She's quiet for a long moment. Hope flickers in my chest. Maybe she’ll understand and let me back into her life. But when she turns her gaze to me, her eyes are cold.
"You don't know what love is, Declan. Love requires honesty. Trust. Respect. You gave me none of those things. You watched me fall for King while pursuing me as yourself. You let me tear myself apart choosing between two men who were the same person."
The hope extinguishes, deflating like a popped balloon.
"I never wanted that to happen."
"You never wanted to lose control. That's what this was about. You couldn't handle that I might reject Declan, so you became King. You played both sides so you'd win no matter what I chose. But the only thing you won was proving that all you know how to do is lie to me, to yourself, and to everyone."
She moves toward the door, her back straight, shoulders squared.
"Ivy—"
"You're cleared for play. Try not to take any more stupid hits."
She walks out, the door closing behind her with a click.
I sit on the examination table in the empty room, the antiseptic smell burning my nostrils.
My phone is in my hand, but there's no one to call. No words that will fix this.
I've lost Ivy.
And this time, I don't think there's any coming back.
25
IVY
Are You Kidding Me?
Declan is waiting outside Sloane's building when I arrive.
My body recognizes him before my brain does. My heart stutters, then races. Heat floods my chest. A traitorous pull low in my belly makes me hate myself.
Then I remember the current rumors about him and Evangeline, and ice freezes over my heart.
He leans against the brick wall, hands shoved deep in his jacket pockets, dark hair falling across his forehead. I turn off the ignition, come down from the car, lock the door and glance at him. Exhaustion is etched into his face. The stubble on his chin has grown past its usual careful scruff. His broad shoulders curve inward.
He looks like hell.
Good.
I consider driving back to campus and spending the night in Dr. O'Connell's lab if I have to. Anything to avoid this.
But my feet keep moving forward.
He straightens, those piercing green eyes locking onto mine with an intensity that makes my breath catch.
"Ivy." My name sounds broken coming from his mouth. "Can I talk to you?"
I don't respond. I walk past him toward the building entrance, keys already in my hand.
He moves to block my path. "Please, give me fifteen minutes. That's all I'm asking."
We’re inches apart, and I can smell his cologne, see the shadow under his eyes and the tension in his jaw. That’s when my body remembers everything.
I go around him and keep walking as he says things I refuse to listen to. I’m at the front door to Sloane’s apartment when his hand catch my wrist.
