He shrugs it off and turns the steering wheel gently. “No need to thank me. Party was lame anyway, I enjoy your company far more.”
We stay silent for a few moments, and it really doesn’t take long to reach my house, but Isaac drives at the speed of a snail, which puts me at ease. When he pulls up outside, I take off my seatbelt.
“Thanks again,” I say softly.
He shakes his head and raises his eyebrows. “Please, stop thanking me.”
I stare at him for a few moments before I lean over and wrap my arms around his neck. Hugging in a car is always awkward, but we somehow make it work. He laughs gently into my ear. “The seatbelt is strangling me,” he comments.
After a second, I pull away, and he stretches the fabric away from his neck. “I’ll see you soon?”
He hums in my direction. “Most definitely.”
“Bye.” I step out of the car and give him a little wave.
“Bye, Ivy.”
And with that, I walk straight up to my front door and towards my bed, where I vow to sleep until lunchtime tomorrow.
CHAPTER 21
JJ WOODFORD
Watching Ivy walk away feels like the most painful form of torture; the look of hurt and vulnerability that crossed her face circulates in my brain on repeat. I should have said something, I shouldn’t have let her walk away.
I turn back to Daisy, who is now latching onto me, stumbling about in her drunken state. Her cup sloshes everywhere, the liquid pouring onto the golden sand. I remove her hand, and her blue eyes flash with confusion.
“Why did you say that? I know you’re drunk, but that was totally uncalled for.” I try to keep my voice as quiet as possible because I know Finn is lurking somewhere, and I don’t need this broadcast to the entire party.
Daisy scowls. “You’re the one who said it. Not me.”
My stare hardens. “I said it to you in confidence. I didn’t even?—”
“Didn’t even what?” Daisy stops swaying as her eyes partially roll into the back of her head.
I bite my tongue. There is no point in this. She’s wasted, and I don’t need her causing a scene, not when I know that Ivy is upset because of whatIsaid.
“Forget it,” I grumble before turning away from her.
I search for Ivy amongst the crowd of people, and dart from the drinks table to the logs. Then I glance up at the road and find Ivy’s blonde hair flapping in the wind, her back to me. My jaw tenses when I spot Isaac in front of her, his facial expression is soft.
He raises his hands to her face and rubs his thumbs against her cheeks.
Shit.
I stop walking, my feet sinking further into the sand. From this distance, I can’t see what Isaac is saying, but he’s smiling at her, continuing to wipe her face. After a few moments, he beckons with his head towards the road, and she walks with him to his car. It seems like she’s apprehensive at first, but she joins him after a few moments.
My fists clench beside me. Fuck, fuck, fuck. What have I done?
The only reason I told Daisy that Ivy wasn’t my type was because I didn’t want her getting suspicious. I didn’t want her to know I still think about our night together. I said it because I thought it might defuse the situation, not make it worse.
I watch a car leave the beach and head in the direction of Ivy’s house.
I slip away from the party without anyone noticing, knowing it only takes me ten minutes to walk. When I reach the front door, there aren’t any unknown cars outside, and I pray that Ivy didn’t go home with him. Ineedto talk to her.
Drawing my keys from my pocket, I slip them into the lock. When I step inside, I don’t see her in the kitchen or the living room.
There is a slight scuffle upstairs, feet pattering on the hallway floor. “Finn?” Ivy calls out, and I shut the door behind me.
