SAX #2
“No, it can’t. You're definitely missing some details. We want all of it,” Cami hollers, and I shake my head.
“You’re not having all of it,” I insist, and Aster leaps from the bed, folding her arms over her chest as she narrows her eyes on me.
“Well, I'm going to go and tell her.”
Panic immediately floods my system at the threat.
“Tell her what?”
The devilish grin that spreads across my sister’s face should be warning enough, but she speaks before I can piece the puzzle together. “That you're not hung like a horse.”
“I think she found that out for herself on Monday.”
“What?” The back of my mother’s hand collides against my chest.
Fuck.
I wasn't supposed to say that part.
“Did you?” My mother gasps, and I shake my head, pinching the bridge of my nose.
“It wasn't progress, it was a magical necessity, and I am not talking about this with you right now.”
My mother sighs. “I can talk about the—”
“I’d rather you didn’t,” I interject, earning another whoosh from my mother’s mouth, but I quickly try to redirect the subject before she gets carried away. “Focusing on last night, she at least looked to us for help when somebody wouldn't back off.”
“That does feel like progress,” my mother says with a wide smile.
“That's exactly what I thought. See? There it is. We didn't overstep. There's no situation now. You can all leave.”
“Well, I want it to be known that we are Team Ivy, not Team Brothers, because you guys suck,” Cami adds, and I can’t stop the grin from curling my lips.
“Of course you are.” I roll my eyes, unfazed by her declaration.
“Why are you smiling about it when you should be sad that we're not on your team?” Aster adds, and I shrug.
“Because I like it. She deserves it, this,” I try to explain, waving my hands around. “And I appreciate what you're doing for her.”
“Well, we're not doing it for you,” the twins say in sync, and I nod.
“I know.”
Silence stretches between us for a moment, but the smiles on their faces confirm they’re not nearly as mad as they pretend to be.
“So, what’s next? How can we help now?”
“There is no helping now. We let her be for a minute. She's been through enough. We're not going to push.”
My mother claps her hands with excitement. “Excellent answer. Pity your brother didn't have the same one,” she states, and my eyebrows pinch as I peer at her.
“What do you mean?”
She shakes her head, waving me off dismissively. “What do the others think?”
“What do you mean?” I repeat, acutely aware that this is always how our conversations go.
“Do they want to push on the matter or not?”
I grimace, scrubbing the back of my neck as I sigh. “Oh, well, Archer does, and Teddy is kind of in agreement with me that we let her chill out and show her that we're here for her.”
“That's good, really good. You’ll keep each other balanced, but remember not to allow any conflict to break you. You've got to be united right now, and going at Ivy's pace is paramount.”
I can’t fight the yawn that stretches my mouth as I exhale. “Excellent. Is there anything else to this lecture, or can I pass out now?” I ask, trudging toward my nightstand, where my device waits, and a notification from my brother sits on the screen.
Baron: Trouble has arrived.
The warning about my current guests is a little too late.
I don’t bother to respond as my mother exhales with a sense of contentment.
“Fine, fine, we'll go, but can we at least—”
My device goes off, an incoming call cutting through the air, and I gape at the screen.
“What is it?” Aster blurts, panic in her voice as I lift it slowly, turning it for everybody else to see.
Ivy.
“Answer it, you fool,” Cami shouts as I drag a hand down my face.
Shit.
Okay, okay.
I shake it off, rolling my shoulders back as I lift the device to my ear.
“Hello.”
Was that casual enough?
“Hey.”
Her voice cuts through the air, all gentle and angelic, and my cock immediately stirs to life.
“Is everything okay?” I ask, concern threatening to take hold, despite the lack of panic in her tone.
“Yes. No. Uh… are you free? Could you come over?” she rambles, and my pulse rings in my ears.
“I will be there in two,” I blurt, and she snickers.
“You don't have to rush.”
Sleep be damned; if she needs me, and I need her more than my next breath, then nothing else matters.
“Two,” I repeat, discarding my device on my bed as I dart for the door, leaving without a single goodbye as I skip down the stairs, cutting across campus, and arriving at the Fire Protector entrance in record time, only to realize I'm barefoot.
A second later, Ivy steps through the flames, eyes wide as she laughs at me, arms bound around her waist like she's nervous, but I'm too busy being taken aback by how beautiful she is.
Even today, without a stitch of makeup on her skin, she looks breathtaking. Her hair is pulled back into a low ponytail, with a few loose curls tucked behind her ear, and she’s wearing an oversized t-shirt and leggings.
“Are you okay?” I blurt when I finally remember how to use my tongue, and the humor on her face grows stilted as she freezes, clearing her throat before she speaks.
“What do these meetings mean exactly?”
“The academy meetings?” I clarify, and she nods.
“Yes, I think I'm finally ready to understand a little more than what Baron offered earlier in the week.”
“And you trust in me to explain this properly?” I clarify, and she hums, nodding softly. “Then let me show you, because there's one tonight.”