Wes snorts. “What else is new?”
Overwhelmed, I excuse myself to use the restroom. I’ve had one of Malorie’s piña coladas, but I barely feel it, and I debate switching to something harder as I wash my hands, telling my reflection that this is a safe environment. I’m with Wes. Everyone’s cool here.
I take a deep breath and head back out, bumping into two of the new arrivals in the hallway as they explore the house for the first time.
“Hey, I’m Cory,” says the guy, extending his hand. I shake it and then move on to the girl’s beside him. “This is my girlfriend, Jamie.”
“Great to meet you,” she says.
“You, too,” I say, wanting to make a somewhat decent impression. “I’m Ivy.”
“Wes’s girl! Doubly great to meet you then,” says Cory. “We go way back, him and I.”
I nod. “Yeah, he mentioned that. Do you guys, um, like the house?”
“Oh my god, it’sincredible,” Jamie gushes. “I want to permanently move in.”
I smile at her. “I know, right?”
We talk a while longer about the rental, and then they excuse themselves to go claim their bedroom. Now that I’ve met nearly everyone on the trip, I relax a bit more and step back into the kitchen in search of Wes.
“Hey, Ivy!” calls Ben. “Come over here. Have you met Ace? Doc’s friend from back home?”
I look up at the man beside Ben.
And freeze.
I replay his words in my head because I understand them, but I don’tunderstandthem.
Have you met Ace? Doc’s friend from back home?
But that’s not—that’s not—that’s?—
Mason Bryce.
TWENTY-NINE
Something inside me cracks,a sharp, quick snap that tunnels my vision until it’s black. It comes back into focus with bright, white spots as I try to keep my knees from buckling.
Wes steps into the circle holding two beers, passing one tohimwith a smile, and my entire world collapses. My eyes dart between the two in rapid movements. I can’t help it. I’m searching for an explanation like it might be written across their skin, but there are no glaring truths I missed by being oblivious. At least, none that I can see on the outside. The inside...well, that’s a different story.
Hesmiles at me. “I know Ivy.”
“You do?” Wes asks his friend, his brow knitting in confusion, and I float above my own body.
“Oh yeah. We’ve met.”
I flinch.
We haven’t,I want to say.I don’t know him.
But that will lead to more questions. More comments. More truths.
Hekeeps smiling, but it turns more wolfish by the second, and I shrink into myself. Wes looks between us, perplexed, but I can’t worry about that becausehiseyes on my body have my skinrolling and rippling, and I wish I could rip it off like an itchy wool sweater.
How can they be friends?
I scratch at my arms.
