Ava couldn’t see the reality of the situation. What Ivy had done was unforgivable. I had no interest in helping them after what they’d done to her.
Ava started rambling, talking so quickly it was hard to keep up. She really was on one of her high days. I really hoped she didn’t crash later this week, because since she’d gotten in that wheelchair, her lows had been worse than ever. I’d been having trouble getting her out of them.
“I’m actually sure he’ll be fine,” Ava continued on without missing a beat. “You know, Monica and I had a fight once, and we didn’t talk for months, but we worked it out, and everything got better, just like I knew it would. Ivy’s just going through a hard time right now, like all of us.”
She kept talking, but I didn’t hear her. When Ava drew a parallel between Monica and Ivy, it was striking. I realized Ava was trying so hard to save Ivy because she was trying to make up for not being able to save Monica. Ivy was the troubled friend she was going to rescue this time around. It didn’t matter that Ivy had betrayed her, because in Ava’s eyes, they could still be saved.
And I admired that so much… but I feared she’d get hurt in the process.
“I want to believe you about Ivy getting better, but until they’re recovered, I don’t want you around them,” I said. I didn’t want to be the guy who told my wife what to do, but Ivy wasn’t safe. It was my job to protect her.
“How can I help if IabandonIvy?” Ava replied.
“You’re not abandoning Ivy by taking care of yourself. I’m not trying to control you. That’s the last thing I want. But Ivy hurt you, and that’s a hard line for me. This isnota good situation, and I’m not letting you get in the middle of it. If Ivy starts treatment, then we revisit this. But until then, I need to know you’re safe.”
I hated this, but I wasn’t going to budge on it. Ivy had stolen pills from Ava, and she couldn’t be in a situation where she was vulnerable like that again… especially not from someone she considered a “friend.”
“All right.” Ava sounded defeated, but she let it drop. I think she understood more than she was willing to admit. “Hand me those weights, would you?”
Ava seemed to like working out, which was great for us, because it gave us athingto do together. More couple time was always a plus.
Ava told stories about dance class back in Kinpago while she lifted weights, and I stretched out her legs. She didn’t talk about home much. I wondered if she was trying to distract herself, too.
Ava went our separate ways for our majors. I told Oberi to stay with Ava, and I counted my steps as I made my way to Advanced Criminal Justice. I took my seat, and someone plopped into the seat next to me, tossing a bag onto the desk.
“Lucky you. I’m early enough to snag a seat by the man of the hour.”
I furrowed my brow. “Chancey?”
“Of course. Who else smells this good?” He waved his hand through the air, fanning his scent toward me.
Ancestors, he must’ve put on a whole body of body spray this morning. It was gross. I started coughing. That shit was illegal at the prison.
“Where’d yougetthat stuff—?” I cut off, because I realized the answer before I finished. “You made a bet to get your hands on it, didn’t you?”
“I won it in a card game. So sue me,” Chancey said nonchalantly.
“Gambling’s what got you in here in the first place,” I hissed. “You said you stopped when you and Ivy got together.”
“I did,” Chancey replied. “That doesn’t mean I can’t start up again.”
“You know it’s not good for you. If you don’t stop now, you’re going to take it too far.”
“Relax,” Chancey said. “I know how to control myself. I don’t have a reason to stop anymore.”
Chancey was a filthy liar. If he could control his gambling, he wouldn’t be at the Institute, and he wouldn’t have ended up taking bets for fight club.
I hoped his addiction didn’t send him back there. It’d been hell getting him out.
“I didn’t put my ass on the line with Captain to get you out of fight club so you could blow what little progress you’ve made on cards,” I growled.
“It’s not a big deal,” Chancey insisted. “I’m only taking good bets so I have something to show for when I get out of this place.”
“What are you talking about?”
“You really inspired me, you know that, Charlie? You want to be a bounty hunter. At first, I figured it was kind of stupid, because I didn’t think you’d ever have a chance of being one, what with your record and all.”
“Thanks for that.”
