“You need to stop,” Charlie said firmly. “Your life’s never going to get better until you quit using.”
“Your judgment of me is real rich, considering I ain’t the only one who’s sold myself to get what I needed,” Ivy sneered. “I’m not the only slut here.”
Charlie’s face was stricken, and for the first time, I was really pissed at Ivy.No oneshould bring up what happened back then. I went to say something, but my husband beat me to it.
“I did what I had to in order to get by,” Charlie shot back at him. “You sleeping around isn’t the problem. You’re going around hurting people without giving a shit if you do.”
“Andhehasn’t fucking brokenmyheart?” Ivy yelled, tossing a hand at Chancey.
“This is about more than us,” Chancey said, a note of disappointment in his tone. “You’re missing pills, aren’t you, Ava?”
I thought my heart went flatline all over again as I stared at Ivy. Tears welled in my eyes as I whispered, “You stole them.”
I saw the truth when I looked deeper. He was higher than a fucking kite. Even now.
Ivy fiddled with his hands. “I… I didn’tmeanto, Ava. I just needed a quick fix, you know? Something to take the edge off. I wouldn’t if I could’ve gotten a hit somewhere else. You believe me, don’t cha?”
A coldness ran through my veins. Oberi had known. That’s what he wanted to speak with Charlie about yesterday. Our Familiar just hadn’t found the words.
Charlie grabbed Ivy around the neck with both hands and slammed him against the wall. His fingers began tightening around Ivy’s throat. Ivy didn’t fight back, just went limp, as if he wanted Charlie to end it all.
“Charlie, stop!” Chancey yanked Charlie away. Charlie had enough sense to let go, and he stumbled back a few feet. I could feel through our bond it took all of Charlie’s self-control to hold himself back from attacking Ivy again. Oberi changed into a unicorn and planted herself in the way, acting as a barrier.
Chancey immediately moved to face Charlie, his hands already formed into fists.
“What Ives did was wrong, but don’t go there,” Chancey warned. “You don’t wanna fight me, Charlie. Not when I’m willing to fight back.”
I looked between the both of them, feeling completely lost. Chancey might’ve cheated on Ivy out of spite, but it was so fucking obvious how in love with Ivy he still was. He’d put himself on the line if it meant defending the person he cherished… even against his friends.
Charlie took a step forward, like he didn’t care. I grabbed his wrist. “Don’t,” I pleaded.
His arm trembled in my hold, but he remained at my side. Didn’t stop him from blowing up.
“What the fuck is wrong with you?” he spat at Ivy, completely livid. “Ava’s inpain.If you had gotten caught with her pills, she would’ve taken the fall for it. You know that. But you didn’t give a fuck, did you? All you cared about was yourself. We can’t trust you anymore, Ivy. You’re no friend of ours. You never have been. What you did is unforgivable.”
Ivy coughed and rubbed his throat. His gaze was weak as he rasped, “Ava…”
What could I say? There was nothing. I knew I should’ve felt betrayed and furious that Ivy had done this to me.
But I didn’t feel that way. All that was in me was sadness. And confusion about how it’d ended up this way.
“I need to rest,” I said finally. “Take me home, Charlie.”
At that moment, all I could think of was dissolving the situation. More words and threats wouldn’t do anything to fix this.
Charlie wheeled me off, hurrying in the direction of our cell. The movie we’d been planning to see didn’t even register in my mind. Chancey didn’t add anything, but I heard the sound of Ivy’s sobs echoing down the hall for what felt like miles.
As Oberi trotted after us, I asked quietly, "Did Chancey really do cocaine?"
Charlie paused for a moment. "He used to, before fights. It would get him amped up for the ring. But he doesn't anymore. He stopped after he met Ivy.”
“You didn’t do any drugs in fight club, did you?”
“Hell, no. You know better.”
I nodded solemnly. Those days were far behind Charlie, long before he met me.
Oberi squeezed through the door to our cell, then changed into a husky to rummage through our stash of Commissary snacks. He liked to eat when he was stressed.
