The warmth spreads to my cheeks as I stand rigid. “I’d rather not know you at all.”
His lips feather over the same spot as he hums against my skin, “Me too.”
Then he backs away, coolly walking towards what I think is a closet. As soon as I see his hand go for the towel, I head for the bedroom door and don’t look back. Nothing about him makes sense. The more I learn, the more confused I become. But what really worries me is that I don’t think he left the picture. And the reason that concerns me is that means someone else did, and I have no clue who it could be.
33
IVY
“I’m so happy you’ll be back at school on Monday,” Brooke announces as she stands at the entrance of my closet.
Yeah, not so much for me. “I don’t have anything to wear.”
She rolls her eyes just as she did when I told her I could wear the T-shirt and jeans that I already have on. She starts skimming through my clothes until she pulls out a black strapless minidress and holds it up to me. “Here you go. Classy and simple. Get dressed.”
Why did I agree to go to the party? Probably because Brooke guilted me into it. She showed up at my house, crying about how horrible Micah has been to her and she needed a night out. I haven’t seen that side of him, but it’s not a stretch from what I’ve witnessed of his brother. And I know damn well the Montclair twins will attend the party. Those fuckers are everywhere.
“Let’s go watch a movie instead,” I suggest as I change into the dress.
“Maybe tomorrow. I really just want to drink and let loose. Garrett has the best parties.”
There’s no party that seems appealing, but maybe part of me wants to go see if I can find out something about who left the picture. My gut keeps telling me that it has to be anotherplayer. Maybe the Deceiver. Or it was actually Luca, and he’s screwing with my head. All of them do. I doubt I’ll figure much out because they lie so well. So drinking is slowly moving to the top reasons I want to go to the party. That and Anthony has been asking me every hour if I need anything since the photograph was delivered. He said they’re trying to recover footage, but it looks like everything was permanently erased. So, whoever did it knew their way around the system. Which basically excludes no one.
“When do you think we’ll get another dare?” I ask.
She looks at her phone, her posture tense. “I hope it’s soon. I’m ready to get it over with and be done with Micah. He’s an ass.”
“So is his brother. Which is another reason I vote to go see a movie instead.”
Brooke ignores the suggestion and asks, “How is that going? Y’all seemed to be getting along at the hospital. Or at least you weren’t trying to throttle each other like I was with Micah. My shoes were literally trashed. I barely had enough time to get home and shower before school, then we had the game. But thankfully we won. It was definitely the perfect way to end yesterday.”
I’d heard Belgrave won the game. I also heard Willowbrook won when Everett messaged me earlier. And then he guilted me for missing that one too. Then got even more upset when I said I didn’t want to hang out tonight. Plus, saying no to Everett is easier than Brooke because she won’t let up until I give in.
Or so I think until I get another message from Everett. It’s a picture of him and Kendall with a message attached.
Everett: You’re missing all the fun. It’s not too late to join us.
I miss Everett. I think I do. And I don’t mind the thought of hanging with him. It’s everyone attached to my old life that I don’t want to face. It’s hard to think about seeing them as more time passes by. I feel even more alienated from the old me than ever.
Ivy: Maybe another time.
Maybe I’ll want to one day again. I hope.
Everett:
“You look hot.” Brooke’s whistle draws me out of my thoughts as I click off my phone.
I step in front of the full-length mirror. It’s the first time I’ve worn the dress in forever. The last time I wore it was to a team celebration dinner. “Let’s get a drink before we head out.”
“Good plan,” she agrees, so we head downstairs and grab a bottle of whiskey from the cabinet. After she takes a drink, she holds up her phone. “Ride will be here in a few. It’s not that far from here.”
I was on board as soon as she volunteered to call us an Uber. Because I don’t plan on being in a sober enough state to driveafter the party. I feel my cheeks warming already, the buzz of the liquor taking over. And I welcome the feeling. “I should just stay home.” I feel like I could sleep for a year, and it’d still not be enough.
“No, ma’am. You’re my buffer. Plus, you got all dressed up. You can’t let that effort go to waste.
I disagree with all of it. Because going to the party is a waste. Everything we do is pointless and just another way to pass time until it runs out. “I wish they’d give us a good dare.”
“The hospital was scary as hell,” Brooke shudders before as she excitedly shouts, “Ride is here.”
