“Want me to come?”
“No.” I shake my head as my heart clenches in my chest. “I want to be alone.”
Daisy’s eyes shift into a look of concern. “Ivy, I don’t thi?—”
“I said I want to be alone,” I snap unintentionally.
“Okay.” She frowns, looking uncertain. “I’ll text you, yeah?”
I say nothing, but nod. Daisy stops walking, and I head towards my house as quickly as I can before the tears of agony start to fall.
CHAPTER 18
JJ WOODFORD
I’m home alone because Finn has work and I don’t feel like going out today.
Callan and Joel said they’re hitting the beach, but I’m enjoying my own company right now. As much as I like Finn’s friends, I like having alone time too.
So settling for a new Viking series and the sofa is music to my ears right now.
A small thump against the door has me snapping my attention away from the TV. At first, I think it must have been a gust of wind because it wasn’t heavy enough to be a knock.
I frown when I hear the noise again, as if someone’s trying to pick the lock and break in.
I jump up from the sofa and inch closer. Then I hear keys drop altogether. My fingers press to the door handle, and I swing it open to find Ivy bent down, her fingers lingering over her keys as they rest on the floor.
“Ivy?”
A sound falls from her lips, somewhere between a sob and a shuddering breath.
I bend down to the floor instantly, but I can’t see her face, it’s clouded by her blonde hair. “Ivy,” I lean over to grab her hand that is now touching her keys.
She’s trembling like a leaf.
“What’s happened?” I demand carefully.
I give her a once-over as best as I can in her crouching position, but I can’t see any signs of injury. Her breathing becomes harsh, and I grab her keys with my empty hand and pull her up onto her feet and into the house.
Her legs barely work as she stumbles inside, flashing me her face for the first time. Tears are streaming down her cheeks endlessly and she sucks in a big breath, her chest going crazy as I shut the door behind her.
“Take a big breath,” I say gently, gripping her shoulder. Ivy’s eyes shut, and she chokes out a cry, then fails to take a breath, resulting in hyperventilation. “A big breath, in then out.”
She’s not listening. She’s full-on sobbing.
My heart wrenches in my chest. What the fuck happened since this morning?
“Princess,” I whisper, and clutch her cheek. “Listen to me.”
But Ivy shakes her head, hands still vibrating. I tell myself to keep calm, to not let this situation escalate by panicking.
“Listen to my voice.”
She raises those terrified, glossy eyes up to mine, full of tears and pain. My lips part at the strain on her face; whatever happened, she’s losing control. She pants quickly, breathing still erratic and uneven.
“Ivy, please,” I tilt her chin to force those green eyes to mine. “Focus on my breathing, copy what I’m doing.”
Ivy’s lips begin to tremble, and I inhale deeply through my nose for four counts, then I exhale through my mouth for four. Her eyes sweep over my face as I drop my hand from her cheek and grip her cold fingers instead.
