Page 33 of Moonlight & Matrimony (Oak Ridge #2)

Ivy

? Dancing with Your Ghost - Sasha Alex Sloan

Paige: How did it go?

Ivy: Not the victory we were hoping for, but it could’ve been worse.

Luca: The judge granted a protective order for Ivy and his visit with Rylin will be supervised from now on.

Cade: It’s a start. Let’s celebrate.

Miles: Hell yeah! Drinks on Cade!

Cade: That’s not what I said…

Miles: Bro, you own the bar.

Cade: Only as long as I make a profit, brother.

Paige: First round on us, then y'all can fend for yourselves.

Miles: That's my girl!

Cade: Watch it.

Mags: ??

Ivy: 7pm at the Ridge?

Liam: I’ll be the guy behind the bar.

Cara: Count us in.

I never pictured myself here, twenty-five years old, and a divorced single mom, locked in a fake marriage with my best friend’s brother, celebrating something as ridiculous as supervised visitation and an order of protection, but here we are.

I had hoped we’d have a bigger win today, but I’m grateful for what little we did get.

It’s far from over. I will fight for my daughter until my dying breath, if that’s what it takes.

“Ivy!”

I’ve barely made it three steps into the dark bar when a redheaded blur in the shape of Cara throws herself at me. Dean isn’t far behind as he slides up beside her.

“Woah. Someone got a head start, huh?”

Dean shrugs as Cara releases her death grip on my shoulders. “I’m so happy for you! How are you feeling about everything?”

“I’ve come to terms with it. It’s more than I expected. Definitely not looking forward to dealing with Austin’s sister as the supervisor, though. I don’t trust them as far as I can throw them.”

Two hands squeeze my shoulders from behind, causing my body to grow rigid until his familiar woodsy scent surrounds me and I relax back into his chest.

Luca leans over, whispering in my ear. “Sorry. Didn't mean to sneak up on you.”

How does he read me so seamlessly?

“The party has arrived!” Miles shouts from somewhere near the entrance. Paige and Cade trail in shortly after, looking slightly disheveled, and I wonder if maybe they were getting a head start on baby number two in the parking lot.

“Who’s watching my niece?” Luca asks.

“Evelyn. If Rylin will let her,” Paige responds with an unrestrained smile on her face.

“Your girl is so in love with her, it makes my heart ache.” Paige pulls out her phone with a photo of our girls together, and I immediately melt into a giant pile of mush.

At 6 weeks old, Sofia is already a chubby little thing, and Rylin looks absolutely smitten.

It takes a minute for Paige’s words to sink in. She called my daughter Luca’s girl. The simple offhand comment sends me spiraling and a not unwelcome thought crosses my mind. What I wouldn't give for someone like Luca to be Rylin’s father .

No, not just someone — Luca.

He’s been nothing but kind and supportive, despite our first interaction. He dotes on Rylin, indulging in her every whim, and I know he enjoys their tea parties more than he’ll ever admit. He has no idea I’m keeping a photo of him in a pink fluffy tiara as blackmail material.

If I’m being completely honest, I don’t think I would’ve made it through the hearing without him by my side. I quickly squash those dangerous feelings. Don’t fall in love, Ivy girl.

“You okay?” Luca’s voice is laced with concern, his hand gently stroking down my spine.

“I’m good.”

I plaster on a fake smile, willing my racing heart to calm, but Luca’s pinky curls around mine, unraveling me with just that simple touch.

“Ok, I think it’s time for a round,” Paige says, cutting through the quiet. It’s a Wednesday evening at the Ridge, so the place is quiet, except for our usual crew and Archie, who’s nursing a beer at the far end of the bar. He smiles at me, lifting his hand in a wave.

Cade flags Liam down and the guys order their beers, the girls opt for some fruity cocktails, and Miles insists on a round of celebratory tequila shots that I know I’ll regret in the morning.

By the second round of drinks, we’re already feeling pretty good, having taken up residence at our usual tables.

Dean and Cara, and Paige and Cade are canoodling, and the slightest twinge of jealousy floods my senses.

But it’s quickly washed away as Luca reaches under my seat, pulling my chair closer to his as the sound of metal scraping across the concrete floor reverberates through the empty bar.

His thigh bumps mine under the table, and my hand instinctively finds a home on his lap, causing a deep rumble in his chest. When he places an arm around my shoulders, I relax into his hold, allowing the feel of his steady pulse to soothe my racing heart .

“Careful, Trouble.” His breath fans over my ear as he leans in, placing a featherlight kiss behind it.

Heat floods straight to my core, an ache settling between my thighs.

I glide my hand a little higher as our heartbeats speed up and synchronize.

Turning my head, I lock eyes with Luca, biting my bottom lip before sliding my hand higher, feeling his rigid length beneath my palm.

He sucks in a sharp breath, and I wonder if he’s thinking about that night in the kitchen, too.

“Jesus fuck,” Miles groans. We jolt apart, realizing we’re still in public. “I need some new friends. Horny bastards.”

“You’re just mad that you’re the only single guy here,” Cade teases. “When’s the last time you got laid?” The sudden scowl on Miles’ face catches all of us off guard.

“Whatever, dude.”

Cade holds his hands up in surrender, guilt flickering across his features. “Woah, I’m just kidding, brother.”

“Yeah. Sure,” Miles says. “I’m going to grab another beer. Anyone need anything?”

“We’re good, man.” Dean responds, and Miles swiftly rises from his stool, making a quick escape.

“We should be more careful not to exclude him,” Cara says. “I feel terrible.”

“And you,” Paige jabs a finger into her husband’s chest, “that was a dick move.”

“Maybe, but he’s not usually that sensitive.”

“Regardless,” Paige adds, “you need to apologize.”

“Yeah, I know,” he concedes., shoulder slumped.

Miles returns to the table, his usual wide grin back in place as he sets a huge tray of colorful shots in the center of the table.

I eye him carefully, wondering if the mask he wears could be hiding something more damaged beneath the surface.

If anyone can understand the need to bury your demons beneath a false exterior, it’s me.

Understanding passes between us as his mouth tips at one corner.

Without preamble, Miles starts a round of never have I ever, if a little vindictively. “Never have I ever fucked in the office of this bar.” The table goes silent, our eyes trailing over the group. “Drink,” he says, raising an eyebrow at Cade and Paige.

“How the fuck do you know about that?” she asks, glaring at her husband.

“Intuition, Sunshine, ” Miles responds with a gleam of mischief as he emphasizes her nickname. “Are you gonna tell me you didn’t christen this place the moment Cade signed his name on the dotted line?”

With a dramatic sigh and an eye roll, Paige and Cade take the shots like champs and the next round falls to me. I pause, considering the options that will cause the most impact to the largest number of people. “Never have I ever had a one-night stand.”

Everyone around the table drinks except for me. When Paige notices, her face falls and her mouth hangs open. “Never?!”

“Nope. Fucked around a bit, but never a one-night stand. Then I got married and had a kid. Not a lot of time for one-night stands after that.”

Luca quirks a brow in my direction, and it’s then that I wonder if our encounter could technically be considered a one-night stand, but I don’t have a chance to think it through because he cuts me off.

“Never have I ever packed a bunch of sex toys in an unmarked box, and left them out for my husband to find,” he says with a smirk.

My cheeks flame and all attention lands on me. Instead of letting embarrassment sink in, I throw back my shot, shrugging in response to their questioning stares.

“Yeah, I'm not touching that one,” Paige says. “That’s clearly between you and my brother, and I’m uncomfortable unpacking all of that.” She gestures between me and Luca with both hands.

“I bet Luca had a really good time unpacking it, though,” Miles teases.

A whoosh of air tousles my hair and I notice Miles has reached his hand over my head to high five my traitorous husband. “I always knew she’d be a freak.”

My eyes bug out of my head as the comment rolls off his tongue. “HEY! What the fuck, Miles. I thought we were friends.”

“It’s a good thing,” he says with a wink.

“I’m taking back my high five,” Luca grumbles.

“Ooook. My turn,” Paige says, cutting through the tension on our side of the table. I’m stuck being the filler in a Luca and Miles sandwich, and it’s a lot. “Never have I ever owned a dinosaur onesie.”

Cade takes the shot, then smirks before saying, “Never have I ever fucked a guy with a dinosaur onesie.”

“And Miles thinks I’m the freak?” I joke, unable to contain my amusement. The entire table bursts into fits of giggles.

“He wasn’t wearing the onesie at the time,” Paige defends before downing the shot in one gulp. “Dean, you’re up.” She’s changing the subject and I let it slide, making a mental note to get the onesie story out of her later.

“Never have I ever been knocked up,” he says.

“Not fair,” I chastise. “You don’t have the parts!”

“There’s nothing in the rules against being a misogynist, unfortunately,” Paige says.

“Cheers, bestie,” I hold up my glass, clinking it against hers before we throw them back in tandem. I’m feeling pretty good now, having lost track of my shot count. Luca’s fingers are toying with the ends of my braid, goosebumps erupting along my skin.

“Never have I ever knocked anybody up,” Cara says, a smug look on her face as she exacts our revenge for us. I give her a nod of solidarity. She’s definitely a girl’s girl.