Page 17 of Welcome Home to Ivy Falls (Ivy Falls #3)

I pulled the veggie lasagna out of the oven and sat at the table like a prisoner waiting to hear their final verdict. The speech I’d composed raced through my head on a constant loop.

It wasn’t like Beck could keep me here, but he’d done a lot for me. The last thing I wanted to do was hurt him. That was why I’d created a list of all the reasons why it was a good idea for me to move out.

A few minutes later the front door opened and Torran and Beck’s laughter filled the house. The sound of her boots shuffling, some soft murmuring, said she and Beck were sharing one more kiss.

This was another reason why I couldn’t stay here. They shouldn’t have to hide in the foyer when they wanted to be affectionate.

When they finally stumbled into the dining room, their eyes went wide.

Okay, so maybe I’d overdone it, setting the table with the good dishes and a bouquet I’d picked up at Minnie’s Market.

‘What’s all this?’ Beck said.

‘Dinner,’ I said casually.

He and Torran swapped a measured look before they sat at the table. I tried not to smile at the way Beck wiped at his mouth knowing his lips were still kiss-swollen.

I began spooning food onto plates when Torran said, ‘We have some news. It looks like we’ve come to a compromise with Hearth and Home about the wedding.’

‘Oh, what did you all decide?’

‘They can take video of us getting ready, but filming of any kind will not happen during the ceremony or the reception,’ Torran said.

‘And they can post stills on the network and the show’s social media that same day, but nothing more,’ Beck said, helping himself to a piece of garlic bread.

‘That’s great. Problem solved,’ I said.

‘Sort of,’ Torran hedged. Shadows smudged the creases under her eyes, and she wore a thick blanket of weariness that wasn’t normal.

This negotiation had taken a lot out of her.

‘We were hoping you’d help out that day with the crew and all.

Keep them confined to certain spaces. Make sure they don’t try to sneak a video camera in during the ceremony,’ she said.

‘Would they do that?’

‘Hopefully not,’ Beck answered. ‘But Lauren can get overzealous.’

‘So you want me to play bad cop on your wedding day?’

‘Yes,’ they said at the exact same time.

‘You’re the perfect person, Pipe,’ Beck went on. ‘You know all the cameramen who work with Hearth and Home. You can be our eyes and ears that day.’

Torran gave me a pleading look. They’d finally figured out a plan that worked for them. Who was I to get in the way? The more I considered it, the more I realized I could use this to my advantage.

‘I’ll do it as long as I get something in return.’

Beck cocked his head. ‘What do you want?’

I clutched my napkin in my lap and pushed out the next words. ‘Your help transporting boxes because I’m moving out.’

Torran went green and Beck’s slice of garlic bread hit the table.

‘I thought we agreed to talk after the wedding,’ he said.

‘The apartment I like has a lot of interest. Diego came by the theater and told me if I wanted it, I had to make a deposit and sign the paperwork today.’

Beck dragged his hand down his face. ‘You already put money down?’

‘First and last month’s rent.’

Before he could object, Torran interjected. ‘Is this what you want? What you need to do?’

‘While I know you both want me here, and I’m so thankful you gave me a home when I needed one, I can’t have my own life if I’m living under my older brother’s roof.’

‘We could give you more space. Anything you need,’ Beck insisted.

‘That’s not the point. With me gone, you and Torran can have privacy. Quiet, intimate dinners. Make those small upgrades to my bathroom you’ve been talking about. Hell, you could have “naked breakfast” if you wanted.’

‘Naked breakfast?’ Beck said.

‘Yes, after, well, you know…’ My gaze flicked to their bedroom upstairs. ‘You could eat down here…’

Torran laughed. ‘That’s an interesting option.’

Beck let out a heavy breath. ‘I’m trying hard to listen to you, Piper. If this is what you want, I’m on board, but you have to promise if you need anything you will reach out to us both, no matter the time. Day or night.’

‘The apartment is a mile down the road, not in Chattanooga, Beck.’

‘Promise me,’ he repeated.

‘All right. If there’s a problem, you’ll be my first call.’

He gave a hesitant nod and Torran reached out and squeezed his hand.

I understood this was hard for my brother. For ten years my choices had made his life a nightmare. It felt awful to know I’d caused those feelings in him, but we’d been through years of therapy and he knew deep down it was time to let me go.

‘Tor, can we use Sally Mae for the move?’ I asked.

Her old truck was a menace, often sputtering and spitting out black exhaust, but it also had ample space in the bed to transport what little I owned to the apartment.

‘Of course! After dinner we’ll pull the extra boxes we have out of the attic.’

Beck’s pained gaze remained on me. I understood the stakes. This new move had to be a success or he’d never let me out of his sight again.