“Why did it take you so long to tell me?” His tone dips, and I swallow.
“Because I couldn’t find the right time to tell you.”
Finn scoffs. “The right time?” he exclaims, and I flinch when his voice echoes around the kitchen. “There was never going to be a right time.”
I blink once when his eyes focus on only me. “I’m not asking you for permission, Finn. I’m an adult. I can make my owndecisions. And after everything that happened with Ben, I really don’t think you have the right to try and destroy this too.”
His eyes waver for a moment, and guilt slashes through me.
“I said I was sorry, Ivy.”
“I know.”
Finn presses a hand to his temple. “You’ve been laughing at me this entire summer, haven’t you?”
“What?” I recoil from his accusation. “No. We’ve been trying to figure out how to tell you without damaging your health.”
His nostrils flare. “Oh, because you thought my alcohol problem would ruin everything, like I always fucking do.” I tilt my head back when he walks towards me. “But ask yourself this, Ivy. Why do you keep dating my friends?”
Another step, and JJ is there like a flash of lightning. He presses a hand to Finn’s shoulder and shoves him back lightly. “Step back, Finn. I fucking mean it.”
The tone of JJ’s voice sends a shudder down my spine.
Finn’s comment rips a gaping hole in my chest, and I try not to take it to heart because I know this isn’t the best news to hear when you’ve just got out of rehab.
Finn shakes his head, his face falling in shock, as if he can’t believe what he said. “I-I didn’t mean that, Ivy,” he exhales jaggedly. “I’m just?—”
“You’re upset,” I finish for him. “I get it.”
He nods solemnly and drags a hand down his face. “It’s hard to hear…again.”
“That’s not her problem,” JJ snaps.
Finn shoots him a glare. “Oh, and it’s my problem?”
“Yes.” JJ folds his arms over his chest. “You’re an adult, Finn. We’re all adults, and you’re acting like an immature child.”
“Sorry that I need time to digest this information.” Finn’s jaw ticks in frustration. “Unlike you guys. You’ve only just decided to tell me about it.”
“You don’t need to be rude to Ivy.” JJ’s voice is low and makes me shudder. “Who she dates isn’t any of your business, and blaming her?—”
Finn’s mouth falls open. “I wasn’t blaming her.”
“No? Because that’s what it sounded like, and I’m not going to stand for it.”
“You’re putting words in my mouth, JJ. That is not fair.”
“Do you know what else isn’t fair? Be?—”
JJ’s voice begins to fizzle out into a muffled sound. Finn starts shouting back. The kitchen explodes into endless bickering, but I can’t hear a single thing they’re saying.
My ears start to ring, and pressure builds in my eyes.
“Stop!” I say as loudly as I can. “Stop shouting at each other.”
My knees begin to quiver as their voices become quieter until the kitchen is silent and all I can hear is my heavy, uneven breathing.
“Ivy.” JJ’s voice echoes through my ears.
