12. She is Staring

Ivy

Ryder is holding me close as we dance. I can feel his grip on my waist tightens, so I look up at him, wondering what's going on.

I see a flicker of something in his eyes like he's struggling with something internally. His grip loosens a little, and he clears his throat before speaking. "I wasn't accusing you of anything earlier."

I look at him with surprise. "Hmm?"

"I'm just saying...I wasn't really jealous of you and Sirius," Ryder says.

Oh, we are still harping on that?

"I'm sure you weren't, Ryder. Why would you? I'm not exactly the beauty queen everyone sought after."

Ryder's eyes narrow slightly. "That's not true, Ivy. You are..."

"I am what?" I stare at him intently.

"You aren't...hideous looking," Ryder mumbles.

I giggle. "Gee...thanks so much for thinking I'm not hideous."

"Okay, that was a stupid thing to say. What I was trying to say was that you...you...are...cute," Ryder stammers.

I can't help but smile at Ryder's flustered response. Is the big bad Alpha feeling nervou