12. Ivy Jade
Ivy Jade
What the hell was wrong with me? Genuinely. I wanted to know what kind of worm crawled its way into my brain undetected.
This entire morning was spent in the worst way, thinking of…
High Jynx. And I shouldn’t have been thinking about him, because I should’ve been thinking about the freaking rings I lost!
LOST! Yesterday was unsuccessful in that sense.
Ugh. I had to head back there again tonight.
At least I’d have this stupid necklace with me.
While it was embarrassing to wear, at least the monsters couldn’t scare me.
When Tallulah asked if I could put a few wedding favors together for her, I volunteered so fast!
I hoped it’d allow my brain to stop thinking about how kind High Jynx was to me last night.
Sure, he was a little sarcastic, but he was also strangely sweet…
sweet in a way that I wasn’t used to. There was definitely something about him, something that lingered over me like a sleeping pill.
It made me fuzzy and weak, and for some reason, keenly aware of the spots on my body where he touched me.
I could still feel his hand wrapped around my waist when he pulled me into his chest.
It forced me to think about his stupid face.
That stupid, painted face.
Blue eyes and a wicked smile.
And he was sorta handsome. Right? I think that was okay for me to say.
I mean, I’d never been drawn to anyone like him before: tatted, a performer, someone closer to my age, and sensitive.
And it was kinda cute the way he was very protective of me last night, checking in on me, making sure I was doing okay.
It warmed my chest just thinking about it.
“What’s eating you, Ivy Jade?” Tallulah asked. Her, Hollie, and Jasmine had also been helping with the wedding favors. I kind of forgot they were here. I’d been in my own little bubble.
I shook my head. “Nothing.”
“Ivy Jade… with nothing to say? That’s so unlike you,” Tallulah snapped shut one of the completed boxes of wedding favors.
Hollie squinted in my direction. “You know, now that you mention it… It is weird that you’re so quiet. Did the Scare Park catch your tongue?” she laughed, as did the other girls.
I blushed bright pink and put together my part of the favors faster, so I could leave.
Tallulah insisted on keeping these wedding favors so we girlies could chat.
Most of the girls from the bridal party were off doing their own thing, hanging with the groomsmen, or whatever else.
“I promise there’s nothing. I just have nothing to say. ”
“You must be on your period,” Tallulah said. “That’s it.”
“Don’t analyze me. I’m just existing,” I huffed an annoyed breath.
“Ooooh, so unlike Ivy Jade. Whatever shall we do?” Jasmine added sarcastically with her annoying, squeaky voice.
I rolled my eyes at her. I hardly knew Jasmine, even though we were on the cheer squad together.
Now she cosplayed as Tallulah’s wedding coordinator because it was her newest business venture.
Whatever. She irked me far too much. Hollie, though, I liked her.
She was sweet, and anyone sweet to me stayed in my good graces.
“Whatever happened at the Scare Park, anyway? You didn’t tell us the full story of how you got all bruised up,” Hollie brought up.
I tied the string on the baggie tightly. “It’s nothing. I just fell in, and one of the clown performers helped me up. That’s all,” I said.
“Clown? Don’t you hate clowns?” Tallulah said. “I bet you were even more jumpy and horrified.”
“Something like that,” I let out.
“Wait, I thought you said a nurse helped you?” Hollie asked. Good memory, that girl.
Nervously, I smiled. “I was really flustered that night, and I may not have wanted to talk about the clown,” I said.
“If it’s that one clown with the skates, he’s majorly hot,” Jasmine said, fanning her face.
“Famous too! He’s all over social media,” Hollie said, dancing in her seat. She pulled out her phone, swiping at the app.
“Famous?” I asked, dropping the wedding favor in my hand.
“You’re not talking about High Jynx, are you?” Tallulah asked. “You actually got to see him?”
“He takes a lot of photos with the girls,” Hollie said, showing me the phone.
I yanked it out of her hand and stared down at the screen, and there he was. High Jynx was on some random girl’s social media page, sliding out of the fog, swooping his hair out of the way. It had over a hundred thousand likes and thousands of comments.
“Holy shit!” I squeaked. “Crap. I mean… holy crap.” I didn’t realize he was so popular. Was he like some unofficial mascot of the Scare Park? Photos flooded the feed, him posing quickly with groups of fans before running off in another direction, grinning and howling.
I swallowed hard. I could feel his hands on me again, pulling me close, sucking me into his world.
“Oh my god, his hair, his body, everything about him is sexy,” Jasmine added. “Why do you always get the attention?”
“It’s okay to keep your mouth shut most of the time, Jasmine,” I said.
Just then, Romeo walked into the dining room where we were all sitting. He took one look at us with wide eyes. He and I locked eyes momentarily. My stomach fluttered as if liquid lava had been dropped into it. My freaking body betrayed me!
“Hi,” Jasmine tried to call him over.
He smiled and waved.
“Wrong room. I’m looking for the groomsmen. Gustav said something about playing golf with us.”
“Have you looked outside?” I snipped unnecessarily.
“Right,” he said. “I was asking Tallulah. You know. The bride,” he said sarcastically.
“Ignore her, Romeo. We all do when she’s feisty. The guys are just around back, past the garden,” Tallulah said.
Romeo stole a couple of glances my way before saying goodbye to all of us.
I kinda smiled at that. Not because I liked the guy, he just so happened to be infuriatingly observant.
He had a way of embedding his eyes into me, and admittedly, it reminded me of when I was younger…
some old foolish feeling I had when I was around him.
“We love a shy boy,” Hollie said with a smirk, looking over at Tallulah like they had their own secret language.
Jasmine squealed as he left. “Have you all seen how hunky Romeo Scott is? I remember him back in high school, and he did NOT look like that.” Jasmine fanned herself like an idiot, her mouth parted open.
“I tried telling Ivy Jade to go after him! She isn’t listening to me,” Tallulah said.
I opened my mouth and pretended to gag on my finger. “Yuck.”
Jasmine looked so annoyed. “Of course you’d gag. You couldn’t handle someone like him.”
Ew. I squinted at her with my twisted lips.
“I love those papi vibes he gives off,” Hollie added, biting her lip. “And who doesn’t love a guy in a cardigan? Holy hotness! I’m digging his broodiness.”
Tallulah laughed so hard, I thought her strawberry smoothie was about to shoot out of her nose.
“He’s not that hot, you guys,” I said. “It’s literally Romeo. He looks like every other guy out there.” He was downright annoying. They had to see that, right?
“What world do you live in, cause I’d rather avoid it at all costs,” Jasmine said sarcastically.
I circled the air with my finger. “No vacancy anyway, sorry.”
“Always such a snob,” Jasmine muttered.
“Hey, stop it!” Tallulah said. “This is my wedding week. You all need to get along.” Her eyes bugged out at me.
“What are you looking at me for?” I griped. “I didn’t do anything.”
Tallulah smiled. “Cause you’re my shit-stirrer, and I love you.”
I pouted, deflated.
“Ivy Jade, are you in there?” I heard my mami in the distance.
All the girls looked over at me nervously.
“I’m in here…” I let out, knotting another little bag in my hand.
“There you are, mija.” She appeared at the oversized arched doorway.
Mami always had her makeup done and her jewelry on.
She never left home without either. Mami thought women who didn’t dress up or wear makeup were too homely.
She believed they’d never catch the big fish–which was true.
However, it had been nice to dress more casually than I was used to.
It was comfy. “Papi just got off the phone with a very good friend, and good news! Antonio will be here soon!” she said, clapping her hands together.
“Right now?” I sat up, my knee bumping into the table. Everyone’s attention was on me once again.
“Aye, no, mija. He’ll be here in a couple of days, but the flight has been arranged. It’s finally happening.”
I looked at Tallulah, and she rolled her eyes.
“Who is it?” Jasmine asked.
“Oh, bless you for asking.” Mami ran over to Jasmine, giving her a hug, and sat beside her. “Ivy Jade’s future husband is coming to the wedding this weekend. He’s a doctor. Very rich. His family owns many hospitals.”
“Future husband? Wouldn’t that make him your fiancé?” Jasmine asked, confused.
“No…” I said, annoyed.
“Yes,” Mami corrected my comment and nodded sweetly.
“I haven’t even met him yet,” I said, sitting back down, working on another wedding favor.
“But I know everything about him. He’s six-two, has black hair, loves baseball, and has a fear of large cats.
” I shrugged, listing only a fraction of the information I knew about him, not to mention that he loved collecting old swords and skydiving.
“It will be love at first sight,” Mami assured.
“I’m so confused.” Jasmine looked over at me, and I knew it was bad when she looked uncomfortable.
I was starting to feel embarrassed. “It’s okay. Mami’s right. It will be love at first sight. It’ll be great. She knows these things…”
“What about your tattoo?” Tallulah asked, purposefully poking at a sore subject. “What if Antonio doesn’t like it?”
I kicked Tallulah under the table.
“Ow! Jesus, Ivy Jade,” Jasmine screeched.
Oops! Wrong leg!
“The tattoo won’t be a problem. We can always get it removed for Antonio,” Mami said.
“What about Ivy Jade?” Hollie asked, eyes softened with concern.
“It’s okay. It’s fine,” I said, not wanting to make a scene.
Mami laughed. “All of this is for Ivy Jade. And for Papi. And for me! It’s for all of us. Anyway, he will be here by the dinner rehearsal. I’ve already talked to his mother and father. They said he can’t wait to meet you!” she said delightfully.
Tallulah sighed. “Can he visit her on a different week?”
“Not an option. Antonio is ready now. Papi is ready as well.” Mami stood up excitedly.
“Maybe Papi should marry Antonio then…” Hollie murmured low enough that I didn’t think anyone but me heard.
“Gustav is getting married, and now it’s your turn. No more waiting. Remember?” Mami said with a curt smile, saying the last part subtly. She always had to be pleasant and never a downer around others.
These expectations she’d been driving into me since I was nineteen were getting really old.
But what was I supposed to do? If I didn’t marry Antonio, Mami and Papi would cut me off like they did Gustav, and my trust fund would be swallowed up into some other profit-yielding project.
Because that’s what I was. A project. An investment for their wealth.
It really felt like I was part of the 15th century medieval era or something.
I’d rather read about it, not live it like Mary Queen of Scots.
If I left, what value would I bring to the world?
I wasn’t sure, and I wasn’t convinced I could survive without all the comforts and luxuries I grew up with.
But then again, High Jynx did the same, right?
Roman Knight.
Could there really be happiness outside of money and pretty things? The answer may have been yes, but I was too scared to find out.
“We’re all done with wedding favors! Who’s ready for our next daytime activity?” Tallulah shouted, swiping the attention away from Mami and me and back to her. I looked at Tallulah, and she gave me a quick wink. I couldn’t be any more thankful for her saving me with a subject change.