Page 85 of When Ivy Met Mr. Holiday
Cami’s eyes widened as they landed on me, then flicked to Jack, then back again, her brows lifting with an interest that was almost polite but mostly laced with concern. She grabbed her husband’s hand and made a beeline for us.
“Babe, this is Jack Holiday. Why don’t you tell him how much you loved his last movie? I need to talk to Ivy for a minute.”
Before anyone could say anything, she looped her arm through mine and pulled me to the side like we were sorority sisters escaping to gossip. I looked back to see Jack and Noah both rubbing the backs of their necks, probably unsure of what they should be doing.
I mouthed,Sorry,before Cami abruptly halted near a display of pastel stuffed unicorns.
“Ivy,” she whispered urgently. “I just want you to know that if you ever need help, there is an Ex-File chapter in Austin. They’re super supportive and will help you through your breakup. Or just call me. I’ve been in your shoes, and there’s no shame. You’re strong enough to walk away. And tell your family I will send them two sets of proofs. One will already have Jack cropped out. You know, because, well . . . you know.”
I almost laughed, but it only sharpened the reality—Jack and I had an uphill battle ahead. One that involved convincing people he wasn’t the scum of the earth and that I wasn’t just some sycophant, sticking around because he wasJack Holiday.
“Um . . . thank you. But really, Cami—Jack didn’t cheat on me. That was all staged. Sienna Davenport set it up.”
Cami gave my arm a gentle, pitying pat. The kind reserved for someone clinging to delusion.
“Well, ifyoubelieve it.” She leaned in like we were swapping secrets. “Just be careful. And here, take this.” She duginto her designer bag and pulled out a business card, pressing it into my palm.
“My personal cell is on there. Call anytime. I’m here for you. Merry Christmas.”
Yeah.Merry Christmas.
She flitted back to Noah and Jack, who were apparently getting along just fine—laughing, relaxed, completely unaware that I’d just been referred to an emotional support hotline and given a subtle invitation to a breakup club.
Apparently their conversation was far more pleasant than mine had been.
“Hey, Cams.” Noah slung an arm around Cami. “Jack here says he’s in for your family’s annual polar bear plunge on New Year’s.”
Cami narrowed her eyes at Jack with a look that clearly said,Buddy, I don’t think you’ll be around by then.
But her lips smiled. “That’s so fun. We always love it when the Wells family joins our parties.” She turned to Noah, slipping easily into sweet wife mode. “We should hurry. I don’t want to leave the baby for too long, and there’s no telling what our son has talked my parents into by now.”
“It was good to meet you, man.” Noah offered Jack a solid bro handshake.
“Same,” Jack replied easily. “Looking forward to seeing you again.”
I slid back to Jack’s side just in time to see Cami mouth,Call me,like she was on a rescue mission I hadn’t signed up for, before she turned and floated toward a handcrafted race car track lined with vintage cars.
Jack took my hand, our fingers threading effortlessly. I squeezed, trying to ground myself.
“What did Cami want to talk to you about?” Jack whispered.
“Oh, you know, just how I should probably break up with you.”
Jack stiffened. “The truth will come out, Ivy. I promise.”
“I know.”But when?
Jack pressed a kiss to my temple. “Sadly, there will always be more lies printed about me, about us. It’s the nature of the business. Heartache sells more than happiness.”
“That’s just sad.”
“Only if we choose to consume it. We have to choose happy. I chose my happy. You.”
I couldn’t help but smile. “I never pegged you as a sappy boyfriend. But I love it.”
“You haven’t seen how sappy I can get,” Jack groaned into my ear, making my knees feel like limp noodles. But his next words were a mic drop. “Don’t let strangers steal this from us.”
He was right. I wrapped my arms around him and stared at our reflection in the window. A dozen cameras stared right back at me, some with voices behind them calling for Mr. Holiday. But I let his words sink in and focused on what I knew to be true about him, about us.
