Page 80 of Volatile

image

image

image

Chapter Twenty-One

image

“Mr. Blazek?”

“Speaking.”

Lily dug her nails into her arm as if that would stabilize her voice. She couldn’t sound as rattled as she felt. “Um, is Ivy with you by chance?”

“Lily? I didn’t recognize you at first. Is everything okay?”

She stood up and paced the front stoop, stealing glances through the window in the door. Little good that did. Damn lights were burnt out again.

“Yeah, I’m calling from Joshua’s cell. I was just hoping to speak with Ivy and work some things out. I know that, um, you two are seeing each other.”

She heard a low grumble across the line. “Lily, your sister and I are over. I’m sorry, but she’s not with me.”

“Oh. Okay.” Her jitters intensified again. Something was off. She could feel it deep in her gut, especially when he said they were over. She’d been wishing that Ivy was with him and that there was another explanation for Wes’s car parked at the end of the block. It didn’t make sense. But it was likely nothing at all. She was just being paranoid. Her eyes darted around as if to corroborate that fact.

“Lily, what’s wrong?”

“Nothing.” She’d almost forgotten he was still on the phone. “Well, thanks. I’ll—”

“Where are you?”

“Waiting for Joshua.” Why did she feel so damn uneasy? She keyed open the main entrance for the second time and advanced down the hallway. She’d already knocked on Ivy’s door with no response. Her car was there, so if she wasn’t inside, where else could she be? She didn’t stroll around the neighborhood after dark. Lily didn’t want to let herself inside when she technically no longer lived there. She wanted to respect her sister’s privacy, but—

“But where are you, Lily?” His tone had turned serious. She hadn’t meant to worry him too. And she definitely didn’t want to mention Wes’s name. What if Ivy broke it off with Mr. Blazek so she could get back together with that drip? No, that was a ridiculous thought. Her sister wouldn’t do something like that. Not when she’d been the happiest she’d ever seen her. Lily was blowing this whole thing way out of proportion. Now, if only she could convince her nerves. Her skin was coated in pins, and she couldn’t shake them out.

She forced out a tiny, fake laugh. “It’s nothing, really. You see, Ivy discovered who Joshua is today and I couldn’t get it off my mind, freaking out about what she might do. So, I went over to speak to her about it in person and—”

“You’re at Ivy’s?”

“Well, yeah, but...”

“And she’s not there?”

Lily didn’t respond. She knew that Ivy had to be home, but maybe she was sleeping? But why was Wes’s car down the road like he was sneaking around? He was always too nice and quiet. She knew she couldn’t trust him.

“I’m on my way.”

“What? No. You don’t have to do that. It’s nothing, Mr. Blazek.”

“Your voice indicates otherwise.” She heard shuffling and a door slam. “I just spoke to Jacque Lamont before you called. She and Cherise recently dropped Ivy off because she’d had too much to drink.”

“Oh, well then. She’s probably just passed out.” Her stomach gained a few more rocks.

“I’m on my way, Lily. Stay on the line with me until either Joshua or I get there.”

“Okay,” she whispered. Was she so queasy because she sensed something wrong or because she’d created an issue that may very well turn out to be nothing? And now Mr. Blazek was involved. She rapped softly on Ivy’s door again, putting her ear against the wood. Was that a mumble she heard?

---