Chapter 46 Ivy
IVY
I ignore my phone until it chimes again and again. When I look, it’s more messages from Brooke.
Brooke: Where are you?
Brooke: On your way yet?
Brooke: Are you seriously standing me up?
Brooke: Luca will be here.
That doesn’t have the appeal she thinks. We’ve barely spoken in days and joining him at a homecoming dance is the last item on my agenda tonight.
Ivy: Sorry. Don’t feel up to it. Staying home but have a good time.
I send the message then power off my phone. I do feel a tad bit guilty, but I guarantee she’ll have a better night without me. My plan is to not leave the balcony unless it’s to go into my room. Leaving the house is out.
“You never planned on going.” I hear Luca before he appears, he’s wearing a black button-down and slacks.
“No. But obviously you were. Don’t let me keep you.”
He drops in the lounger beside me. “Maybe next time.”
“There won’t be another since it’s senior year. So, you’d better get going and not miss out.”
Luca remains reclined beside me, and I have to ask, “Are you really fighting Micah?”
“Yes.”
“Competing against your brother in Mercy isn’t enough? You need to beat the shit out of each other in the ring too?”
“Worried about me?” he smiles as he says, “Don’t get soft on me now.”
“I’m not. You’re the idiot who wants to brawl. I don’t feel sorry for you.”
“Are you going to come cheer me on?”
“No,” I reply. Brooke has already tried to convince me to attend that too.
“Shame.” He pauses for a few minutes before he continues, “I heard Willowbrook is having their homecoming tonight too. Poor best friend is probably licking his wounds in the corner somewhere.”
“Stop it.” When he finally turns to me, I tell him, “You don’t have to be an ass. That’s a choice too.”
For a second, I think maybe he will listen. But that was definitely a pipe dream.
“So is denial.”
Suddenly the balcony for the night is out of the question. I go into my bedroom and lock the doors behind me. Doubt it’d stop him if he really wanted in. But at least I’ll make it a little more difficult for him before he’d get his way.