Wrapped Up in You (Heartbreaker Bay, #8)(24)

“You’re a hypocrite,” she said.

“What?” he asked, surprised. “How’s that?”

“When I asked you what you were in town for, you said you were here on a break from work, helping out Caleb.”

“Yeah, and that’s true,” he said.

“You didn’t mention your mom, or that you were here to see your family.”

No, he hadn’t mentioned either of those things. But Caleb had, right in front of her, clearly making her feel like he was hiding things.

“It’s a small thing,” she said. “I know this. And we’re . . . strangers. So why would you tell me?” She shook her head, talking to herself. “Of course you wouldn’t tell me. I’m no one to you.”

Shit. The last thing he’d meant to do was make her feel unimportant. “Ivy—”

“No, it’s fine. It just felt like for a guy who hates liars, you weren’t honest with me about why you were here. And I get it, I really do. It’s none of my business. It’s just that I have some issues, and—”

“It’s not fine, I did lie by omission,” he said gently. “And I’m sorry. It’s just that sometimes it’s easier to avoid a topic than bring up old painful memories and family issues.”

She stared at him and gave a barely perceptible nod.

“I am here to help out Caleb. But yeah, there’s another reason too, and it’s one I haven’t wanted to face, much less talk about it. My family is . . . complicated. And it’s a little bit ugly. I’ve been pretending to myself that it was okay to ignore it all and just hope it goes away. I’m sorry if I came off like a jerk.”

She looked up into his eyes and he did his best to project the fact that he was being as honest as he could be.

After a few seconds, she nodded again. “I understand. A whole bunch, actually. I do a lot of pretending to myself too.” She grimaced. “And much of it is about Brandon, who isn’t the stand-up guy I like to pretend he is.”

His chest tightened, his heart aching for her. For the both of them as they stared at each other for a long beat. He wasn’t sure where they stood exactly. He wasn’t sure of anything, except that he wanted his mouth on hers again.

But with everyone else catching up with them, the moment was gone.





Chapter 9




It’s not nap time



A few days later, Ivy took a kick to the back of her knee and went down.

“Oh my God,” Tae said, sounding utterly pleased with herself. “That actually worked!”

“Told you,” Tina said from above Ivy.

Ivy blew her hair from her face and pushed herself to her knees. “No, really, I’m alright, thanks for asking.”

Tae offered her a hand up. “I’m surprised I was able to catch you by surprise.”

So was Ivy. Once again, she was at the gym with the girls in kickboxing class with Tina, the gorgeous barking tyrant.

“Get up, ladies, it’s not nap time.”

Tina moved them to a row of hanging bags, which they had to kick-kick-punch in tune to one of Tina’s favorite songs—“Push It” by Salt-N-Pepa. It was a show to watch Tina sing and boogie as she moved through the room yelling encouragements at them.

“If you want to see results, you’ve got to stay with me!”

Kick-kick-punch.

“If you’re not turning up the tension, you’re only cheating yourself! I promised sweat, let’s see it!”

Kick-kick-punch.

“This is what you came for! The range makes the change!”

Ugh. Kick-kick-punch.

“Make this the best one yet!” Tina hurtled this last comment at Haley, who was drenched in sweat and looking worse for wear.

Haley gave Tina an I’m-trying smile.

“Sugar, hold up a minute.”

Haley stopped and sagged against one of the hanging bags with gratitude.

“You’re wearing a certain . . . glow,” Tina noted.

“It’s dehydration.”

Tina shook her head, studying Haley closely. “No, that’s not it.”

“I’m working my ass off?”

“Still not it.” Tina walked in a slow circle around everyone’s favorite nerdy optometrist. Suddenly, Tina smiled. “You got some.”

Haley opened her mouth and then shut it, her face much redder now. “Um . . .”

Tina grinned and high-fived her.

Then she turned on everyone else. “Okay, your girl here’s slacking cuz she used up all of her good energy in bed last night. You guys are going to pick up her slack. Kick-kick-punch!”

They all groaned and went back to burning calories.

“You slept with Dee?” Ivy whispered to Haley as she punched her bag. “The night of the hike.”

“And the two nights since.” Haley bit her lower lip. “But there’s been very little sleeping involved.”

They all laughed, genuinely thrilled for Haley, who’d had a tough time in the love department. And Ivy loved how blissful Haley looked. She’d never begrudge anyone finding some holiday cheer, never would, but she sure wouldn’t mind some of her own.

With Kel, the guy she’d told they weren’t a “we.”