“I know I can probably get Ben to set up a meeting between the two of you,” Will says, a tad too eager for my taste. I glare at him, causing him to backtrack. “That is, if you want me to.”
“I think it’s our only play,” Ivy concurs, never taking her eyes off me, waiting for my approval.
“So you really think Tim’s just going along with all of this just to keep Lauren from outing Ben?” I ask, struggling to wrap my mind around it. “That he’d agree with her version of events and have a movie made debasing his character just so his little brother could become some big football star?”
“But don’t you see? He’d finally get to live his version of events, if only on the big screen,” Will says, cocking his head to the side. “He’d be the one who rode off into the sunset with Cassidy, not you. He wants that to be the version people remember forever, and what better way to do that than have his fantasy immortalized in film? At this point, he doesn’t care about his reputation. He just wants a chance at a happy ending—his happy ending.”
“That’s so sad,” I mumble, even more grateful to feel the warmth of Ivy’s fingers against mine. “He’d rather create a fake life than work at building a real one.”
“But that’s where you come out the winner in all of this,” Ivy proclaims ardently. “You’ve moved on. He hasn’t.”
“Because you showed me how,” I confess, realizing how lucky I am to have her. “Ivy, I couldn’t have done it without you.”
“You were friends with Tim once. Do you really want him to remain stuck in the past, hung up on someone who can never love him back?” Ivy asks, deliberately placing me in Tim’s shoes.
“Well, when you put it like that,” I groan, “what choice do I have?”
“Will, call Ben and set it up. We’re going to get to the bottom of this once and for all.” Ivy peers over her shoulder at him, and Will snaps to attention.
“I’m on it,” Will declares, hastily getting to his feet and putting on his coat.
“Where are you going? We haven’t even eaten yet,” Ivy calls to him before he can rush out the door.
“I don’t want you eavesdropping on my conversation,” Will jokes. “Start without me. I’ll be right back.”
In his excitement, Will slams the door, causing the dishes to rattle.
“You know this is only going to derail the screenplay,” I level with her, needing her to grasp the full picture. “But it’s not going to stop Lauren from going after Ben, or me, or most importantly, you. Ivy, you can’t ask me to put you and the baby in jeopardy. I won’t do it.”
“Yeah, but if we can right one wrong, we have to try,” she insists, rising to her feet. “I really think if we can turn Tim we can start wresting some control away from Lauren. Make her see that she’s vulnerable.”
“But that might make her retaliate even harder,” I warn, not wanting to let go of her hand. “Especially if she starts to feel like she has nothing to lose.”
“Oh, I think she has a great deal to lose,” Ivy declares, tugging at my hand until I stand up. “Or she wouldn’t be fighting so hard to hold on to it.”
“Whatever it is, I hope you’re right,” I grumble as I help her pick up some of the plates to reheat them in the microwave before Will comes back and catches us. “I just don’t like being forced into the position of gambling with your life.”
“After I talk to Tim, I’ll stay out of the fray,” she insists, setting the timer and hitting the power button. “I’ll lay low until the baby is born. I give you my word.”
“And if Lauren ends up on our doorstep again?” I press as she watches the dishes spin around.
“I know you’ll send her packing,” she laughs. “Lauren Price won’t get anywhere near me. Not if you have something to say about it. I know my big, strong man will protect me.”
“This isn’t a joke, Ivy,” I admonish her, not returning her smile. “She already got to you once since you left Tim’s. I can’t be at your side twenty-four hours a day. She’s still a threat.”
“Then I promise to camp out at the garden center with everybody during the day.” She opens the door, reaching for the hot pad on the counter. “That way, I’ll be well looked after. There’s always somebody around—you, Ben, Will, your dad. We can even enlist Tim if I’m able to persuade him.”
“Sorry if that doesn’t make me feel good inside,” I lament. “The last thing I want is Tim hanging around you.”