Page 44 of Relentless (The Titans of Founder's Ridge 2)

I walk into the bathroom and turn my shower on. I shampoo my hair twice, thinking the second time is conditioner. By the time I remember to do my entire shower routine, I have silent tears streaming down my face, and I collapse onto the shower floor. I wrap my hands around my knees and let out all the sobs.

I don’t know how long I sit down there, but at some point, Levi has let himself into my room, stripped, and joined me in the shower. I feel his strong arms lift me onto his lap and wrap around me protectively. He holds me while I cry, until the water starts to turn cold, quite a feat in a luxury mansion. Eventually he stands and turns the water off. He grabs a towel and wraps it around me and then takes one himself.

He grabs my pajamas and sets them on the counter beside me. Then he leaves my room with just the towel wrapped around his waist. I should probably be concerned about him being caught, but I really just don’t care at this point.

When Levi comes back in, he’s wearing a pair of sweatpants and a faded Harvard t-shirt. He pulls the covers down and gets in my bed. I finish combing my hair and put it in a fishtail braid. He doesn’t say anything until I get in the bed and cuddle up beside him.

“Dad sent Jennifer to stay at a hotel in the city for a while,” he tells me with a kiss to the forehead. “He’s worried about you, so maybe find him in the morning and check in with him. I talked him out of calling your dad. I figured you would want to decide what you want to tell him.”

“Thank you. If he tells my dad about what I’ve been dealing with, I know Dad will insist on me going home.” I slide my leg between his. “I don’t want to leave you.”

“I don’t want that either.” He reaches over and turns off the lamp. “Let’s go to sleep.”

* * *

“Frank?” I knock on the door to his home office. It’s cracked open a little, so I peek in.

“Ivy,” he stands up from behind the desk wearing the same clothes that he had on last night. The room smells like scotch, and he’s got a heavy five o’clock shadow. I’ve never seen him look so disheveled. “Come all the way in.” He crosses to me and wraps me in a hug. “How are you this morning?”

“I’m alright.” I squeeze him back. “Last night was really nothing new, aside from her being so vicious in front of anyone else. Usually she saves the deep cuts for when it’s just her and I in the room.”

He winces. “I feel like I’ve failed you. I didn’t realize how bad it was. How bad she is.”

“It’s not your fault. I don’t talk about it or anything,” I shrug. “I haven’t even told my dad about it. I don’t want anyone to worry when I don’t take it to heart.”

Liar.

He gives me a look that says he doesn’t entirely believe me, but he lets it go.

“Levi said you sent her into the city?”

“Yeah. I’m taking the week and working from home. We’ll have family dinners this week, just the three of us.” He gives me a slight smile.

“That sounds nice,” I manage to smile back at him. “I better get going. I’m riding with Levi today.”

“Alright, have a good day.” He goes back to the mini bar in the corner of his office and pours a couple fingers of scotch.

I’m still frowning about it when I meet Levi in the garage. Until he grabs my wrist and pushes me up against the side of his G Wagon and kisses me senseless. One hand glides up my thigh and under my skirt, while the other wraps possessively around the back of my neck. His tongue parts my lips slides across my own. I moan into his mouth when I feel his body reacting to mine. We stand there kissing for so long the light in the garage goes off so there’s just the interior light from his car.

“What was that for?” I ask breathlessly.

“I had to get it out of my system before we get to school. It sucks to watch Con and Hoodrat making out all over the place and having to keep our relationship hidden. I know why we’re doing it, but it doesn’t change the fact that it sucks ass.” He rests his forehead against mine. “I love you so much, and I just want to scream it from the roof.”

“I know,” I kiss him, “I feel the same way.”

Sure enough, when we pull into his parking space Connor has Lilith up against his car. They aren’t actually kissing, but they’re pressed against each other smiling. I put on my happy mask and act like my mom didn’t tear me apart last night.

“Hey girl,” I grab Lilith’s hand and yank her away from Con who, of course, growls at me. I give him the middle finger and walk off arm in arm with her toward our lockers. “How was your weekend?”

“It was good, uneventful but good. Hung out with the guys on Saturday. I watched football with my dad and Con yesterday. How was Connecticut?”

“Good. So much pressure from my dad though. He wants me to train this summer in Georgia to qualify and train for Nationals.” We close our lockers at the same time, and I turn and lean my back against mine, watching the pack of FPA cheerleaders walk by. Half of them send nasty looks at Lilith, who could not care less. “What do you think of having a girls’ night tomorrow?”

“I love that idea!” She says as we push away from our lockers and start walking toward our first hour seminar class. “We’ll have to go out if we want to keep the guys away.”

“Yes, we could do some shopping and grab dinner.”

“That sounds great.”

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