I leave the Tomb and question why I even agreed to show in the first place. I’ve seen that side of Luca, just not aimed at his brother.
When I get back to the house, I go straight upstairs and shower. I wasn’t the one fighting, but I feel grimy and dirty. Once I pull on a tank and shorts, I notice a figure out on the balcony.
Sure enough, it’s Luca. He’s reclined in the lounge chair, wearing fresh clothes and the blood has been washed off his face though the damage is still evident.
“Really? Just relaxing onmybalcony. Shouldn’t you be at the hospital?”
He leans his head back and shuts his eyes. “Worst of it’s a few broken ribs. Nothing I can’t deal with.”
“Fantastic.” A broken rib is painful. I remember that part for sure. But I don’t want to discuss that. Instead, I drop into the other lounger, and we sit with a comfortable silence between us.
51
IVY
The drive to my old school feels so odd. But what feels even more off is the jersey I’m wearing. Everett’s. I’ve worn it plenty of times and even over my cheer uniform for some games. Tonight, I feel like it’s suffocating. I promised I’d show and wear it, though, so here I am, wanting to salvage whatever I can of our friendship. I think. Yes. I don’t want to lose Everett completely. We’ve been there for each other’s best moments and worst tragedies.
When I steer into the parking lot, I sit and watch the swarm of people dressed in Willowbrook’s shade of kelly green. Kendall and some other members of the squad are nearby. I feel the need to hide, but they won’t notice me. I’m in my new car. They’d be looking for my Corolla. If they even remember that much. I left their world, and nothing changed just as easily as my mother disappeared from my life and time carried on.
I don’t know how long I’ve sat in a daze, but the alert from my phone pulls me out of it.Obey if you dare. Meet at fairgrounds in front of the roller coaster now—Or beg for Mercy.
“Obey this, fucker.” I flip off the screen then toss my phone onto the passenger seat.
Fuck. I have to bail on Everett again. But I have to admit that a part of me is thankful for an excuse to not walk into the football game and try to exist in my former reality.
I drive there and find the parking lot empty before I head inside and wait. It’s about five minutes later when Brooke shows in her Belgrave cheer outfit, and she immediately zones in on my jersey. “Really, Ivy? They’re a rival team.”
“It’s Everett’s. I promised I’d be at the game.”
She points at her chest. “Yeah, I should be at a football game too and not the creepy carnival from hell.”
“Hell is here.” Remy jumps out from behind what looks like an old snack booth and grabs Brooke’s waist, making her yelp. He laughs before he spots my jersey. “What the fuck, Walker?”
“I don’t want to hear it.” I tuck my arms over my chest.
“You’d better not wear that shit when we play them next week. I’ll riot, and I know Luca will lose his shit as soon as he sees you wearing it.”
“It’s a stupid piece of fabric.”
Brooke says, “You know that’s not true. Wearing a guy’s jersey says y’all are together.”
“Exactly,” Remy shouts.
“Weren’t you wearing a Saints jersey last week? Didn’t know you were dating a player.”
“Yeah, baby. I’m their bitch,” he whoops.
Why did I think I could reason with Remy of all people?
“Yes. Unless y’all are playing the Cowboys. Then you’re our bitch,” Garrett laughs as they hitch into a whose-team-sucks-more argument.
When I look over, Luca’s glaring at me. Or more like the jersey I’m wearing. I do my best to ignore him until Decider appears minutes later. “Obey if you dare. Which is harder: giving up control or learning to obey? You’ll find out now. For the nexttwenty-four hours, the uninvited team member must submit to every command of the invitee.”
Micah laughs as Brooke asks, “Are you freaking kidding?”
Decider resumes, “At the twenty-four-hour mark, roles reverse. The ally takes over for the following day, and the invitee must obey. After forty-eight hours are up, roles return to normal. You’re equals again. But the damage will be done. Use your authority wisely.”
“This is going to be horrible,” Brooke grumbles.
