Page 76 of Undeniable

I was awake long after she’d fallen back asleep just to make sure she was okay and that the dreams didn’t return. And the entire time, I thought about the night before.

The only reason she walked off that dance floor and didn’t fight me was because she felt it, too. The pull, the chemistry, the connection was still unimaginable. All the time we spent apart didn’t matter. I still wanted her in the worst way. I wantedallof her.

She’d felt the shift between us, too.

And afterward—after she ran and had time to think—she’d come back. And when she’d had a nightmare, she let me comfort her.

Before last night, Ivy wouldn’t have never let me comfort her. She was too headstrong for that. If she still hated me, she would’ve had no problem shoving me away and soothing herself back to sleep. At least, that’s what I thought.

My hand flexed, and I stretched out my arm. I was slightly sore from clutching her all night, but the ache made me smile. I reached farther, expecting to graze Ivy, but all I felt were soft sheets under my palm. My eyes popped open and landed on the empty bed next to me.

There was a moment of panic before I heard voices in the kitchen. A thought crossed my mind: Ivy standing at the stove cooking pancakes and bacon once again, only this time she’d turn around and smile when she saw me.

I would’ve preferred to wake up next to her. We could’ve cuddled sleepily together while we finally talked.

Eager to see her and buzzing with excitement, I jumped out of bed, pulled on a pair of shorts over my briefs and threw on the first T-shirt I found.

I stopped in the bathroom quickly and was rounding the corner into the kitchen no more than a minute later. My eagerness faded when I realized it was only Ivy’s parents seated at the same table and Ivy herself was nowhere in sight.

“Umm… good morning.”

Both of Ivy’s parents looked at me and then back at each other before her dad rose from his seat. Taking his coffee with him, he awkwardly hiked his thumb over his shoulder, motioning toward the back door.

“I’m just going to…” He didn’t finish his sentence as the screen door slammed shut behind him.

Their behavior had me on edge. These were people I’d known my entire life, nothing was awkward anymore, yet they were both acting like I had the plague.

Catherine’s expression was grim. She stood from the table and took a step toward me.

“Honey—” she began at the same time I asked, “Where is she?” I didn’t need her to placate me. I didn’t need to hear the excuse Ivy had probably given them. I needed to know where my girl was.Now.

Her sigh was all I needed. The verbal confirmation was like a second punch. “She left.”

The room spun as I battled a torrent of emotions. But I wasn’t going to let them get the better of me. I needed to keep a clear head.

“She left about an hour ago. I asked her what was wrong, but”—Catherine flung her arms out to her sides and shrugged—“she wouldn’t tell me. All she said was that she needed to go back home.”

She continued speaking, but I didn’t hear anything beyond that. The only thought in my head was, “She left,” playing on repeat.

Last night she’d run because she was scared, and that morning, I guaranteed, was no different. I had to tell myself that because the alternative—that she didn’t reciprocate even a fraction of the feelings wreaking havoc on me—was too much to handle.

She’d let me in, even if it was the smallest bit, and that was enough to send her running. But all of the shit in our past wasn’t enough to keep us from going back to each other. We’d both realized it and whereas I was ready to fight, she’d run.

I had a lot to make up for—a lot to apologize for—and I just wanted the chance to do it.

“James, honey?”

I looked up at her, and she squeezed my arm. God, she looked so sorry for me, but I didn’t have time to feel sorry for myself.

I turned down the hallway and flung open Ivy’s bedroom door. Quickly I shoved everything into my duffel bag but grabbed a pair of jeans to change into. Behind me, I heard Catherine walk into the room and push the door the rest of the way open.

“James, whatcha doing?”

“I’m going to get her,” I all but growled and was immediately apologetic. The last thing I meant to do was take out my pent-up emotions on Ivy’s mother, but she appeared unfazed. Oddly enough, a small smile graced her lips as I was about to apologize.

“Good,” she said, eyeing the jeans in my hands. “You’ll take your old truck. It’s still in your parents’ garage. Better hurry, too. Chop-chop.”

I was simultaneously shocked and completely unsurprised that she wanted me to go after her daughter. Instead of analyzing that fact, I shook off my surprise and finished packing, hoping to get to her as soon as possible.

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