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Ivy’s laugh sounded strained to her ears. “How does he know that?”
“Good question. I figured the two of you had an encounter.”
“Karn’s worse than you. I caught him breaking into the office. That was why he was in the holding cell. I had him arrested.”
Marcus laughed. “I knew he was lying. He reckoned you were into each other, and he knew you better than me. That’s not possible. I’ve known you for years.”
“Karn said those things to wind you up. From the state of your nose, it looks like it worked.” Although Ivy dismissed Marcus’s comments about Karn’s interest in her, she was intrigued. Why would Karn say all of that if it wasn’t true?
“It was weird. He did seem to know you. He was protective. He hated the idea I’d come here to be with you. He acted jealous.”
“I hope you set him straight. There’s no way we’re getting back together.”
“We’ll find a way to work around our problems.” Marcus gestured to the champagne. “Why don’t we have a toast?”
“I’m not interested.”
“I got your favorite champagne. Surely, you can give me the time to have a little drink.”
“I’m not feeling great.”
“The bubbles will settle your stomach.” Marcus opened the champagne. “Even if you’re rejecting me, we can toast our old friendship and the good times we had together.”
“Before you went and messed everything up.”
Marcus turned away. “I’m the idiot. You can blame it all on me.”
“Fine. One drink, then you leave.” Ivy grabbed two glasses from the kitchen and returned to the living room. “I do blame you for spoiling things. There’s no excuse for cheating with my best friend.”
“Do you two stay in touch?” Marcus poured the champagne.
“As if I’d waste time talking to that snake.” Bethany had been Ivy’s best friend since school. They’d done everything together, from shaving their legs for the first time to dying their hair. They’d even lost their virginity in the same week to different guys. They’d been closer than sisters. Well, Ivy had thought they’d been.
“I hear she’s married.” Marcus handed Ivy a glass. “She’s got a kid on the way.”
“I pity the guy who got lumbered with her.”
“I saw her not so long ago. She’s different. She got fat.”
“She is pregnant, idiot.”
“No, not just baby fat. She’s blown up like a hippo. She said she was eating for two, but it looked more like a dozen to me.”
Ivy didn’t hate that thought. Bethany had always been the skinnier of the two. The thought of her waddling around with swollen ankles as she stuffed down packets of cookies gave Ivy a tiny thrill of delight.
“I’d like to make a toast,” Marcus said. “To new beginnings.”
“New beginnings,” Ivy said. “My new beginning won’t be with you.”
Marcus frowned. “Don’t say that. We’d have so much fun together. Give me one more chance. I won’t let you down.”
She shook her head. “You’ve had your chances. I’ve moved on. I’m happy here.”
Marcus looked around the living room. “Are you? Does all this stuff make you happy? Don’t you ever get lonely?”
“What makes you think I’m lonely?”
“This is what you used to do. When we’d had an argument, or you thought I’d done something wrong, you’d storm out and buy yourself something. From the look of this place, you’ve been buying a lot of stuff and blowing through your income. Face it. You’re not happy. You’ve been missing me.”
