Ez and Opal shared a glance, before my brother got to his feet. “I’m probably gonna regret this, but… sure. Five minutes, Ava.”
“I’m not coming,” Opal said bluntly. “I can’t even look at Ivy right now. It’s horrible, but sometimes I think that if he overdosed again, and no one came to save him this time… at least it would be...”
She put a hand to her mouth to hold back the tears, and I knew. For as much as Opal loved Ivy— and it was a lot— she wanted this to be over.
Ez laid a hand on her shoulder, and I straightened. “I won’t let that happen. Come on, Ez, let’s go.”
It didn’t take long to get down to The Devil’s Playground. I saw Ivy sitting on the floor at the base of the bar. He had wine in a plastic cup, and his hand shook as he lifted it to his lips, the red spilling over onto his fingers. He looked like absolute shit.
Ez didn’t leave, just stood at a distance with Tahoma. He wouldn’t let me be alone with Ivy, not even for this.
Couldn’t say I blamed him. I rolled closer to Ivy and whispered, “I know it takes a lot to make you cry.”
Ivy’s lips slightly lifted. It was the same thing he’d said to me when he’d found me sobbing over Charlie last semester. No matter how fucked up on drugs and alcohol he was right now, he remembered that much. “It hasn’t been the best day.”
“How do we make it better?” I asked. I reached out so he could grasp my hand, but he didn’t take it.
“You need to leave me alone. I’m no good for you.”
I coiled my hand back into my lap. "How are you and Chancey?"
"We're on a break." Ivy's voice cracked.
My insides became hollow. “Oh, Ivy. I’m sorry.”
Ivy sniffed. "He doesn't wanna be with an addict like me. I don't blame him."
“He’ll give you another chance. You can beat this. I know you can.”
“You can’t forgive me for this. I stolepillsfrom you.”
“So stop.”
“Not that simple.”
“I know you’ve tried this so many times before, but try one more time,” I said. “Go back to rehab. Get treatment. I’m not giving up on you.”
Ivy looked away. “I’ll think about it.”
My throat got tight, but I swallowed the knot that was forming. “Okay.”
It was pretty clear the conversation was done. Ez moved to wheel me away, and I did my best not to feel like shit for leaving Ivy in his drunken stupor. I’d done all I could. There wasn’t anything more I could offer.
Charlie and Oberi were waiting for me outside the dining hall. My husband didnotlook happy. Ez left me by Charlie’s side without a goodbye, more than pleased to get out of there as soon as he could.
Charlie scowled. “You sneaking off isnotcute.”
“I’m sorry. I had to.”
“I don’t want you around Ivy anymore.”
I looked down. “Probably best to stay away.”
Charlie gave an aggravated sigh, but he didn’t berate me further. “We need to get some breakfast. Kallie wants to meet us in the fae illusion room as soon as we can get there.”
I nodded, doing my best to put the whole situation out of my mind. I couldn’t think about Ivy right now. He’d made his choices. I had to do what I could to make the decisions that were best for me.
I’d never been to the fae illusion room on campus. Naturally, it had to be on the highest fucking floor of the prison. Oberi carried me up the steps as a unicorn, while Charlie dragged my chair behind.
