Chapter 59 Ivy
IVY
“Oh my God, Ivy. I’m so happy to see you. Where have you been?” Kendall asks, hugging me as she gleefully adds, “You can totally join in. I’m sure you remember all the routines.”
I do. “No, I’m just a spectator tonight. I promised Everett I’d be here to watch him play.”
“Oh, he didn’t mention you were coming,” Kendall says as she looks to Sophia who shrugs her shoulders. “Well, if you change your mind just jump in. It’ll be like old times.”
Pass. I shouldn’t be here.
“What is she doing over here?” Sophia asks.
But I realize she’s pointing behind me as I spot Brooke approaching. “I need to talk to you.”
“She’s with us tonight.” Kendall points at the jersey. “Go back to the visitor’s side.”
Brooke rolls her eyes as she hooks her arm on my elbow. “It’s really not that serious.”
Did I act like this too? Probably.
I take the opportunity to walk away with Brooke and tell my former squad, “I’ll see y’all later,” though I have no desire of doing so.
Brooke gives them a scowl, and I almost expect her to stick her tongue out, but she doesn’t. She aims her animosity to me. “Why are you wearing that? Do you want to send him on a major rampage?”
“Believe it or not, this isn’t about him.” I wave over my chest. “I’m sure it’s hard for him to comprehend, but I figured you could.”
Her head tilts to the side as she glances across the field. “I get it. However, you know their brains are the size of mustard seeds.”
“Which still isn’t my problem. I’ve bailed on Everett every week, and I just want to pretend that I’m a good friend and cheer along for a few minutes.”
“Does it have to be with the enemy?” Brooke asks before she grumbles, “Fine. As long as you hang out with me afterwards, then I’ll drop it.”
“Sure,” I agree.
“No bailing on me either. You have to show up. There’s going to be a party at Hannah’s after the game.”
Great. Because I so want to party right now, though the drinking part is appealing. “I’ll see you there.”
She pulls me into a hug. “Don’t get too comfortable over there. You belong with us.”
I don’t feel like I fit in either world.
When I spot Everett jogging over, I head towards him.
He stops nearby barely paying attention to me as Kendall runs up to him.
She jumps as he catches her, her legs hooking around him as they kiss.
Okay. That’s new. When I tried to get them together, he said he wasn’t interested. Guess we all have our denial stages.
Once he puts her down, he seems like he just noticed me standing here. “Ivy, glad you could finally make it.”
“Me too.” I smile and tell him, “Good luck.”
“Thanks,” he says, his attention back on Kendall as she leans against him.
I feel like I’m intruding so I say, “I’m going to find a seat.” They’re chatting before I turn and head to the bleachers. The place is already starting to fill up, so I head to the top row and sit on the end. It feels odd being over here and viewing Belgrave on the other side.
Thankfully, kickoff arrives, and the game is underway. I clap when I should and don’t when I shouldn’t. Willowbrook has the ball when the score is tied at fourteen with only two minutes left in the third quarter.
The guys are in their formation as the ball is hiked to Everett.
He’s searching for a receiver when Remy comes out of nowhere and drives his helmet into Everett’s knee.
There’s a collective gasp as Everett goes to the ground.
The whistle blows and a flag is thrown on the play.
Remy is throwing his hands in the air as the penalty is called against him.
Belgrave’s coach is shouting in Remy’s face as he forces him off the field.
He’s still ranting on the sideline as Everett limps off the field.
Neither Remy nor Everett return for the remainder of the game. The final result ends up being Belgrave winning by a touchdown.
I hang back after the stadium clears and wait near the locker room exit. One of his teammates exits so I ask him, “Is Everett still here? I haven’t seen him pass by yet.”
“He left earlier. Said he was heading to grab something to eat with Kendall if you want to call them.”
“Thanks.” It makes me feel so much better to hear Everett is okay. He hardly noticed I was here. But at least I showed. I take off and head to Hannah’s party.
When I get to my car, I grab out my phone.
Ivy: Missed you after the game. We’ll catch up another time, but I wanted to tell you that you played great! Hope your knee is okay.
I make the drive to Hannah’s and not long after I get inside the house, I hear Remy’s grating voice. “Picked the losing team, Ivy.”
Ignoring him, I grab a drink and head to the backyard.
The pool is full of people, and I finally spot Brooke over by the firepit.
I don’t get a sip down before Cain starts booing me.
I just flip him off. He laughs and pats my head as he says, “I’m just teasing.
” And I think he truly is. Remy on the other hand, not so much, as he makes a few more rude remarks.
But it’s Luca’s judgy stare that pisses me off.
“Pussy went down like a ton of bricks.” When Remy fist-bumps Luca, it clicks.
“You told him to do it.”
Luca doesn’t respond as Remy shrugs his shoulders like he’s innocent before he grins. “If the pansy can’t take the hits, he shouldn’t have been on the field.”
“Why don’t you stop having someone else do your dirty work?” I ask Luca who just turns up the bottle in his hand.
I’m not drunk enough for this. I gulp down a few swallows before I say, “You’re pathetic.”
Luca laughs arrogantly at me. “So is making the chump think he still has a chance.”
“He’s my best friend. I know you can’t relate to doing anything without motive, but some of us care about people and want to be their friend. Not everyone just wants a fuck buddy.”
There’re a few whistles and hoots around us.
He moves towards me and quietly says, “I warned you that there would be consequences if you wore another man’s clothes.”
“You have no right to be this much of a jealous asshole. Stop acting like you have any control over me,” I yell.
He’s calm until he swiftly reaches forward and yanks the jersey off of me before tossing it into the firepit.
Did he really just do that? Sure did. Because I’m watching the material incinerate in the flames.
Luca puts his arm around my lower back, keeping me pinned against him as he utters, “Yes, I’m jealous, possessive, controlling, and don’t share what’s mine. Is that what you want to hear? I won’t apologize. At least I can admit what I want without needing an excuse to do it.”
“I wish you would let me tell you exactly what to do. Because that command would’ve lasted an eternity instead of a mere twenty-four hours.” Before he can retort with some idiotic comeback, I say to Brooke, “Let’s go anywhere else but here.”
“Sounds like a great idea to me.” As soon as we’re back inside, I pour myself another drink then follow Brooke to the formal dining room that’s being used for a beer pong game.
Brooke plays a few rounds as I sit nearby and drink. The more buzzed I get, the more I relax, and eventually I take Brooke up on her request to be her partner.
We’re celebrating our latest score when Everett appears. He immediately looks at my tank top. “Already took off my jersey. I guess we are in enemy territory.”
You have no idea. “Yeah.” It’s a pile of ashes, but I leave that part out. “What are you doing here? Where’s Kendall?”
“Some girls at the field mentioned where Belgrave was partying after the game. I checked at your house, but you weren’t there, so I took a chance you’d be here since you weren’t answering your phone.”
“Shit.” I glance at the few missed calls. “I have it on silent. Can’t hear anything in here anyway.”
“Understood.” He surveys the room before he says, “I dropped Kendall off at home.”
“Why? You were supposed to be on a date.” I smile. “You should’ve brought her along. I’m sure she’d have a good time here.”
“Oh, the nasty cheerleader who got mad that I dared to approach her side of the field. Glad you dropped her at home.” Brooke holds up her hand to high-five Everett. He leaves her hanging, so she claps her hands together and walks away.
“That’s not the case. Kendall is welcome to come to any of the Belgrave parties. You two looked so cute together.”
“Goddamnit, Ivy. I did it to make you jealous.” He pulls me to him.
It sobers me up a bit but not nearly enough, it takes a few seconds for my inebriated brain to catch up with his sudden hostility. “Why would I be jealous? I was excited for you. You should be with someone who makes you happy.”
“I should be with you. And I wanted you to want me back. To realize how you truly feel. That I’m still here waiting and fighting for us. That I’m the one who will make you happy.”
“Stop.”
I push him back, but he keeps me locked against him as he seethes, “He’s changed you, and you don’t even know it. I can’t believe you’re stupid enough to fall for his act all because he has a shiny car and fancy house. You used to care about more than the size of someone’s pockets.”
“Still want to defend your BFF and insist that you only have a platonic friendship?” Luca asks as he appears beside us.
Fuck. I can’t referee right now.
“Get the fuck out of the conversation,” Everett shouts as his fingers dig into my side and he shifts me away from Luca.
“You have about three seconds to get your hands off her before I remove them. And consider yourself lucky, because I’m only allowing you that time for her sake.” His composure is alarming. It’s the calm before the storm.
“For her sake?” Everett laughs. “Like you own her. Or know her.”
When Everett gets out the last word, Luca says, “Three,” then grabs his hand, removing it from my side. Everett tries to get free, but Luca twists his arm, causing his elbow to bend in an unnatural way the more he struggles.
“Let him go.” I wish they both were out of my sight because they’ve put a damper on my buzz. “You’re going to break his hand.”
“He had a chance to do the right thing.”
I can’t with his logic. “The right thing? Like what you’re doing now? Or every time you didn’t listen when I said to get away from me. You’re a fucking idiot, Luca.”
Luca keeps Everett constrained for a minute while Everett curses and hollers, then Luca shoves him away and evenly states, “It’s not broken. But next time I won’t give a warning.”
Everett rubs his hand as he takes several steps back. “Oh, Mr. Badass, huh? The same one who sent in his buddy for a dirty shot on the field.”
Yes. Everett put together that stunt too. Luca pulls everyone’s strings and doesn’t hide the fact.
“Go away,” I instruct Luca, but he doesn’t. Why would he listen to me?
Everett pleads, “Leave with me, Ivy. We can go somewhere to have an uninterrupted discussion for once.”
Luca laughs. “How many times do you plan to be humiliated, dude?”
Brooke puts her hands up to form a T. “Time-out. Luca, that’s enough. We’re here to have fun, not fight.”
He doesn’t know any other way. It’s his way or nothing.
“Last chance, Ivy. Are you coming or not?” Everett asks as he walks out of the party. I’m sure he expects me to follow him. But I don’t. Instead, I choose to enjoy the party while ignoring Luca. But there’s something I can’t ignore now. A message. And it’s from Mercy.
“Fuck,” Brooke wails. “It’s like they know we’re having a good time and insist on ruining it. Where’s Micah? He’d better not be plastered again.”
“We should all sober up.” I head into the kitchen. Coffee won’t help, but it gives me a minute to stall because I’m already dreading what’s next.