Page 67 of Play the Last Card

“I’m sorry. I know I should have told you before we—”

“You knew. YouknewI didn’t want anything to do with that world. You dragged me in regardless. I trusted you and you lied anyway.” I feel like throwing something at him. My fists ball at my sides and I struggle to keep myself together. What kind of relationship begins like this? With lying and deception?

Even if we do this, what does that mean for me?

Do I have to go to games? Do I have to pay attention to his world?

No.No.

I swore to keep that particular box closed and I won’t open it. I can’t—won’t—go there.

“I think you should go,” I hear myself whisper.

“Please, Ivy. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you but—”

“You should have. I can’t trust … I would never have …” I suck in air, trying to keep my voice steady. I can’t break in front of him.

Not now.

If I do, I will let him wrap me up and pull me close. I will let him kiss my hair and whisper promises he can’t possibly keep.

If I let him in, I’ll lose him. No matter how hard he’ll try, he will suck me in then send me spinning. I don’t even want to imagine the aftermath.

“Please don’t regret me,” I hear him beg. He moves around the couch, moving toward me slowly. “Give me a chance. Give me a chance to—”

“You touched me. You held me. It was all a lie. It wasn’t real.” Scott reaches for me but I step away. “Please, go. I can’t do this.”

Tears sting as we stand there, only at opposite ends of the couch but it feels as if the chasm between us grows with every passing second.

“Please go.” My voice rings out louder, more defiant.

He has to leave before I break completely and I can feel it coming. His deception is only the beginning and I don’t want to deep dive into the locked box of feelings tonight.

He nods, face falling in defeat.

“Okay. I’ll go. But I’m going to text you later.” He waits a beat before he stands taller. “I won’t let you go without a fight.”

“I won’t … I can’t.” I shake my head. He comes toward me, stepping into my space and crossing the chasm but he may as well be miles away.

“I am sorry I didn’t tell you. It’s my job and I should’ve been honest. But nothing I’ve said about you or about how I feel about you is a lie. It’s real. Because, Ivy …” He lifts my chin, his piercing green eyes seeing deep down into my soul. “Whatever this is, it’s fucking special and I’ll be damned if I give you up without a fight.”

He presses a kiss to my forehead and turns to leave.

I don’t stop him.

When the front door closes behind him and the oven timer beeps for my attention, I close my eyes. I take a deep breath, and then another.

I move over to the oven, turn the dials and use the mitts to pull out the dish inside. I place it on the stove before turning to the cupboard, pulling out some foil and covering the dish.

I go upstairs and pull back the covers on my bed.

I send a SOS text to Katie and crawl between the sheets. Pressing my nose into the pillows, I swear I can still smell him. Later I feel Katie crawl into bed and pull me into her arms.

That’s when the tears finally come.

Chapter Fourteen

Ivy

---