“This is heavy,” Phoenix sighed.
I yawned my response. I looked at the clock and blinked at the numbers. It was just past ten. It had been averylong day.
“You tired, Ives?” he asked gently.
“So tired.”
“Take my bed then. I can crash with Buzz. He’s got a bunk bed.”
“No, you don’t have to do that.”
Phoenix threw me one of his huge grins, diffusing some of the uneasy tension that had filled the room. “He’ll love it. He’s been begging for a sleepover all summer.”
“Thanks, Phoenix. I don’t know what I would have done tonight without you.”
“That’s what friends are for, Ninja. I’ll always be here when you need me.”
“Even after what I did to Ryder?”
He leaned forward until he was in my space and I could feel the heat from his body and feel the rumble of his words. “You’re my friend too, Ivy. I was as worried about you as I was him. But I’m glad you’re mostly all right. I’m glad you weren’t sent back to rehab.”
I swallowed through emotion I couldn’t stop. “It was never rehab, Phoenix. I never had an addiction of any kind.”
“Your crazy ass family again?”
I nodded and he pulled me into a tight hug. “I’m glad you left. No matter how hard it was for you, for me, for Ryder… I’m glad you got out and at least had a bit of peace. You deserve more. You deserve a lifetime of it.”
“Thank you.” Tears slipped from the corner of my eyes. I tried to wipe them away before he could see them, but I didn’t think I fooled him.
After a few more minutes, he pulled away and stood up. He walked to his door and then turned around to instruct, “Feel free to borrow clothes or whatever if you need them and there’s toothpaste in the bathroom. Help yourself to whatever you need.”
“Thank you again.”
“I’ll see you in the morning, Ivy. Sleep tight.”
He left me alone and I collapsed back against his pillow. I yanked my purse off my shoulder that I hadn’t even bothered to remove for the last several hours and nestled into the bed. I convinced myself I would lie there for just a few minutes until I gathered enough energy to deal with teeth and pajamas and whatever.
But that never happened.
A few minutes turned into me passing out just like I was.
I woke up sometime early in the morning. The sunlight streamed into the room and warmed my cool skin. I rubbed my tongue over my furry teeth and bemoaned my bad decision not to brush them the night before.
I opened my eyes, deciding to do just that before I snuck out of Phoenix’s house, and lost any ability to think or plan or brush.
Ryder stood over me with arms crossed and waiting.
I had the childish urge to pull the pillow over my head and pretend he wasn’t there. I didn’t though. I was so much more mature and closed my eyes and pretended to fall back asleep instead.
“Ivy,” he growled. “We need to talk.”
Chapter Six
With the most polite voice I could muster, I opened my eyes and said, “Ryder, what a surprise to see you. How did you know I was here?” My gaze swung to the door where Phoenix hovered uncertainly. I unleashed my worst glare on him.
Traitor.
He threw his hands up, “What did you want me to do, Ivy? You’re in trouble.”
