Chapter 24
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
Ivy
It’s Saturday lunchtime, and Ash has planned a late birthday get-together with everyone in Eden.
Even Sophie and Cade are bringing Hunter along for an hour, which is why we’re meeting earlier than usual.
Paisley and Nash are both off too, so it’ll be nice to have the whole group together.
It doesn’t happen very often with everyone’s busy schedules.
The person I’m most excited to see is Wyatt.
I haven’t seen him since Tuesday, when we viewed that house just outside Hope Creek.
He’s been in Phoenix, and I’ve missed him.
I sent him a message on Wednesday to let him know someone wanted to view his apartment on Monday, but aside from that, we haven’t spoken.
I pause outside Eden and smooth down the pale blue dress I picked out.
It’s casual enough for a lunchtime get-together, but still nice enough that I feel good in it.
I might have taken a little longer than usual getting ready, knowing Wyatt’s going to be here.
Taking a steadying breath, I push open the door and step inside.
I spot everyone right away. Everyone except Wyatt. Lifting my hand in a wave, I head over to join them at the bar. After a round of hellos, I order a soda from Alex, and we all make our way over to one of the booths.
“Happy belated birthday, Ivy,” Seb says, raising his beer.
The rest of the table follows suit, and I smile.
“Thanks, guys.” I take a sip of my drink, then lean closer to Taylor, who’s sitting beside me. “Where’s Wyatt?” I ask, aiming for casual.
Taylor gives me a small smile. “Seb said he had to stay in Phoenix.” My stomach sinks. “He’s not well,” she adds. “Didn’t want to make the drive back while feeling like crap.”
“What’s wrong with him?” I ask, my voice edged with concern.
She shrugs. “I’m not sure. Seb didn’t say.” Then she glances at me. “Want me to find out?”
I quickly shake my head. “No, it’s fine. I’ll message him.”
She nods, and I dig my phone out of my purse.
Me: Hey, just checking in. Seb said you’re not feeling great. You okay?
I stare at the screen, but the message stays unread. Maybe he’s asleep. But when it’s still unread half an hour later, I can’t help the worry creeping in. Ash planned today for me, and I should be more present, but all I can think about is whether Wyatt’s okay.
A few hours later, my message to Wyatt is still unread. I know because I’ve been checking my phone every five minutes, and with each minute that passes, my worry grows.
Sophie and Cade left not long ago, and when Ash gets up from the table and heads to the restroom, I move to sit next to Seb.
“Hey,” I say, keeping my tone even. “Taylor mentioned Wyatt’s not feeling well. Have you talked to him?”
“Yeah,” he replies, lifting his beer for a sip. “Sounded pretty rough this morning. And you know Wyatt, he never gets sick.”
My chest tightens. “That doesn’t worry you?”
He studies me, a hint of a smile playing at his lips. “Sounds like it worries you.”
Heat creeps up my neck. “He usually answers my texts, that’s all.”
He gives my hand a reassuring squeeze. “I’m sure he’s fine, Ivy. I’ll give him a call.”
He scrolls to Wyatt’s number and presses dial. I hold my breath, listening to the distant ringing, until the line goes to voicemail.
“No answer,” he says. “Probably crashed out.”
“Yeah, maybe.”
When I spot Ashlyn coming out of the restroom, I jump to my feet and head toward her.
“Hey” I say, when I reach her. “I think I’m going to head out. I’m not feeling great,” I lie.
She studies me for a moment. “Okay... what’s going on?” she asks. “You’ve barely said a word all afternoon, and you’ve been glued to your phone.”
I glance away. “I’m just not feeling the best, that’s all.”
She raises an eyebrow. “You look fine to me.”
I let out a sigh, knowing I won’t get away with vague excuses. “All right. Taylor told me Wyatt’s sick, and I haven’t been able to reach him. Seb’s tried too. I’m worried.”
Ash waves it off lightly. “I’ll call Mom and ask her to check on him. I’m sure he’s okay.”
“He’s in Phoenix.”
Her eyes widen. “So, what are you going to do?”
I drop my eyes from hers. “I was going to drive to Phoenix. I just need to know he’s all right,” I say quietly.
“It’s a two-hour drive, Ivy.”
I shrug. “I’ve got a viewing scheduled at his apartment on Monday anyway, so I need to be there for that. If he’s okay with it, I’ll just stay over.” I pause, then add, “I know I might seem crazy, but I can’t sit here pretending everything’s fine when I don’t know if he is.”
She pulls me into a hug. “I don’t think you’re crazy, Ivy.”
“I feel kind of crazy,” I admit.
She leans back and smiles. “Love tends to do that to people.”
“Love?” I echo, caught off guard.
Ash grins. “What else would you call driving two hours just to make sure he’s okay?”
I hesitate. “Friendly concern?”
She laughs. “Sure. Keep telling yourself that.”
Love isn’t something I’ve let myself consider, but there’s no denying how strong my feelings for him are. The moment Taylor mentioned he wasn’t well, I felt this pull to go to him; a pull I’ve never experienced before.
“You’re sure you’re okay with me heading out? I know you put this all together for me…”
“Yes. Go,” she says, waving me off. “I’ll tell everyone you weren’t feeling well. Just let me know he’s okay once you get there.”
I nod, wrapping her in another hug. “Thanks, Ash. Love you.”
“Love you too.”
Just over two hours later, after getting home from Eden and hastily packing an overnight bag, I pull up outside Wyatt’s apartment.
The underground garage requires a fob for entry, so I park at the curb and reach for my phone.
The message I sent him earlier is still unread.
A knot of unease twists in my stomach as I grab the spare key he gave me for viewings.
I give the concierges a brief wave as I pass through the lobby and make my way to the elevator. As much as I’d rather take the stairs, I don’t have the time today, and my fear of elevators feels trivial compared to everything racing through my mind.
When I reach Wyatt’s floor, I knock on his door, my nerves a tangle in my chest. There’s no answer. Hesitantly, I use the spare key and let myself in.
The television hums softly in the living room, but Wyatt’s nowhere in sight.
I’m about to head toward the bedroom when a woman emerges from that direction.
She’s wearing nothing but a white button-down shirt, the hem grazing her mid-thigh.
Her long blonde hair falls in soft, styled waves over her shoulders, and when our eyes meet, I realize she’s breathtaking.
My stomach flips, my breath catches, and tears prick my eyes.
I bite the inside of my cheek hard. I don’t want to lose it in front of her.
When she spots me, her brows lift in surprise, lips parting as if she’s about to say something, but I’m already moving.
My pulse thunders in my ears as I bolt for the door, silently thanking whatever God left the elevator waiting on this floor.
I step inside and frantically press the button for the lobby.
As the elevator descends, I lean against the mirrored wall, my composure crumbling. Tears stream down my cheeks. I feel like such a fool. No wonder he hadn’t answered. He was clearly preoccupied with the most stunning woman I’ve ever seen.
Of course he isn’t interested in me.
Whatever happened over the past couple of weeks, it clearly meant more to me than it did to him. I’d let myself get carried away, let the girls’ excitement convince me it was something more. Now, I’m the one left shattered, mourning something that was never really mine. It shouldn’t hurt this much.
But it does.
Because even if it wasn’t real, it felt it. And losing him, even though he wasn’t mine to lose, still feels like heartbreak.
I stumble out of the building and make my way blindly to the car.
I have no idea where I’m going, I just know I need to get away.
Anywhere is better than here. I’ve barely gone a few blocks when it hits me that there’s no way I can drive all the way back to Hope Creek like this.
My vision is already blurred with tears.
As I pass a hotel, impulse takes over, and I pull into the parking lot. I’m supposed to be back here on Monday for the viewing anyway, assuming he still wants me to handle the listing. There’s no point in going home. I might as well stay.
Once I’ve parked, I reach for my phone, only to jump when it starts ringing in my hand. Wyatt’s name flashes on the screen, and a fresh wave of tears slips down my cheeks.
A part of me wants to answer, to hear something that might tell me I’ve misunderstood.
But I haven’t. It couldn’t have been clearer unless I’d caught them in bed.
And the worst part? I have no right to feel this way.
He hasn’t done anything wrong. We were never together.
I just built it up in my head, turned something fleeting into something it never was. That’s on me.
A new notification chimes, and I brace myself, only to exhale in relief when I see it’s from Ash.
Ash: Are you there yet? Is he okay?
I let out a humorless laugh, tears still streaking down my face as my fingers fly across the screen.
Me: He’s fine. Occupied with a gorgeous blonde.
The message turns to read, and just seconds later, my phone starts ringing again. This time, it’s Ash. With a sigh, I answer and bring the phone to my ear.
“Hey, Ash,” I say quietly.
“What do you mean, ‘occupied with a gorgeous blonde’? What blonde?”
“I don’t know. I didn’t stay long enough to ask.”
“You saw Wyatt?”
“No,” I say, my voice shaking. “I knocked, but no one answered, so I used the spare key. Just as I was heading to his room, a woman came out wearing nothing but one of his shirts.” My voice cracks. “She was stunning, Ash. I feel so stupid.”
“Hey, don’t say that. You’re not stupid. I’m going to kill him.”
I shake my head, even though she can’t see it.
“No, he didn’t do anything wrong. We’re not together.
I just let myself believe he might like me.
I should have known better. Deep down, I think I did.
” I pause, my voice barely more than a whisper.
“She’s everything I’m not, Ash. Everything I’ll never be. ”
“You don’t have to be anyone but you, Ivy James,” she says fiercely. “You’re beautiful. You’re amazing. And if he can’t see that, he’s the idiot.”
“Thank you.” But the truth still sits heavy in my chest. He doesn’t want me. He never did. Every fear I had about getting close to him just came true, and it hurts more than I ever expected.