Page 111 of Seeds of Malice

I'm trying to figure out my sudden change of heart when Avery comes into the room. Cindy and Marcey stumble in behind her.

"Oh, there's the new girl," Cindy slurs.

"The homophobe," Marcey adds.

"I am not," Ivy spouts.

"Ignore them," I order.

She blows a frustrated breath out.

"I think it's time we—" I start, but Cindy cuts in.

"So, Ivy, it's clear you like Dax," Cindy announces, then giggles.

Ivy gives me her bashful expression, mixed with a new drunken look I've not seen before. I realize I like her much better sober, not because she's done anything wrong, but because she's not like these other girls.

I don't want her to be like them.

Then why am I breaking her?

Breaking her doesn't make her like them.

It does in some ways.

Bobby interrupts my thoughts. "You don't like him, or you do?"

"Of course I like him," Ivy answers with no hesitation.

I tug her closer.

Bobby states, "Then kiss him."

Ivy arches her eyebrows. "Kiss him?"

"Yeah. Show us how you kiss him."

"You don't have to kiss me," I say, giving Bobby a look to stop it. Everything inside of me is yelling not to play this game tonight.

Ivy slides her hands around my neck and giggles. "You don't want to kiss me?"

I glance at her. "Of course I want to kiss you."

Before I can say anything else, she presses her lips to mine, sliding her tequila-coated tongue into my mouth.

No matter how much I try to resist, I can't. For a moment, I'm lost. No one else exists. The scent of smoke, the flashing lights, and the music disappear. It's only Ivy and me.

She pulls back, and I'm the breathless one. It takes a minute before I snap back to reality, and I wonder again what the hell's going on with me.

Bobby catches me off guard and pulls Ivy into him. "Now, that looks pretty good. I need to experience that. Kiss me how you kissed Dax."

I curl my fists at my sides. "Bobby," I warn.

He glances at me. I can't blame him for being confused. This is what we do.

"Why would I kiss you?" Ivy asks.

That's my girl.

---