Page 17
“When were you going to tell me you are dating Julian Henshaw, Ivy?”
“Uh,” Ivy stutters, choking on a bite of toast. “Where did you hear that?”
“His mother.”
Ivy’s face falls and I wish there was something I could do to help her. It makes sense she would hide this from Mother since the woman is probably already drawing up wedding plans and divorce papers for Vi. Her eyes widen and she nods. “Uh, yes.”
“Wonderful,” Mother exclaims, beaming at Ivy, and I roll my eyes. She doesn’t even know the man. But, as usual, all she cares about is his bank account and his name. “How long have the two of you been seeing each other?”
“Four months.”
“Excellent. And things are going well?” she asks, her gaze locked on Ivy, and I swear, she could be an interrogator with the FBI.
Ivy nods. “Yes, they’re going very well.”
Mother laughs, clapping her hands together, and as I watch her, I wonder what happened to her to make her this way. What was it that turned her into this person? Because I have a hard time believing she was born obsessed with wealth.
“Are we thinking wedding bells?”
Ivy groans, tossing her fork down on the table. “Jesus, Mother. I don’t know. We’ve only been together for a short time and we just moved in together.”
A look of horror washes over Mother’s face. “You moved in with him?”
“Yes.”
“How many times have I told you girls to get a ring on your finger before you move in with a man?” she hisses, pressing her fingers into her forehead like our mere presence is giving her a migraine. Hopefully, it is so she’ll kick us out.
“Mother, we haven’t been together that long.”
“Ivy,” she sighs, shaking her head. “You don’t let a man like that get away. Whatever you have to do to lock it down, do it.”
“No, I will not force him into something. We love each other and if we decide to get married, we will.”
I give Ivy a little nod of support and Mother scoffs.
“Love? Love has nothing to do with it. The Henshaws are a very influential family and Julian makes a good match for you, Ivy.” She turns her attention to me. “And what about you, Carly? Any men in your life?”
“You mean besides the orgy I had last night?” I ask, my patience gone, and Ivy chokes on her juice as Mother’s eyes bug out of her head.
“Carly Rae Mills,” she gasps, clutching her pearls as she looks at me in horror. This is totally worth the verbal beating she’s about to give me. “How dare you speak like that in my house?”
I bite my lip to stop myself from pointing out her “house” was paid for by all her ex-husbands.
“No acceptable man will ever want you if you keep up this behavior,” she hisses and I roll my eyes.
“Oh, fuck. I didn’t realize,” I quip, my tone dry. “What ever will I do?”
She stands from the table glaring at me. “Where did I go wrong with you?”
Without waiting for my reply, she stomps off.
“Probably spent too much time with me and didn’t buy me enough shit!” I yell at her back as she storms inside and Ivy giggles next to me.
“Oh my god, you will pay for that.”
I sigh. “I know.”
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