“Yeah,” I blurt.
“I see,” Finn responds. “You guys have been getting close, huh?”
“We live in the same house.” I shrug. “She’s been a good… friend.”
The word friend doesn’t settle well with me, but it’s better to lie than open this can of worms the night his parents get home. I’d rather not sport a black eye today.
I grab some more drinks and clear my throat. “Let’s go in,” I say, avoiding his eyes.
“You sure?”
“Positive.”
“Alright.” He sighs as he takes a can from my hand.
When I settle back at the counter, Andrea and James don’t make a scene when I stroll back in. Ivy, on the other hand, her eyes might as well be lasers tracking me.
I finish a few more slices of pizza and listen to James tell more crazy stories.
A part of me can’t believe these two are alive with their risky adventures. They really love to live life on the edge, doing whatever the hell they please. I’m glad they can do something that gives them a thrill. What is life if you’re not living?
At one point, Finn helps his parents take their luggage upstairs. I pack the pizza boxes away and empty beer bottles. Ivy keeps her eyes on me as we clean the rest of the kitchen.
“Hey,” she says as she steps beside me.
“Hey.”
“I kind of feel like you’ve been avoiding me.”
“I’m giving you space to decide what you want. Especially after what I said the other night, I meant it. I’m not going to rush you.”
“And I heard you loud and clear,” she says under a hushed breath in case they can hear us from upstairs. “I’m still processing things, JJ. This isn’t as simple as you expect it to be.”
When my eyebrows rise, she leans back and places a hand on her hip. Half of her blonde hair is thrown up with a blue clip, with loose strands framing her face. She looks so effortlessly pretty like this. Prominent cheekbones. Darkened freckles from the sun. Softened eyes.
But that is not what I should be focusing on right now.
“What do you want me to say?” she asks desperately, her voice cracking.
She looks so tiny right now as she hugs her arms to her chest. Emotion runs through her eyes. I’ve never seen her look so vulnerable and raw.
“I want you to claim back your life, Ivy.”
She flashes me a confused look. “What does that even mean?”
“You need to stop worrying about everyone else and think about yourself.”
Ivy’s lips tremble, and she blinks slowly. Her breaths become shallower as she takes in my words. “I am thinking about myself.”
“No, you’re not. You’re worried about Finn and everything else. What do you really want?”
Her mouth parts, and she blows out a little breath
“I want to move on,” she whispers. “And I want… to spend more time with you.”
The words give me a fraction of relief, but I can still hear the reservation in her tone. She’s not ready to let go yet, and it’s written all over her expression.
“But it’s not just about that…” She pauses. “It’s about me and my body.”
