Page 52 of Take My Place

As I leave the coffee shop, I run into someone. The impact is more of a surprise than anything else, but it is enough to make me stumble and drop my bag.

I kneel down to gather up my things and the person I’d run into bent over to help me.

“Ivy? What’s wrong?”

I dash away the tears when I realise I bumped into Romy.

“Nothing. I’m fine.”

“Don’t even go there. You’re clearly not.”

“Ivy? Is it something I said?” Lucas comes out of the coffee shop.

“Stay away from me, Lucas,” I say. “You’ve done enough already.”

“Ivy? What’s happened?”

I sigh heavily and roll my eyes as Declan comes out to join us, Archer hot on his heels. I didn’t see Archer in the coffee shop, but I am not surprised he is there, given how good he is at sneaking up on me.

Great. All the boys are here and all I want is for the floor to open and swallow me up.

“What did you do to her?” Romy snaps at Lucas.

“Me? I didn’t do anything.”

“Ivy doesn’t get upset like this over nothing,” says Declan. “I saw you say something which made her run out. What is it?”

“It isn’t important,” I say hurriedly, not wanting to open up that particular can of worms. “It’s been a long day, that’s all. Romy, can you take me home?”

“Not until I’ve taught Lucas a lesson in what happens when you upset my fiancée.”

Suddenly, he lunges at Lucas and punches him in the face.

“Romy!” I scream. “Stop!”

I tug at Romy’s arm to pull him away, but he is a man on a mission, following the punch with another blow.

Lucas makes to hit Romy back, but Archer grabs his arm. Twisting it around, he gets Lucas’s neck with his other hand, pushing him forward so that he can’t move without breaking his arm.

“Nobody hurts Ivy,” he says. “I suggest you suck this one up.”

“Fine,” Lucas spits angrily.

Archer lets him go and Lucas slowly stands up…

…and goes straight for Romy.

Declan sticks out his foot and Lucas trips before he can reach my fiancé. He falls to the floor and the three boys surround him, kicking him.

Is that..? Lucas islaughing?

Even though the others are beating the crap out of him, Lucas thinks it isfunny?

The guy is even weirder than I thought.

“Stay away from Ivy if you know what’s good for you.” Romy jabs his finger at Lucas, panting with the exertion of the fight. “If I find you anywhere near her again, I’ll put you in hospital–and you won’t be coming out again.”

“Oh, Romy, Romy, Romy.” Lucas stays on the ground, getting his breath back. “Make the most of her while you can. She won’t be yours for much longer.”

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