"And I said we're doing the assessment." His tone brooks no argument as he steps out.
The door opens several minutes later and Ivy walks in.
My breath catches.
She's wearing dark jeans that fit her curves and a fitted burgundy sweater that shows off her figure in a way her old oversized cardigans never did. Her straight black hair is down, falling past her shoulders. She looks different. Stronger somehow.
And completely closed off to me.
"Dr. Logan asked me to do your assessment." Her voice is professional, detached. "I'm only here because he insisted."
"Ivy…"
"Look at my finger," she says, holding up her index finger and moving it slowly from the left to the right.
I follow it, my throat tight.
"Do you know where you are?"
"The Raptors facility."
"What day is it?"
"Twenty-eight."
"Do you remember what happened?"
"I hit the boards with Marcus."
She makes notes without looking at me. "Any nausea?"
"No."
"Dizziness?"
"No."
"Headache?"
"Yes."
She pulls out a penlight and steps closer. Close enough that I catch the faint scent of her perfume that activates memories of both of us together.
I want to reach out and touch her. To pull her into my arms. I want to bury my face in her hair and beg her to forgive me.
Instead, I sit still while she shines the light in my eyes, her expression clinical and distant.
She steps back. "Your pupils are reactive, and you have no signs of concussion. You're cleared."
"Ivy, please, let me explain about Gregory. He manipulated everything; the video and the ethics complaint."
"It doesn't matter anymore." Her voice is flat.
"It matters. He stole my phones so I couldn't contact you. He destroyed your research to control me…"
"And why are you telling me this?" she asks, finally looks at me. The emptiness in her eyes guts me. "So I'll feel sorry for you or understand why you lied to me for weeks?"
"No. I'm telling you because I love you, Ivy." The words come out raw, desperate. "I've loved you through every text as King, every kiss, every moment we had. I know I screwed up and hurt you, but what I feel is real."
