“Are you back for the summer?” Julian decides to lean on our table and I hate his cocky arrogance.
“Yep,” Daisy speaks bluntly. “I am. That’s why I’m here.”
Three of them are now standing around our table. Julian laughs loudly, and I cringe at the sound. “Ah, Daisy. Always playing hard to get.”
My eyebrows scrunch together at his words. Still an asshole, I see.
“Nope, not really,” Daisy says with a dismissive tone. “Just trying to enjoy some quality time with my best friend.”
They all turn to look at me, and Julian’s eyes widen, like I wasn’t even sitting here in the first place. “Oh shit.” Julian grins at me like a Cheshire cat. “Ivy, you’re back. Didn’t even notice you.”
I keep quiet because I have nothing to say to these assholes.
“Did you hear Ben should be getting out of prison soon?” Tom steps forward, crossing his arms over his chest. He’s staring me directly in the eye, and I want to shrink to the size of a pea.
I knew it was soon, but I didn’t know how soon.
Daisy’s gaze narrows on him, she’s ready to pounce and claw his eyes out for even bringing him up. We all know they were friends, but what he did to me is a thousand times worse than Tom hating me for having a friend of his put behind bars.
“Oh, fuck off, Tom.” Daisy snaps.
“What?” Tom exhales as if he doesn’t care that it’ll upset me. “She might not have known, and it’s probably a good idea for her to have a heads up. I mean, no one heard from you for years after, everyone thought you topped yourself or something.”
My nostrils flare. I don’t want to bite, but I can’t stop myself. “Leave us alone, Tom.”
“Agreed,” Daisy grumbles. “Leave before I put my fist down your throat.”
Julian blinks at Daisy’s loud voice, but then he grins back at her. “It’s cute when you get all feisty.”
Daisy’s expression turns to stone, she’s about to explode, but I don’t want to cause a scene.
“I always wondered how you managed to bag someone like Ben,” Tom says in a tone that tells me he’s trying to be as malicious as possible. “He might have been a bit crazy, but that chap was one good-looking motherfucker. He didn’t deserve to go to prison. All because you had to go and cheat on him, didn’t you?”
“I didn’t cheat on him.” I clench my fists. “It was a shitty rumour. I’d never cheat on anyone.”
Julian chuckles and folds his arms over his chest and takes a glance at Tom. “Oh, please, we have our sources.”
My eye twitches at his words because whoever these ‘sources’ are, they’re bullshit. I never cheated on Ben, and whoever made it up ruined my life.
“We know it’s true, Ivy. Why are you trying to deny it?” Tom scowls deeply at me. “It’s disgusting.”
Bile rises in my throat at the memories. I stand from the table, no longer able to sit around and listen to this shit. I stare Tom directly in the eye and tell myself to calm my breathing as I say, “Go fuck yourself. All of you.”
I push past the three of them, ignoring their petty laughter. Daisy soon follows, and I wrap my arms over my chest, wishing I could instantly be home in my bed.
“Hey.” Daisy runs after me and grabs my arm. “Are you okay?”
No.I want to scream. I’m about to have a fucking breakdown because no one will let me forget.
“I’m fine.” I steady my voice.
“Ivy.” She squeezes my arm gently. “Ignore them. They’re a bunch of bullies and always will be. Tom doesn’t know what he’s saying. He’s a grade A cunt. Please don’t listen to them.”
I push off her arm and ignore my trembling hands. “I said I’m fine.”
Daisy remains walking beside me as I head towards my house, she keeps close but silent.
“I’m gonna go home,” I mutter under my breath.
