Page 28 of Volatile

Ivy hadn’t had a chance to speak with her about that yet. It was normal to wonder about it since he had unofficially lived there. He owned his own place but had rarely used it.

“We broke up.”

Lily changed direction, quickly turning around and coming back to sit on the edge of the bed. “Really?” She seemed pleased. Not that Ivy expected her to shed any tears over the split, but she could have at least voiced a little sympathy.

“Geez, don’t sound so torn up about it.”

“Sorry... Are you doing okay?” Ivy nodded. Yes, she was doing better than okay, actually. To be honest, the relationship had been over long before it became official. “Your decision or his?”

“Mine.”

Lily smiled slightly, one side of her mouth curving more than the other as if she were fighting it. “It’s fine, Lily. I know you’re happy to see him go. You don’t have to hide it for my sake.”

She let her smile grow to its full width. “I wouldn’t say I’m happy, happy. Don’t get me wrong; I thought Wes was a decent guy. You could do worse. But his lack of a spine made me nervous. I kept waiting for him to snap. No one can be that laid-back day after day without something giving.”

“You make it sound like he never even had an opinion of his own. He wasn’t that bad.”

“Seriously? He’s a jellyfish.”

Ivy just shook her head. She didn’t see it the same way, but that was okay. Wes was an easy-going guy and safe to be around. Perhaps a bit boring but she’d happily take a drama-free life over an aggressive one. There wasn’t a violent bone in his body. Their relationship had been blissfully dull, and Ivy’d been fine with that. Until she wasn’t.

“You could have picked him up and plopped him into a fish tank and ordered him to stay. I bet he wouldn’t have moved an inch until you gave permission.”

Lily sucked in her cheeks and made fishy lips, making Ivy laugh. “Okay, that’s enough.”

Despite Lily ribbing a perfectly nice man, this was good. This banter between them. Their time together had been strained for a while, ever since she’d caught the bruises on her. They hadn’t talked like this in a long time. Maybe it was a good time to bring other topics into the mix. Screw it; she could be a few minutes late to work. They wouldn’t fire her, not when customers requested her so often.

“You know I had a chat with Mr. Blazek?” Lily nodded and looked away, and Ivy felt a pang of regret. Maybe she should have kept the conversation lighthearted and silly because what they were about to deal with was heavy and serious. Too late for that. Ivy saw an opening and had to squeeze in before it slammed shut. “He filled me in on a few things that have been going on in your sessions.”

“Okay.”

“You joke about Wes being spineless, but I’m not sure how that’s any different from what you’re interested in.”

Lily’s mouth dropped open. “It’s totally different!”

“How so?”

“I’m not weak like Wes, but I guess you don’t see it that way.” Lily’s cheeks darkened. If she was too embarrassed to talk about it, maybe she had no business doing it.

“Of course I see it that way, Lily. That’s why I’m sure this is all a phase. I understand the allure nowadays; it’s practically glamorized everywhere you look, but that’s not normal life.”

“I thought you said you talked to Mr. Blazek. He doesn’t see it as a phase. He doesn’t look at me like I’m some aberration. Like you do.”

Her voice was rising, and Ivy placed her hand over hers, but Lily pulled it away. “Please, Lily. That is not how I look at you. And it’s Mr. Blazek’s job to be objective, but that doesn’t mean I have to agree with every one of his assessments along the way. It’s the end result that matters.”

“I don’t think he’s only being objective because of his job.”

“What does that mean?”

Lily stood up, shaking her head. “I’m not fragile, Ivy. I’m not a broken vase that needs to be glued back together just because I like strong men.”

“Strong? This has nothing to do with strong. Is that why Wes bothered you so much? He wasn’t your version of strong because he didn’t hit me?”

“Screw you.”

Okay, deep breath, Ivy.She needed to tone it down. “Lily, I’m sorry. That was wrong. I’m just trying to understand.”

“Are you? Because I don’t see it that way. The way I see it is you thinking there’s only one right way to be, and if I’m not it, I need to be fixed.”

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