Page 77 of Volatile

“We don’t exactly look alike, Ivy. And why would you ever suspect that the man you’ve spoken so highly about would be the same man your sister loves? Do you know how hard it was for me? You’d come home and talk about how charitable and kind your customer is, and then practically in the same breath, you’d say what a monster my man is, never once realizing they were one and the same.”

Ivy opened her mouth, but nothing came out. Her head was in a fucking blender. Puree mode.

“Wait,” Lily said. “So, you know about him, but he doesn’t know about you? How did that happen?”

“It doesn’t matter.”

“I’m begging you. Please, just leave us be. He’s a good man. He loves me. I know you have the ability to hurt me right now, but I also know you have a good heart and you care deeply about family.”

Ivy was scrambling to formulate a sentence, but her brain wasn’t doing its job.

“Let’s just wipe the slate clean. Right now. Okay, Ivy? Let me live my life, and you can live yours. It’s not like you haven’t kept things from me too.”

“What?”

“You condemn Joshua but yet you’re involved with Mr. Blazek?”

What?

“Did you think I didn’t notice what was going on during our session? How you looked at him? How he looked at you? How upset you became? If I know you, you’re probably in the process of having his license taken away or something. But I saw how happy you were during those weeks when you were ‘seeing someone.’ You were never like that with Wes, not even close. Mr. Blazek’s right for you, Ivy, just like Joshua is right for me. You need to stop being so stubborn and accept that you might not know everything.”

“I... I have to go.”

“So when I want to talk, you don’t? Will you at least think about what I said?”

“I’ll talk to you later, okay?”

“Please don’t do anything rash, Ivy.”

How could she make that promise? Her mind was so jumbled up she didn’t even know how she’d make it home. Lily was finally willing to talk, and Ivy couldn’t get off the phone fast enough. Something was really wrong here.

Cherise walked in as she was slipping the phone back into her purse. There was always plenty to do when no customers were in the store; Ivy shouldn’t be lounging around.

“Ivy?”

“Sorry, just taking a quick break.” She stood up, giving her a small smile. “Wouldn’t want you to think I was slacking on the job.”

“Good Lord, of course not.” Cherise peered into her face. “You don’t look so hot. Do you need to go home?”

“No, I’m good. I can make it till close.” Ivy looked around. “What happened to your client?”

“The bride-to-be got called away, so we had to reschedule.”

Ivy grabbed a broom. There had to be some dirt around here somewhere. For God’s sake, it was a flower shop.

“How well do you know Mr. S?” Ivy asked.

“Is that what’s wrong? Did something happen today?”

Ivy realized it was probably an odd question given her mood. “No, it was business as usual. Just curious because he bought extra flowers for someone and he never did that before.”

What a joke. Nothing about it had been usual. A bombshell had dropped on her and now her pieces were in pieces. Cherise was one of her favorite people, and it bothered Ivy not being straight up with her like she normally was.

“I don’t know him personally.” Cherise lifted an eyebrow. “Why, are you interested?”

“God, no.” She didn’t want her to think that. “Um... what about Jonathan? How well did you say you know him?”

Ivy hoped she wasn’t coming across as some man-hungry woman. She just wanted enough answers to clear a small path in her head without spilling out all the clutter up there.

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