Page 114 of Rockstar Baby

God, I hated the thought of that. Hurting Ivy for even a second didn’t sit well with me. She’d given me nothing but joy.

August’s lips quirked. Not in a smile exactly, or a frown. More like a combination of the two. “You could say that.”

“Whatever I’ve done, I’ll make it up to her. I promise. I’ve come here with new resolve.”

“Uh-huh. Because a ladybug changes her spots.”

He had a good point. I was determined to do right by Ivy, but maybe I wasn’t capable of more. I’d been alone for so long, and I liked my life as it was. Perhaps this was all I could hope to have—

I slapped my wrist. August’s eyes widened.

Jesus H, I was going to kill Ian for making me look like even more of an arse. Although the slap had helped to redirect my thoughts.

So, maybe it wasn’t so bad.

“I brought her a sweater from Ireland.” Only once the words were out of my mouth did I realize how foolish they sounded. “My mum made it. For Ivy. Once I told her I was in love with—”

August held up his hand. “You’re in love with her?”

My first inclination was to deny and escape while my stones were still intact. But I couldn’t do that to Ivy. Or to myself. The love I felt for her was so new, like a tender shoot climbing out of a crack in the sidewalk. I couldn’t stomp on it with my boot or it might break.

Ivy could still break it. But I wouldn’t do the honors for her.

“Yes.” I swallowed deeply. “Very much so.”

“And your mother made her a sweater.”

I nodded. “I think she wants grandbabies, although that’s not on the schedule. You know how mums are.”

“Oh, you’d be surprised.” Before I could question him further, he slid his hands in his back pockets. “She’s working on Main Street. You know your way around?”

“Yes. The diner—”

“No, not at the diner. She’s next to Brewed Awakening.”

It was my turn to frown. “Next to the coffee shop?”

“Yes. If you want to see her so bad, go take a good look. See what that woman is made of and what she deserves.” He inclined his chin toward the door. “And if you tell her the details of this conversation, I will kick your ass so hard your mother’s hand will tingle in Kilkenny.”

“Malahide actually, but point taken.” I shifted toward the door and twisted the knob, pulling it open.

It was still sunny outside. Freedom was just a few steps away.

I had survived my first official meeting with the older brother. It could only go up from here.

“Thanks, Auggie,” I said, just to get some of my own back.

“You’re welcome, Rormeister. Now scram.”

I was laughing as I walked down the steps.

My smile still hadn’t faded by the time I reached town. Granted, it wasn’t a long trip. Even so, hope now bloomed in my chest where before there had only been ashes. I’d been so certain she’d called to tell me we were through. Perhaps that wasn’t the case.

Although that raised a good question. If her family was okay—and I had to hope August would’ve told me if they weren’t—and she herself was all right, and there wasn’t a new man on the horizon, why had she called those two times, sounding desperate?

Better question, why weren’t you man enough to listen to her messages when they came in and call her back?

I parked in Brewed Awakening’s lot and got out to look around. I’d noticed before I turned off the car that the building next to the coffee shop appeared to be vacant. Asoldsign had been planted on its tidy strip of lawn.