Page 79 of My Sweetest Agony

The way his gaze drifted over me with so much heat. “That was you?”

21

IVY

FOUR YEARS AGO

Nancy’s peal of laughter blends with the upbeat, lively music and voices of the sixty-plus people crammed into her home, filling my ears with the joyful sounds of a full-on rager. When Drew warned me that his mom’s birthday parties were all-out, I definitely underestimated it, but she has reason to celebrate every single day she’s on this planet after surviving cancer almost two decades ago.

And I’m glad Drew invited me.

Gave me this glimpse into his life and family.

Though, for the first time meeting his mom, this is a little…overwhelming.

Not to mention claustrophobic.

After three hours of revelry, my ears are ringing from the cacophony, and I need to get off my feet for a few minutes. Find somewhere quiet where I can get some fresh air, which is in short supply in the Usher house tonight.

I scan the living room, check the kitchen, and even wander down the hallway toward the bedrooms, searching for Drew to let him know I’m going to step outside, but I can’t find him anywhere.

He’s been running around, touching base with all their family friends to ensure no one needs anything and is having a good time. Playing the host with his mom and falling so easily into the role of the caregiver for everyone.

Exactly what he does day in and day out at the hospital.

And once he’s completed his residency, that’s where he’ll stay. Right in the middle of the hustle of the ER because he’s meant for this. Taking care of people. It’s what he was born to do.

His warm, generous heart and caring nature shine through in everything he does, and he would bend over backward to make sure his mom—and everyone else here—has an incredible night.

So, I won’t interrupt him.

He’ll find me eventually.

My heart does an embarrassing little flip-flop in my chest at the anticipation of that smile spreading across his face, the way he brightens every time he sees me.

It’s only been a few weeks.

Less than a dozen dates.

But tonight seems different.

And not just because I met Nancy for the first time.

The way Drew looked at me when I opened the door tonight—like I had stolen his ability to breathe—made my body and cheeks heat. Then he gave me the earrings, and I think all the breath may have rushed from my lungs the moment I saw them.

My fingers travel up to touch them at my ears now—peonies. Because he remembered my favorite flower and went out of his way to find these for me so I’d have something special to wear to the party.

Marlo thinks everything he’s done since the moment I met him is swoon-worthy.

Just wait ‘til she hears about this…

With a smile pulling at my lips, I make my way out of the sliding back door in the kitchen that leads to the backyard. As soon as I step out, the smell of the chlorine from the pool hits me, along with the scent of fresh wisteria and lilacs that line the fence around the yard.

I close the door behind me, sealing in the bulk of the raucous noise, and take a long, deep breath, already feeling better getting out of that madhouse for a few minutes.

The water ripples slightly in the light summer breeze, and I stare down at the bottom of the pool as I make my way to the back corner of the yard where a bench sits under a large willow tree that drapes down so low it almost touches the lush, thick grass.

Nancy really has a beautiful yard.