Morning light spilled through the gauzy curtains, painting stripes across Ivory’s bare shoulder. She stirred slowly, blinking against the golden haze, the scent of salt and cedar still clinging to the sheets. Willis was already awake, lying beside her, propped up on one elbow, watching her like he’d been doing it for years.“Creep,” she mumbled, voice raspy with sleep.“Gorgeous creep,” he corrected. “And you drooled a little.”She groaned, burying her face in his chest. “Sabotage. I was having such a main character moment.”He laughed, low and warm. “You do know you’re the main character.”She looked up at him, lips curved. “And you’re what? The brooding, sun-kissed love interest?”Willis brushed a knuckle down her jaw. “I’m whatever gets to keep kissing you.”After a lazy morning wrapped in sheets and slow kisses, they finally made their way out into the day. They took the bikes that came with the cabin and coasted down the winding trail along the dunes, the wind in their hair, the
The road curved gently along the coastline, the sea glittering beside them like scattered diamonds under the late morning sun. Ivory leaned her head against the window, a small smile playing on her lips as Willis drove one-handed, his other arm stretched across to rest behind her seat.“Are you sure you’re not a secret travel agent?” she murmured, glancing at the perfect seaside cabin coming into view ahead. Nestled between dunes and sea grass, it looked like it had been plucked from a daydream.“I dabble,” Willis said, parking with a grin. “Only for select clients.”The moment they stepped out, the salty breeze wrapped around them. Waves broke gently just beyond the porch. No noise. No city. No reminders. Just them.Willis unlocked the door, gesturing for her to enter first. Ivory stepped in and gasped. The cabin was sunlit and soft, with gauzy white curtains dancing on open windows and the scent of lemon and cedarwood in the air. A plush king-sized bed sat beneath a slanted ceiling,
The tires crunched softly over the gravel as Willis pulled into Arlo’s driveway. It was just past nine, and the morning sun hung low behind light clouds, the kind of weather that made everything look gentler than it was.Ivory sat quietly in the passenger seat, her fingers twisting the drawstring of her hoodie. She hadn’t spoken much since they left the house. Not because she was angry. Not even because she was tired. But because, for once, it was settling in— she and Willis were not only together as a couple, they were going away for the weekend.Willis glanced at her. “You okay?”She nodded. “Sure.”The front door opened before they could even knock. Arlo stood there in a white tee and soft gray joggers, looking less like a high-powered executive and more like a dad on a Saturday morning. His expression was neutral — not warm, not cold — but he stepped back and let them in after an awkward greeting exchange with Willis. Marvin’s voice echoed from the living room. “Mama!”Ivory’s he
“Tell her to take it down. Right now!” Ivory’s voice cracked through the phone like lightning.There was a pause.Then Arlo’s voice, calm — too calm — came through the line. “Ivory, it’s just a photo.”“No, it’s not,” she snapped. “It’s my son. My son! And she’s claiming him like she—like she’s his mother.”“I don’t control what she posts.”Ivory’s eyes burned. “But you let it stay up.”“Ivory—”“She didn’t even ask me!” she cried. “You think I’m being dramatic? Fine. But let me be dramatic as his mother. Because if the roles were reversed—if Willis had posted that, you’d have burned the internet down.”There was another pause, longer this time. She heard Arlo sigh.“I’ll talk to her,” he said. “But I can’t promise she’ll delete it.”“Then tell her to never post him again,” Ivory said. Her hand was shaking, phone pressed to her cheek like a threat. “I mean it, Arlo. You want to parade Felicia around as your girlfriend, that’s your business. But she’s not Marvin’s anything.”“Ivory…”“
Chapter 98 – Birthday TacticsThe night before Marvin’s birthday dinner, Ivory lay on the couch, her legs curled beneath her and a blanket draped across her lap. The television hummed with low, forgettable background noise, but her eyes were fixed on Willis, who leaned against the doorframe with his arms crossed and a teasing smile on his lips.“So,” he said. “Ready to show off your fake boyfriend tomorrow?”Ivory smirked, setting her mug down. “You’re not fake. You’re my boyfriend.”“I’m joking,” he chuckled, stepping closer. “You wanted to make him jealous. I want to help.”“Hmm,” she murmured, then added with a breath of honesty, “I don’t know if I can pull it off though.”The plan was simple: subtle touches, lingering looks, shared laughter. Nothing over-the-top. Just enough to draw a line in the sand. Still, Ivory feared she’d miss it.Willis he leaned in, pressed a kiss to her forehead, and said, “Tomorrow, let’s walk in like you belong to me. For us. Forget about him.”Ivory sm
The smell of eggs and softly browned toast clung to the air, warm and comforting. Morning light spilled across the kitchen tiles, catching the glint of a syrup bottle and the trail of crumbs Marvin had left behind. He sat at the table, swinging his legs, chattering between mouthfuls about a superhero who could fly and turn invisible but only when he holds his breath.Willis was at the stove, shirtless and relaxed, flipping the last pancake with a little more flair than necessary.Ivory sat at the table with her coffee, lukewarm now, and watched them both — Marvin’s animated face, Willis’s quiet smile as he listened. It was everything she’d once wanted, everything she wasn’t sure she could trust.Her phone buzzed. She glanced at the screen: Pete.She stepped into the living room to answer.“Hey,” she said.“Ivory. You okay? We were supposed to meet yesterday.”She winced. “I know. I’m sorry. Things got… unexpected.”“Well, can we try again today? There’s a brunch thing — the featured d
Ivory sat at the edge of her couch, fingers pressed against her temple as if she could force memory back into her skull. The light outside had shifted from soft pink to the washed-out gray of mid-morning, and the city beyond her window was already moving on without her.She wasn’t sure what time she’d fallen asleep. She remembered the restaurant. The smell of garlic butter. Arlo’s voice, the question. “How are things with Willis?” Ivory stared at her phone, the glow from the screen the only light in her quiet room. Arlo’s message stared back at her, simple and unnerving: Did you make it home last night?Her phone buzzed again. She grabbed it.Not Willis. Her thumb hovered over the keyboard. She wondered why he hadn’t called since last night. Wondered if he knew she had lied to him. Guilt settled heavy in her chest. She sat there for a long moment, nursing the feeling of uncertainty in her heart. The morning sun peeked weakly through the blinds, casting faint lines across the cou
Willis knew.She didn’t say it outright, but he knew the text wasn’t from Miranda. And when Ivory mentioned dinner tonight—something vague about “catching up with someone”—he didn’t press. Just nodded, said okay, and watched her go.Now, the house was too quiet. Marvin had gone to bed early after a busy day, and Willis sat on the couch, flipping through channels he didn’t care about. Every now and then, he glanced at his phone. No messages.He didn’t expect one.Still, that didn’t stop the hope.—The restaurant was small, dimly lit, and a little too familiar. Ivory had chosen it. Or maybe her memory had—this was where she and Marvin used to eat when it was just the two of them. The owner still greeted her like an old friend. The smell of garlic butter clung to the air like it had never left.Arlo was already there. Navy sweater, sleeves rolled just a bit. His usual cologne—clean, understated, expensive.“I ordered soda,” he said when she sat down. “They don’t sell wine.”“Look around
The drive was quiet. Ivory’s hands stayed firm on the wheel, her eyes tracing every line on the road as though looking too closely might distract her from the way her heart tugged with something she didn’t want to name.When she pulled up to Willis’s place, the porch light was still on. She hesitated before getting out, suddenly unsure what she would say. But when the door opened before she knocked, and Willis stepped out, the decision was already made.“Hey,” he said simply.She nodded. “Hey.”He stepped aside and let her in. She walked through the familiar hallway and into the living room, where the television hummed low, casting a soft blue over the room. Marvin was curled up on the couch, fast asleep, his little face tucked into the pillow.“He stayed up,” Willis said, “but he couldn’t fight sleep any longer.”Ivory’s gaze softened. “He waited for me.”“Yeah.”A beat passed. Then Willis turned and asked, “You want something to eat? I saved you some dinner.”Ivory was about to say