Page 92 of Writing On The Wall

Ivy June

Please don’t shut me out

Ivy

I’m not…

I am, but I’m claiming one more day to sulk before talking to him again. Seeing his sexy face in person will confuse me, and I’ll forget all the reasons why I need to let him go. Keeping some space between us lets me hold onto this little fantasy for a tiny bit longer. It’s pitiful, I know.

Besides, I need to sort out this Ross situation first. My brain can’t handle this much stress at one time, and this is my weird way of compartmentalizing and keeping myself from cracking under the pressure.

Ethan

It’s Saturday

My Saturday’s are yours now. I don’t know what to do if you’re not on my Saturday agenda

I whine aloud. The man is going to make me disappear right here into the cracks of my newly polished floors after melting into a puddle.

Ivy

I just need more time to process

Can we hang out tomorrow?

Ethan

You sure I can’t just stare at you while you process? I’ll be quiet. Real creepy like, but I won’t make a sound

Ivy

Go bother Colton

Ethan: Fine. I’ll see you tomorrow, Ivy June. Let me know if you change your mind.

I’m smiling like a smitten little idiot. I can’t even pretend to stop myself from falling in love with him. I’ve already fallen. I’m deep at the bottom of the well, staring up at the cruel blue sky that led me here under pretenses of a happily ever after. But there’s no escaping this reality. Ethan will jet off on exciting adventures any day now, and I’ll never find another man who makes my knees go weak or cares for me the way he does.

My morbid thoughts are interrupted by light footsteps on the porch, followed by a knock on the door. “Vee! I have donuts and mimosas. Open up!”

Crap.

I love my best friend, but her arrival just made things all themore complicated. I’m at least grateful for the tarp I nailed on the wall the other day, coveringThe Listand the little messages Ethan and I have been exchanging. It’s become something intimate, and I didn’t want it out in the open for just anyone to see.

“Em?” I unlock the door to find my frazzled friend staring at me. “You okay?”

Her lip wobbles and she nods, shuffling inside with a box of donuts balanced on one hand and a grocery bag in the other.

“Don’t ever plan a wedding, Vee.” She sniffs while opening and closing cupboards until she finds champagne glasses. “Marry rich so you can get someone else to organize the whole thing.”

“Em…youaremarrying rich. And youcanget someone else to do it,” I remind her as she hands me a bottle of orange juice, silently tasking me with pouring while she struggles to open the champagne bottle.

She lets out a noisy exhale, pausing after the cork pops. “Yeah. I guess you know that’s not the real problem.”

“Is that part of the problem at all?”

“Of course not. Colton keeps offering to up the budget.” She pauses and sighs again. “It’s my mother. She’s out of control! I’ve gotten more attention from her in the last three months than I have in my entire life. She questionseverydecision I make, but in a super nice way, making me doubt what I actually like in the first darn place!” she rambles as she pours champagne.

I carry our glasses and the box of donuts back to the living room before we sink into the sofa together. Ember lifts the lid and picks out a chocolate donut while I glance at the time on my watch, my eyes flicking to the door.

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