Page 4 of Moonlight & Matrimony (Oak Ridge #2)

Ivy

? In Agreement - Lizzy McAlpine

F ingers tapping out a beat on the steering wheel, I pull through the gate towards Whispering Oaks Ranch with my windows rolled down, and a feminine rage playlist blaring through the speakers.

It’s been a fucking long day and I’m ready for a reprieve.

I met with my lawyer today to submit more evidence against Austin, but I left the meeting feeling less than hopeful about the next court date.

The sound of gravel crunching under tires signals my arrival as I pull up to the massive two-story farmhouse with the wraparound porch.

A distant memory of the Hayes brothers chasing me around the yard with water balloons rises to the surface and I can’t contain my smile, but it’s tinged with the bitter aftertaste of regret.

I haven’t spoken to them in years, and the responsibility for the rift in our relationship rests solely on my shoulders.

They keep their distance out of respect for the decisions I made years ago.

One of these days I’m going to have to make amends, but I’m not quite there yet.

We see each other in passing, and they've been good to Rylin. That’s enough for me.

The ornate screen door slams against its frame as Evie steps out onto the porch.

She lifts her hand in a wave, and her motherly smile instantly eases some of my tension.

Evie always looks immaculate with her short blonde bob done up in effortless waves, and her green eyes highlighted with a slight shimmer along the lid.

She’s wearing her signature lazy day overalls, but she still somehow manages to look like she could walk onto the set of a photoshoot and fit right in.

Evelyn Hayes was mom’s best friend, and her loss at the hands of a drunk driver left a gaping hole in both of our lives.

Despite her own grief, she took me in, and she’s been like a surrogate mother to me ever since.

Her husband owns and runs the ranch with their sons, while she works at her private therapy practice in town.

On her days off, she often offers to take Rylin for me so I can get some work done and run errands.

She says it’s because none of her other kids are going to be giving her grandbabies anytime soon, but I know it’s so much more than that.

She’s still taking care of me after all these years, in whatever way she can, and that care extends to Rylin now, too.

I’ll never be able to adequately repay her.

She pins me with the all too familiar look that tells me she sees far too much, before pulling me into a crushing hug. “Sit with me.”

I slump down on one of the twin rocking chairs with a heavy sigh. Evie disappears into the house, returning with a pitcher of sweet tea and two glasses. “Wanna talk about it?”

“Not really,” I admit, bringing the cool liquid to my lips, savoring the sweetness that reminds me of a time before my life took a left turn. “I just feel so defeated the longer this goes on.”

She reaches out and covers my hand with hers, squeezing gently. “He’ll get what’s coming to him sooner or later. You can’t lose hope yet, sweet girl.”

I smile, but it’s forced. I don’t know how to respond to that, so I stay quiet, and Evie doesn’t pry. “Why don’t you let Rylin have a sleepover? You’ve had a long day, and I’m sure you could use a night out.”

“I don’t want to impose more than we already have. You do too much for us, Evie.”

“You know good and well I love having that girl around. Go out and have some fun. Find a man and take him to the dance floor. Better yet, take him home with you.”

“Evie!”

“What? I’m not an old lady yet. I know how to have fun. And you, Ivy Jo, need some fun.”

“Hey Liam, can I get a shot of tequila and a negroni?” Go big or go home, right?

Friday night at The Ridge is usually a good time, but it’s barely 5pm, so the bar is dead quiet when I take a seat and wait for Liam to return with my drinks.

Is it a little bit early in the day to be getting toasted?

Yeah, probably, but I decided to take Evie’s advice and have some fun.

Rylin practically begged to spend the night.

Apparently, they have some new babies on the ranch and as soon as she found out, I became completely irrelevant.

They’ll wake her up bright and early for farm chores and spoil her rotten, which is more than I can say for the inevitable breakfast of soggy cereal, followed by my usual Saturday morning anxiety spiral and stress cleaning routine.

When I left Austin, the Hayes family was gracious enough to offer us one of their guest cabins, but I was bound and determined to gain my independence without relying on anyone else for help. They’ve been there for us in every other way, despite my often outright refusal to accept their help.

So, with Rylin occupied for the next 24 hours, I’m throwing caution to the wind. If I have it my way, I’ll be knee deep in regret by morning, but at least I won't have to think about the papers sitting on my kitchen table.

“Rough day?” Liam asks, setting my order down in front of me.

His red hair stands out beneath the string lights above the darkened bar, their faint glow illuminating the ink that covers both of his arms. But it’s the smoldering green eyes that are usually a beacon for the single women of this town, imploring them to hit on the broody bartender, despite the fact that Liam never spares them a second glance.

He’s a single dad working two jobs, and the last thing he needs is to get tangled up in another messy relationship — or so he says.

Personally, I think he’s holding out for someone else.

“Yeah, you could say that.” I sigh, thinking back over the drama of the past few days.

“Well, I’ve got nothin’ better to do. Might as well lay it on me.” He starts wiping down the bar with a rag, looking every bit the cliche.

I choke out a laugh. “Oh, you have no idea what you’re asking.”

“I’m a bartender, Ivy. I’ve heard some shit in my day. This have anything to do with your ex?” I throw back the shot of tequila, feeling it burn on the way down. He winces and I cock an eyebrow. “I’ll take that as a yes.”

“Li, there’s a call for you in the office.” Cade strides over to the bar, effectively relieving Liam of any unwanted therapist duties. The angel that he is, my best friend’s husband pulls a bag of sour skittles from some hidden spot behind the bar and slides it over. “How’s it going?”

“I think you already know, Cowboy.” I tilt my glass in his direction, giving him an exaggerated eye roll. He’s wearing his standard Cade Brooks uniform of dark wash jeans and a button down, and his light brown hair is disheveled like he’s been running his hands through it.

My irritation builds as a wave of sympathy, or maybe pity, washes over his features. His brown eyes narrow on me as he asks, “Does Paige know you’re here?”

“I wasn’t aware I needed to get a permission slip from my bestie to go out on a Friday night.”

“That’s not what I meant. Are you okay?”

Guilt swamps me as I take in his chastened expression. “Yeah, sorry. Just a long day.” I pop a handful of the sour treat into my mouth, instantly regretting my choice of beverage as the flavors mingle into something entirely unpalatable.

“I’m here if you want to talk about it.” He reaches out a hand, giving mine a quick squeeze. Cade’s not known to be affectionate unless it’s directed at his wife, so the gesture somehow seems incredibly significant.

“Thanks. But I’m all talked out for today. What is it with you bartenders trying to be therapists?” It’s a half-assed attempt at levity, but it falls flat.

“Just trying to be a good friend. Paige would murder me if I didn’t check on you.”

“Thanks, Cade. Really, I’m good.”

He nods and strides over to the next patron, leaving me to my ever swirling thoughts and a negroni that I’m fairly certain could be mistaken for paint thinner.

A text message from Evie pops up on my phone.

It’s a photo of Rylin and her son, Jaxon, with an entire colony of barn kittens.

Rylin’s face is gleeful, and I can almost hear her giggles.

It soothes some small part of me to know she has people in her corner who love and adore her almost as much as I do. Lord knows her dad isn’t one of them.

My thoughts drift back to the call from my lawyer earlier in the week.

I’d been working on a commission in my studio when my phone rang.

I’m not sure what I expected when I answered, but it wasn’t at all what came out of my lawyer’s mouth.

Austin wants to take me to court for fifty-fifty custody, despite the fact that he never gave a shit about being her father in the first place.

I’m not under any illusions that he’s suddenly had a change of heart.

Austin needs to keep up appearances and play the innocent victim, making me out to be the villain in his story.

If they only knew everything we went through to get away.

“Can I buy you a drink?” I’m brought back to the present as a man I’ve never met leans his elbow on the bar, his body nearly brushing against mine.

I recoil at the intrusion. He’s not exactly unpleasant to look at, with tousled blonde hair and blue eyes, but something about him is unsettling.

At my height, nearly everyone towers over me, and this man is no exception.

He slowly rakes his eyes over my body, stopping a little too long on my chest, before finally meeting my eyes.

My stomach roils at the unintentional eye contact.

“I’m good. Thanks though,” I respond, politely brushing off his advances. Judging by the clench in his jaw and his pinched expression, he doesn’t like being turned down. A few snickers come from a nearby table, triggering my involuntary eye roll.