Page 96 of Dangerous Play

“Max, hi,” I let out a relieved smile. “We are fine... just Ander and Daisy broke up. She is a bit upset.”

Max arched a brow, which meant he heard Daisy thinking I would get back with Ander, which meant Ander also approached me, but I only shook my head, not wanting to get into it.

“Do I need to go beat him up?” he asked, a soft smile on his lips, and Daisy let out a little chuckle.

“Please.”

I shook my head again. “Don’t waste your time with him. But we could use a ride to the party... Daisy is joining too.”

“The more, the merrier,” Max nodded, and guiding us to his car, he opened the back door and waited until both of us settled in before rounding his car and getting in on the driver’s side.

Daisy stared at me with wide eyes, and I just smiled. “Max is a gentleman,” I explained, and she made a little “O” with her mouth.

“Any music requests?” Max asked as he buckled his seatbelt.

“Taylor Swift?” Daisy asked quietly.

I wanted to tell her no, but without a single complaint, Max obeyed and played a Spotify mix of her songs. “Not sure what’s Taylor’s Version, what isn’t, so hopefully I’m giving the royalties to the right person right now.”

Daisy chuckled as she leaned her head on my shoulder. “This is perfect, thank you.”

I caught his eyes in the rearview mirror, and he offered a small smile that I returned. Ever since I laid eyes on him in the parking lot, my heartbeat had returned to its usual steady pace, and my life felt more complete than moments before. It wasn’t just the safety I felt next to him. It was the way he looked at me and how he took care of me while giving me space.

I loved him for all those things.

“Ivy?” Daisy’s small voice interrupted my thoughts. I brushed her hair out of her face and glanced down at her. “I’m sorry for falling for Ander. I should have never slept with him. But I saw the love you two had, or I thought you had, and I wanted the same for myself. I’m so sorry I hurt you, and I was horrible to you this whole year. I should have never listened to him; he said disgusting things about you, and I believed them all. You’re my sister... I should have been on your side. Instead, I was against you, and I’m sorry.” I felt her tears soak my bare shoulders, and I held her tighter.

“It wasn’t your fault. He is very good at making you feel special and making you believe things. It’s not your fault at all... I’m not mad at you. I love you.”

“I don’t deserve you,” she muttered as she cried.

I kissed the top of her head and said the words Max said to me. “You deserve someone who will show you how special you are. I’m your sister, and I will always love you no matter what. And you will also find a guy who will love you like that and treat you the way you deserve to be treated. Until then, don’t settle for less.”

I saw his soft smile bloom in the rearview mirror as I glanced up, and my heart fluttered.

I found that guy already.

I just needed to figure out how to keep him.

CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

MAX

I was fumingover the whole Ander thing once I gathered all the pieces of information. Apparently, he broke up with Daisy and wanted to get back with Ivy, but she told him off.

This was Nova’s rundown, but I trusted she conveyed the message.

I felt guilty for not going up to her dorm and approaching her instead of waiting like an idiot for her reply if I could talk to her. But at the same time, I was proud of her for finally getting a chance to tell Ander off and reconnecting with Daisy.

It felt good watching them bond during the night and Daisy liked the other Titan girls as well which was a bonus.

With me being gone for so long, I spent the party catching up on the latest gossip, before catching up on all the schoolwork in the upcoming weeks.

It was impossible to get her alone and drag her through an emotional turmoil of giving her my national team jersey that I got her. So, it remained hidden in my luggage waiting for the right time.

Which seemed to be my motto this year. Me waiting for the right time to do the things. I wasn’t people pleasing anymore, but I was just waiting around.

I could have probably created my own moment and just make things happen, but part of me wanted it to happen organically, naturally, as they were supposed to.

---