Chapter 57 Ivy
IVY
It’s been four days, and I’ve made no progress. Everett won’t answer my calls. So, now I’m desperate and show up on his doorstep. After I knock, his mom opens the door with a bright smile and pulls me into a hug. “Ivy, I’m so happy to see you. It’s been too long.”
“Me too,” I reply honestly then ask, “Is Everett here?”
“No, he’s at the field. They’re practicing for the big game tomorrow. I hear the opposing team is your new school. He sure does miss having you around.”
Obviously, Everett hasn’t relayed any of the latest to his mom.
“Thanks, I’ll head to the field. I just need to ask him a few questions.”
“Sure.” She pulls me into another hug and squeezes tightly. “Don’t be a stranger.”
I’ve never felt more like one. “Yes ma’am.”
Once I’m in the car, I drive straight to Willowbrook High. This place used to be my second home. Now it’s as foreign as the expression Everett has pointed at me.
“Why are you here, Ivy?” He throws the ball and grabs another. “I have to concentrate We don’t all have endless options after moving to a preppy school.”
“The night of my mom’s accident, was my dad there? Was he at the scene? You said no one could reach him? Was it possible that he was nearby?”
Everett drops the football to the ground then pulls me to the sideline, “Ivy, I can’t do this right now.”
“Please. He knows what I said to her. How would he know that unless he was at the accident scene? Did you ever hear that? I didn’t even tell you, right?”
“No,” Everett replies. “You’re going to drive yourself crazy with questions if you read into every little thing.”
“That’s not a little thing, Everett. I just want to know the truth. Is that too much to ask?”
He glances out to the field. “Did your boyfriend not want to help you investigate?”
“Oh my God, this is not about him. And he’s not my boyfriend. I really need y’all to stop.”
“Even if you don’t think of me like that, I thought we were at least friends. But you’ve ditched me every chance you’ve gotten.”
“I promised I’d be at the game tomorrow, and I meant it.”
His head drops, his shoulders slump forward as he digs his cleats into the grass.
Once again, I try to be a good friend. But I get why he wouldn’t believe me. “I’ll be here. Promise.”
He smiles and bumps his knuckles against my chin. “I’m counting on you.”
I’m counting on Mercy not to have really bad timing again. “Let me know if you think of anything else. I just want to know what happened.”
Everett questions, “What if it’s too much? What if he did it?”
“I want to know.”
“Be careful what you wish for, Ivy. Some answers come at a high price.”
I agree. But I feel like I’ve paid the ultimate price—my mom. And the regret that I’ll never get to apologize to her for what I said. What else could that accident possibly cost me?