Page 84 of Fire

I fold my arms on the table. “Because I know her.”

“But do you?” He shakes his head, like the whole world has let him down. “That’s what I’m getting at—”

“I do know her. And you do too.” I stab an angry finger his way. “So you can watch your fucking mouth when it comes to her. Ivy is a totally different circumstance than Blossom and the greedy fucks scamming the foundation. She’s a good person. She always has been and always will be. She’s had a rough couple years and is trying to put herself back together and is doing a damn good job of it. You know that and I know that.”

Nathan swallows hard and bobs his head so hard he has to grab the table not to fall out of his chair. “You’re right. You’re right. I’m drunk and pissed and I’m being a bitter asshole because I got taken for a ride and feel like an idiot. You’ve got a good one with her.”

“Hell fucking yes, I have a good one. What we have is something worth fighting for.”

“Then what the shit are you doing here with me?”

“Her mom said…and so she…I needed…” I swipe my hands over my face. “That’s a good fucking question.” I stand and pat my cousin on the shoulder, then worry about leaving him alone in this state and sit right back down.

“What’re ya doin’?” he asks.

“I can’t leave you like this.”

“I’m fine.”

“You’re not.” I slip my phone out of my pocket and call Angela, who promises she’ll be on her way in a matter of minutes. I hold out my hands and wiggle my fingers at Nathan. “Keys.”

“What?”

“Give me your keys.”

“Come on, man. I’m fine…” Except it sounds more like “C’mmonman, ahm pffinne…” as I disengage my drunk translator.

“I’m not kidding. Angel’s on her way to sit with you. I’d stick around, but I’ve gotta get back to Ivy before…” Before what? Before she starts listening to her mom again? Before she finds an apartment? Before she thinks I abandoned her when she needed me most? “Whatever. Just hand ‘em over. I’ll get them back to you tomorrow.”

Nathan digs in his pocket and drops his keys into my hand.

I thump him on the back, and he makes an expression that could have been a smile if he didn’t look so heartbroken.

CHAPTER FORTY

Ivy

I pace from the table to the door to the window and back again for the seventy-fifth time since Micah left. My stomach’s in knots. My heart bangs around in my chest like a rabbit on cocaine.

I finally pushed Micah too far. I let my mom get in my head and obsessed over everything she said until I saw myself the way she saw me. It wasn’t pretty.

So I stopped looking at schools and started looking at apartments because I don’t want to take advantage of Micah. He’s one in a million and deserves someone who…

…who…

His truck door thumps shut, and I freeze. Footsteps sound on the steps and I take a calming breath as I decide whether those are angry footsteps or “I love you” footsteps.

The door swings open and he steps inside, his eyes look kind and worried and I instantly step into his arms because there isn’t another place I’d rather be. “I’m so sorry,” I murmur into his chest while he rubs my back.

“Me too, Ives. Me too. I shouldn’t have left.”

“But I understand why you did.”

He holds me, swaying back and forth and everything becomes clear. Micah isn’t Julian. I’m not Julian’s Ivy. Not here. Not anymore. Micah loves me and I love him and I’m tired of listening to people who are trying to manipulate me rather than the man who’s done everything in his power to elevate me.

Micah pulls back, brushing my hair off my face. “I have one last thing to say on the topic of apartments and independence and I’d appreciate it if you’d hear me out.

I nod, leaning into his touch.

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