“Oh, the nasty cheerleader who got mad that I dared to approach her side of the field. Glad you dropped her at home.” Brooke holds up her hand to high-five Everett. He leaves her hanging, so she claps her hands together and walks away.
“That’s not the case. Kendall is welcome to come to any of the Belgrave parties. You two looked so cute together.”
“Goddamnit, Ivy. I did it to make you jealous.” He pulls me to him.
It sobers me up a bit but not nearly enough, it takes a few seconds for my inebriated brain to catch up with his sudden hostility. “Why would I be jealous? I was excited for you. You should be with someone who makes you happy.”
“I should be with you. And I wanted you to want me back. To realize how you truly feel. That I’m still here waiting and fighting for us. ThatI’mthe one who will make you happy.”
“Stop.”
I push him back, but he keeps me locked against him as he seethes, “He’s changed you, and you don’t even know it. I can’t believe you’re stupid enough to fall for his act all because he has a shiny car and fancy house. You used to care about more than the size of someone’s pockets.”
“Still want to defend your BFF and insist that you only have a platonic friendship?” Luca asks as he appears beside us.
Fuck. I can’t referee right now.
“Get the fuck out of the conversation,” Everett shouts as his fingers dig into my side and he shifts me away from Luca.
“You have about three seconds to get your hands off her before I remove them. And consider yourself lucky, because I’m only allowing you that time for her sake.” His composure is alarming. It’s the calm before the storm.
“For her sake?” Everett laughs. “Like you own her. Or know her.”
When Everett gets out the last word, Luca says, “Three,” then grabs his hand, removing it from my side. Everett tries to get free, but Luca twists his arm, causing his elbow to bend in an unnatural way the more he struggles.
“Let him go.” I wish they both were out of my sight because they’ve put a damper on my buzz. “You’re going to break his hand.”
“He had a chance to do the right thing.”
I can’t with his logic. “The right thing? Like what you’re doing now? Or every time you didn’t listen when I said to get away from me. You’re a fucking idiot, Luca.”
Luca keeps Everett constrained for a minute while Everett curses and hollers, then Luca shoves him away and evenly states, “It’s not broken. But next time I won’t give a warning.”
Everett rubs his hand as he takes several steps back. “Oh, Mr. Badass, huh? The same one who sent in his buddy for a dirty shot on the field.”
Yes. Everett put together that stunt too. Luca pulls everyone’s strings and doesn’t hide the fact.
“Go away,” I instruct Luca, but he doesn’t. Why would he listen to me?
Everett pleads, “Leave with me, Ivy. We can go somewhere to have an uninterrupted discussion for once.”
Luca laughs. “How many times do you plan to be humiliated, dude?”
Brooke puts her hands up to form a T. “Time-out. Luca, that’s enough. We’re here to have fun, not fight.”
He doesn’t know any other way. It’s his way or nothing.
“Last chance, Ivy. Are you coming or not?” Everett asks as he walks out of the party. I’m sure he expects me to follow him. But I don’t. Instead, I choose to enjoy the party while ignoring Luca. But there’s something I can’t ignore now. A message. And it’s from Mercy.
“Fuck,” Brooke wails. “It’s like they know we’re having a good time and insist on ruining it. Where’s Micah? He’d better not be plastered again.”
“We should all sober up.” I head into the kitchen. Coffee won’t help, but it gives me a minute to stall because I’m already dreading what’s next.
60
LUCA
Trust if you dare. Be on the roof of the hospital before the hour is up—Or beg for Mercy.
