35. JJ Woodford
JJ WOODFORD
I ’ve never met anyone like Andrea and James. Take away the fact they’re Ivy and Finn’s parents; they might as well be the fun older auntie and uncle.
We order pizza and sit around the kitchen counter as we discuss their latest travels. It seems they go away often.
“You guys are too old to be going to clubs.” Finn covers his eyes with embarrassment. “Let alone being kicked out of them.”
Ivy is sharing the same amount of shame as she flicks her eyes between her parents. “What did you guys do to get kicked out?” she asks.
“You are never too old to go clubbing.” James points at Finn.
Andrea covers her mouth to suppress a laugh. “Nothing bad.” She shrugs with a cheeky smile. “Nothing bad at all.”
Finn rolls his eyes. “Yeah, like I totally believe that.”
“We might be older than you, but we’re still allowed to have a good time,” Andrea exclaims and grabs her glass of water.
Ivy snorts. “Having a good time or being menaces and getting kicked out?”
“When did we adopt two teenagers?” Finn directs to his sister.
James swats his son’s shoulder gently, but his expression is comical. “When did we have two children who might as well belong in the old people’s home?”
Finn wrestles back with his father gently until they’re laughing. As I watch them, it makes me miss my family dearly. I wish I could hold my mother through her treatment and be there for my father.
But being here with Finn and Ivy’s family heals a tiny hole in my heart. It makes me feel like I belong.
“So, what’s been going on around here then?” Andrea asks as she looks between us all. “Enjoying your summer, I presume? The weather is delightful today.”
Ivy hums softly. “It’s been nice being home. Weather is definitely a bonus.”
She gestures between Finn and me. “These two have been looking after you, I hope?”
Her throat bobs and I tear my eyes away, focusing on Finn as he smiles. “Of course,” he says.
Andrea slides her hand over the counter and squeezes her daughter’s fingers. “How have you been holding up?”
“Fine,” Ivy murmurs. “Just looking forward to going back to university now. It’s been long enough.”
James chuckles gently. “Trust you to be excited to go back to school.” He flashes her a grin. “Always been so proud of you, sweetheart. Reach your dreams, don’t let anyone stop you.”
“Thanks, Dad.” She shares a genuine smile.
That comment meant a lot to her. Anyone could see it.
If only my father felt the same.
When the bell rings, Finn jumps off his stool to answer the door and retrieve our pizza. I listen to James as he starts talking about a moment from their trip, a scholar they met who wrote one of the world’s most incredible theses on the galaxy.
My eyes flash to Ivy’s, and she stares right back. A moment between us, both of us remembering the night together in the garden under the stars.
Finn lays the pizza in front of us, and we all dig in. “So, JJ,” Andrea says as she chews on her food. “How are you?”
“All good.” I smile at her. “I love it here.”
James snorts. “That’s interesting, most people under the age of thirty would find this seaside town boring. There isn’t much to do.”
“Might not be a lot to do,” I admit. “But it’s been nice meeting Finn’s friends and having a quiet summer for once. Summers at my house are usually quite hectic. I’ve enjoyed the sun and parties. It’s a nice balance.”
Andrea leans forward for another slice. “You usually spend summers at home with your parents?”
“Yes.” I nod. “But they’re not here this summer.”
“What are they up to?”
Her question throws me off, and a familiar pair of eyes rest on my face.
My throat tenses, and my palms begin to sweat.
Talking about it with strangers isn’t something I enjoy.
I don’t mind sympathy and condolence when it comes from the right place, but I don’t want to discuss it with all of them in the room.
Doing it with Ivy is enough. She knows more than Finn. And that’s because I wanted her to know. Now, my tongue is tied, and I want the conversation to move on.
“They’re in Germany,” I say after a few moments.
Andrea’s eyes light up. “Oh, how wonderful. Germany is beautiful. We spent a few weeks in Bavaria. I would love to go back. Whereabouts are they staying?”
My lips part, and I raise a slice of pizza to my mouth. “Uh, Berlin.”
“Berlin is one of my favourite cities.” She clasps her hands together.
“You must tell them to check out this restaurant we went to.” Her voice drones out as she reaches for her phone and scrolls.
“Oh my, it was wonderful. We even went for this walk, I think we discovered a new path, and it was breathtaking. Once in a lifetime opportunity, certainly for the bucket list.”
Suddenly my chest constricts like my lungs have shrivelled.
“Mum,” Ivy says sharply. “Please stop.”
“What? I wa?—”
“Mum.” Her voice is harsher now. “Just, stop .”
I glance up slowly and hate the silence that washes over us. Shit. She was trying to be nice. I’m the one who is overthinking this.
I turn to Finn, who is staring at Ivy, flashing her a rather strange look. But I ignore it and turn to Andrea again. “Sorry,” I tell her. “I’d just rather not talk about it.”
Andrea slaps her lips together and shakes her head. “No, I’m sorry, JJ. I’m always overstepping, always talking. Goodness, I apologise. If you ever need me to shut up, just tell me to, and I will.”
I flash a quick smile and excuse myself. “I’m going to grab another drink,” I say before heading out of the back door towards the ice bucket.
As soon as the fresh air hits me, I drink it down, filling my lungs to maximum capacity.
A hand touches my shoulder. “You okay, brother?”
“I’m okay,” I say as I stare at the skyline.
“I’m sorry about my mum,” Finn says after a few moments.
“It’s not her fault. It’s just raw, and I don’t like talking about it.”
Finn hums softly. We remain silent, but he doesn’t move from my side.
“Did you tell Ivy?”
My eyes tighten. I knew this was coming.
“Yeah,” I blurt.
“I see,” Finn responds. “You guys have been getting close, huh?”
“We live in the same house.” I shrug. “She’s been a good… friend.”
The word friend doesn’t settle well with me, but it’s better to lie than open this can of worms the night his parents get home. I’d rather not sport a black eye today.
I grab some more drinks and clear my throat. “Let’s go in,” I say, avoiding his eyes.
“You sure?”
“Positive.”
“Alright.” He sighs as he takes a can from my hand.
When I settle back at the counter, Andrea and James don’t make a scene when I stroll back in. Ivy, on the other hand, her eyes might as well be lasers tracking me.
I finish a few more slices of pizza and listen to James tell more crazy stories.
A part of me can’t believe these two are alive with their risky adventures. They really love to live life on the edge, doing whatever the hell they please. I’m glad they can do something that gives them a thrill. What is life if you’re not living?
At one point, Finn helps his parents take their luggage upstairs. I pack the pizza boxes away and empty beer bottles. Ivy keeps her eyes on me as we clean the rest of the kitchen.
“Hey,” she says as she steps beside me.
“Hey.”
“I kind of feel like you’ve been avoiding me.”
“I’m giving you space to decide what you want. Especially after what I said the other night, I meant it. I’m not going to rush you.”
“And I heard you loud and clear,” she says under a hushed breath in case they can hear us from upstairs. “I’m still processing things, JJ. This isn’t as simple as you expect it to be.”
When my eyebrows rise, she leans back and places a hand on her hip. Half of her blonde hair is thrown up with a blue clip, with loose strands framing her face. She looks so effortlessly pretty like this. Prominent cheekbones. Darkened freckles from the sun. Softened eyes.
But that is not what I should be focusing on right now.
“What do you want me to say?” she asks desperately, her voice cracking.
She looks so tiny right now as she hugs her arms to her chest. Emotion runs through her eyes. I’ve never seen her look so vulnerable and raw.
“I want you to claim back your life, Ivy.”
She flashes me a confused look. “What does that even mean?”
“You need to stop worrying about everyone else and think about yourself.”
Ivy’s lips tremble, and she blinks slowly. Her breaths become shallower as she takes in my words. “I am thinking about myself.”
“No, you’re not. You’re worried about Finn and everything else. What do you really want?”
Her mouth parts, and she blows out a little breath
“I want to move on,” she whispers. “And I want… to spend more time with you.”
The words give me a fraction of relief, but I can still hear the reservation in her tone. She’s not ready to let go yet, and it’s written all over her expression.
“But it’s not just about that…” She pauses. “It’s about me and my body.”
My forehead creases in confusion.
“What about your body?”
“I just haven’t felt like myself since?—”
“The accident?”
She nods and lowers her head an inch.
“Ivy, your body is perfect,” I say honestly.
And I can’t believe she doesn’t see it, how breathtaking she truly is.
Her eyes waver for a moment as she looks up at me.
“Do you still believe wanting something and actually having it are two different things?” I ask.
She hesitates for a moment and averts her gaze.
I hum and lean into the counter, folding my arms over my chest. Ivy’s eyes glance up and flick across my biceps beneath my T-shirt before returning to my eyes sharply.
“It’s clear that you’re still not ready,” I admit.
“And I’m giving you time to think this through.
Like I said, I’ll wait. But I need you to come to this decision on your own, when you’re ready to.
And if there are bigger issues at hand, you can talk to me about them, Ivy. I’d never judge you, you know that.”
She stares up at me with her big green eyes, fingers fumbling together.
I lean down slowly, my lips beside her ear. “You say the word and I’m yours, princess.”
She quivers, and I hear her breath hitch. A smile covers my lips.
“I-I,” she attempts, but her head tilts backwards, and I resist the urge to clasp the back of her neck and give her a punishing kiss. My lips graze the curve of her neck instead, her pulse against my skin.
The stairs of the floor begin to creak, and I pull away from her, dampening the cloth in the sink. Ivy is still rooted to the spot, staring at me with dilated eyes. God knows if I had a minute more with her, she might have opened up to me a little bit.
“You don’t even want to see what those two brought home,” Finn comments as he joins us in the kitchen. He’s shaking his head in disbelief, and I can only imagine the worst.
I glance up at him and smile. “No sex toys, I hope.”
Finn grimaces. “If that’s what I saw, I’d be bleaching my eyeballs right now.”
A chuckle passes my lips.