, who wants to be involved, hell who wants you to move in with him but you’re second guessing it. Why?”
I blow out a breath and wrap my arms around myself. “Because I’m scared.”
“Of what?”
“Falling in love with him and then losing him,” I say, dropping my gaze to the floor.
I’ve never admitted it until now, but that’s what it comes down to. I know I could fall in love with Kace, but I also know he was also shot once already. What happens when the next one kills him? I can’t handle even thinking about it, never mind going through it.
“Ivy, love is scary. You never know how it’s going to end, but it’s everything that happens in between that matters. It doesn’t matter if they are part of a club or a businessman on Wall Street, tomorrow is not promised to anyone. You have to live for today,” Mia says, grabbing my hand. As usual, the tears are running down my face. She’s right and it scares me even more. “If I had someone who protected me and loved me furiously, I’d move to the ends of the earth for him.”
I lift my tear stained face to hers. “What about Rob?”
For the first time since I’ve met her the brightness in her eyes disappears. But I have no time to question it as pounding on my front door scares the shit out of us.
“Stay there,” she whispers.
“Ivy!” I hear and my heart stops. She opens the door and Kace rushes in.
“Holy shit,” she whispers.
I pay no attention to her as Kace rushes to me, pulling me off the couch and wrapping his strong arms around me. “Fuck, sweetheart. Are you alright?”
I bury my head into his chest and let my emotions take over. “What are you doing here?” I whisper.
“You screamed and you were gone. I thought something happened. I couldn’t get here fast enough,” he says, tightening his hold on me.
“Holy shit,” Mia says again.