Cain exhales, “I’m sorry, Luca. The game makes me crazy.”
Same. “No apology needed.”
“Oh, I didn’t know you had company,” Ivy says and can’t believe she’s here until I spot her standing in the doorway.
Cain tells her, “Come on in. I was just leaving.” He turns to me. “See you later, brother.”
He leaves as she makes her way over. She peeks at my drawing, surprise on her face as she examines it. She runs her finger on the bottom right corner. “Where are your initials?”
“I don’t add them until it’s finished and there’s nothing else I can add to improve it. When it’s as close to a masterpiece as I can manage to get it.”
She studies the drawing for a minute before she focuses to me. “I didn’t want to die.” Her eyes drop to the floor. “But I didn’t want to live either.”
I understand what it took for her to admit that. And now I can only be here and try to repair what I broke.
Gripping her hand, I reach over and grab a Sharpie and write along her skin next to her scar then hold it up for her to see the messageYou promised. L.M.as I plead with her, “You can’t give up. You can’t leave me.”
“But I’m nowhere near a masterpiece.” She lets out a soft laugh as a tear slips down her cheek. “I’m broken and I don’t know how to fix it.”
“You’re my masterpiece.” I wish she could see what I do, and I hope she feels my words somewhere inside her soul. “It wasn’t your fault, Ivy.”
She cries and I just hold her because I don’t know what else to do to fix her either. But I’ll die trying if that’s what it takes.
72
IVY
Micah takes a seat at the lunch table. “I don’t understand why they haven’t started the next round yet. I’m ready to get this over with.” He seems genuine, and I actually believe him. He’s been edgy since Remy died. We all have.
“Maybe they’re giving us time after what happened,” Brooke says, not wanting to specify exactly what she means but we all understand anyway.
“No,” Cain mutters. “They don’t allow mercy. Just pain.”
“His family didn’t even have a funeral service.” Brooke keeps her eyes on her food. “His parents didn’t want to do one.”
“It’s probably better.” I recall seeing my mom in a casket. “Why remember them that way?”
There’s an uneasy silence around the table. Luca places his hand on my thigh. I don’t want to talk about what happened at the rec anymore, I just wanted to be near him.
Brooke sighs, “You’re right. He would want us to remember him laughing at his own jokes.”
I zone out for the rest of the conversation as they share happy memories and stories about him.
“Ivy,” I hear my name over the chatter. Principal Guidry is standing nearby as she gestures for me to follow her. Once we’rein the corridor, she glances around before speaking. “I’ve been trying to reach your father, but he hasn’t returned my calls. Could you try contacting him for me?”
“Yes.” Good luck getting a call back though. “What’s wrong?”
“Oh, it’s nothing crucial,” she explains. “Your brother has missed a lot of days, and I’m worried about him falling too far behind to catch up.”
I know Zachary skips school but didn’t realize it was to that extent. “I’ll talk to him and let Dad know you’re trying to reach him.” Neither will probably make a difference.
“Thanks, Ivy.” She hurries off as I send a message to Dad relaying the message then ask Zachary where he’s at. There’s no response by the time I leave school but when I get home, I figure out why. He’s still sleeping.
“Wake up.” I push his arm to jar him awake.
“I’m up,” he grumbles, not opening his eyes.
“You missed school again.”
