Page 17 of When Ivy Met Mr. Holiday
Jaquelyn was much warmer with her departure. Ivy and I each received a bear hug. She even told me she loved me. The words hit like an unexpected gust of air—I had no idea how to respond. My own mother had never been so affectionate. She’d left when I was seven, saving herself from the hell that was my father. Apparently, I wasn’t worth saving.
I shoved the unwelcome thoughts aside and managed to mutter, “Thank you. Good night.”
Jaquelyn gave me a knowing smile, like she understood why I didn’t reciprocate, but there was no disappointment, just a quiet certainty that she wouldn’t give up on me. It made me feel kindof guilty for lying to her about my relationship with Ivy. Would she still love me if she were in on the charade? I hoped I didn’t have to find out.
Ivy grabbed my hand. “Come on,honey. Let’s go to bed.”
I knew that tone. Sweet on the surface—deadly underneath.
And it scared me.
Ivy was livid.
Not that I blamed her. She had every right to be.
“I hung a schedule up on the wall. We start bright and early tomorrow with our Christmas cookiepalooza. Then we’ll take the cookies over to the retirement home and play games with the residents,” Jaquelyn sang as she flitted off.
Ivy yanked me into her old bedroom, shut the door, and turned—ready to lay into me.
But before she could, I caught sight of her room, and for a second, everything else faded. It was an Ivy time capsule, untouched, preserved like a snapshot of the girl she used to be. I wanted to take it all in—her prom pictures, the volleyball team posters and rosters featuring her, every detail that made up her past, including the old heart pillows on her bunk bed made up with holiday linens.
I couldn’t help but stare, jealous, as I took in the boys who had held Ivy close in those stunning gowns—gowns that showed off a beauty that had only grown more breathtaking with time.
“You’re gorgeous,” I whispered, meaning every syllable.
“Don’t even start trying to butter me up right now.”
I wrapped Ivy in my arms, hoping the hug would smooth over even a fraction of her frustration.
“I’m sorry.”
Truly, I was sorry for the stress this was causing her. But if I were being honest, I wasn’t sorry for how this was all turning out. It was better than I’d ever imagined.
Two whole weeks. One room. Ivy. Absolute perfection.
She stiffened at first but then relaxed into me, her head landing with a thud on my chest.
“Jack,” she whined. “This is turning out so much worse than I thought. My parents think we’re sleeping together, and they put us in the same room. And every single time this bed so much asthinksabout squeaking, my family is going to assume . . . well, you know,” she whimpered. “And as if that isn’t bad enough, the entire world is currently wondering why you’d ever pick me over Sienna. Maybe we should just ‘break up’ now.”
“And disappoint your family?” I teased, masking the mild panic rising in my chest.
I hadn’t even started to woo her yet.
“Yeah, and that’s another thing. I had no idea my family thought we should be together. Why would they think that? They’re going to be so disappointed when they find out we’re lying. Ugh. I hate this, Jack. I hate it. And, FYI, I blame you. Okay—and Sienna. Why couldn’t I have just kept my big mouth shut?”
“Um—excuse me? I’m a little offended here. Why wouldn’t your family think we should be together? Am I that repulsive?”
“Oh, please. You’re not fooling anyone. So, don’t pretend I’m hurting your feelings. You have to be just as put off by this as I am.”
I absentmindedly stroked her hair, feeling the weight of just how far we had to go. Convincing Ivy we should be together was never going to be easy—I knew that. But I hadn’t realized just how blind she was to the way I saw her.
I paused, choosing my words carefully, knowing there was no way I could admit I was in love with her—not yet.
“Listen, Ivy. You’re worth a hundred times more than all the Siennas in the world. Your beauty surpasses hers, inside and out. I mean that.”
“Right,” she snorted against my chest.
“I’m being earnest here. So, let’s just enjoy these two weeks. Let’s have some fun with it. Jump on the bed, give your family a show,” I teased.
