Ivy, page 45
“I don’t know if I can believe you.”
“Fair enough.” Ivy nodded. “Maybe someday you will.”
After Ivy earned her trust. And damn it, she would. The way Edwin looked at her, Cassia would be around for a long, long time.
“Francis adores you,” Ivy told Cassia. “I think she secretly hopes your good influence will rub off on me. Even though you’re not living here, I hope you’ll visit her often.”
“I’d like that.”
“Good.” Ivy smiled. “Then you’d better keep your key.”
Cassia studied her for a long moment, then gave a little headshake like she couldn’t believe this was happening.
Edwin chuckled, tugging her into his side. “We’d better go. I left the car running. We’re heading to the library to study.”
“Bye.” Ivy walked them to the door. “Oh, and Edwin?”
“Yeah?”
“I’m not going to Mom and Dad’s for Christmas. I was thinking of inviting Elora and Zain over for dinner here.” The idea was forming in her mind as she spoke. “Maybe Francis and Daisy could come. We could hire a caterer or something. I don’t know. Would you guys come?”
Edwin looked to Cassia. She lifted a shoulder. Was that a yes?
“Depends.” Edwin smirked. “What are you getting me this year?”
“Guess you’ll have to show up to find out.”
He chuckled. “Good luck with finals.”
“You too.” She waved, waiting in the threshold until they were in the Bentley. Then she retreated to the foyer, only to stop short as Michael came down the rear hallway.
Was there a revolving door at the manor she wasn’t aware of?
“Hey.” Michael moved with that confident swagger she’d once found so appealing. Today, she hoped that swagger would lead him the hell out of her house. For good.
“What are you doing here?” She didn’t mask the irritation in her tone. And how had he come in? She’d be having a conversation with Geoff once Michael was gone. The back door was usually left unlocked, but if Michael was using it at will, that would change.
“Thought I’d see what you were doing tonight,” he said. “Feel like dinner?”
“No.”
“No?”
“No, I don’t want to go to dinner with you.”
His eyes narrowed.
“You need to knock before you come into my house.” She strode past him, but he grabbed her elbow a little too tight. Ivy dropped her gaze to his hand, then lifted her chin. “Today is not the day to provoke me, Michael.”
Michael let her go but sneered. “Heard your guy cheated on you with Allison.”
“No, he didn’t.”
After Ivy had flushed that pill yesterday and thawed, both physically and mentally, she’d thought about Allison. How she’d come to Tate’s doorstep. How she’d handed him that pregnancy test. Somehow, Allison had known Ivy would be there to overhear. And somehow, Michael had known to bring it up today.
Was Allison even pregnant?
She should have realized it sooner. She should have stood by Tate’s side.
She’d assumed the worst. Shame on her. She wouldn’t make that mistake again.
“You sure about that?” Michael asked.
“Oh, I’m sure. But if we’re sharing rumors, I heard that Allison is pregnant. Should I be saying congratulations, Daddy?”
There was a flash of shock in his gaze.
Okay, so he hadn’t known. Which meant Allison’s play had been hers alone. Chances were, that pregnancy test had been bogus. Or maybe she was pregnant with Michael’s kid. If Ivy planted a few doubts in his head, she’d call today a win.
“Bye.” Ivy left the foyer and walked through the manor, collecting her coat before going outside to meet Roy.
He was waiting for her in the rear driveway, per her request earlier. He smiled at her through the rearview mirror as she settled into the back seat. “Where to?”
Ivy gave him the address, earning a wary glance, but he kept his mouth shut and drove.
“Should I wait here?” he asked as he parked against the sidewalk.
“Probably not a bad idea.” Her stomach twisted in a knot as she stared at the building out her window.
Given her track record, she’d screw this up sooner or later. But if she truly wanted her life to be her own, to be happy, it was time to act. So she pushed out of the car and walked to the front door, her heart pounding as she raised a finger to ring the doorbell.
It didn’t take long before the lock flipped. The door swung open.
And Tate filled its frame.
He crossed his arms over his chest, his biceps straining at the sleeves of his shirt. His scowl was firmly fixed in place, but even angry he was beautiful.
“You told me to decide,” she said.
“I did. And?”
“And I don’t like who I am. But I’d like to change.”
“Good.”
She waited for more—a crack in his expression or an invitation inside. But he just stared at her, blocking the doorway. “I should have trusted you.”
“Yep.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Good.” Another good. Nothing more.
What was he waiting for her to say? It was like trying to finish a puzzle when three of the pieces were missing. “May I—”
“No.” Tate stepped out of the way and closed the door.
“Uh, okay.” Ouch.
Her heart, her pride, crumbled into tiny, brittle pieces at her feet.
This had always been a possibility, right? She’d spent last night tossing and turning in her bed, knowing that he might be done with her. She’d gone too far this time, believing Allison’s bullshit.
Even a man like Tate would have his limits, and clearly, Ivy had found the edge.
But damn it, she wanted him. She wanted one more chance. Just one more chance to do better.
As she stared at the door’s wooden face, her stomach sank. There’d be no more chances. “Damn.”
Roy spotted her returning to the car and climbed out, rushing to meet her at the back. “Let’s get you home. I knew this was a bad idea after picking you up yesterday, frozen on the sidewalk. What kind of man would send you out of his house without a coat?”
“It’s not him, Roy.” Ivy gave her driver a sad smile. “It’s me. I screwed this up. And I left without my coat. I failed him.”
Roy studied her, his eyebrows knitting together. “Well, if that’s the case. You don’t strike me as someone who fails, Miss Clarence.”
“I’ve been failing a lot lately,” she admitted. As a roommate. As a sister. As . . . what was she to Tate? A lover? Girlfriend?
Those labels sounded so trivial, even in her head. She wanted to be more. She wanted to be his entire world. She wanted to be so wrapped up in his life that no one would be able to tell where he ended and she began.
This couldn’t be over. She wouldn’t allow it. What if this was all a test? What if this was a trial of her own to pass?
“You know what, Roy? You’re right.” She was Ivy Clarence, for fuck’s sake. “You can go. I’ll be staying.”
“Are you sure?”
“Very.”
“If you change your mind, I’m just a phone call away.”
“Thank you.” Ivy waited until the car’s taillights were out of sight, then she steeled her spine and returned to Tate’s, pressing the doorbell again.
That stunning scowl was still on his face when he answered.
Ivy planted a hand on his chest and pushed. Hard. Until they were both inside and she closed the door behind them. “I don’t have many people in my life who challenge me.”
Tate planted his hands on his hips. “Ivy—”
She held up a hand. “You make me better. So you can’t be done with me. Not yet. I want you. But mostly, I need you.”
Tate sighed. “I’m pissed at you. You should have trusted me.”
“I know.”
“What did you do with that pill?”
“Flushed it.”
“Good.”
“Stop saying good.”
“Great.”
She rolled her eyes. “I’m sorry.”
His shoulders relaxed and his arms fell to his sides.
“Can I have one more chance? Please?” Ivy would beg if needed.
Tate took a step forward to tuck a lock of hair behind her ear. “Did I say we were done?”
“No.”
“No, I didn’t. And what did I tell you?”
Her heart skipped when his eyes gentled. The scowl on his handsome face disappeared. “We’re done when you say we’re done.”
“Exactly. And we’re not done. But stop acting like a fucking brat, okay? I don’t like it.”
“No promises.” It probably wasn’t what he wanted to hear. Ivy wouldn’t change overnight. “Though I’ll try to tone it down.”
Tate chuckled, framing her face with his hands. “Good.”
“What’s with you and good today?”
“Just calling it like it is.” His lips coasted against hers, his tongue dragging along the seam of her smile. “Because, baby, this is going to be so fucking good.”
No, this was going to be great.
This was going to be the love of her life.
fifty-one
“How’d the test go?” Edwin asked Cassia.
“Fine.” Her gloved hand was locked in his own as they walked across campus. “There was only one question I’m worried about.”
But missing one out of a hundred wouldn’t break her grade.
“It feels good to be done.” There was a weight off her shoulders. The semester was finished. A final term remained, then she’d bid farewell to Boston. Though she didn’t feel the urgency she had just a week ago to move across the world. As it turned out, Boston wasn’t so bad. Living with Edwin for a week had been a dream.
And though she still wanted to leave for a year or two, Cassia had a feeling she’d return. That they would return.
After an adventure.
Edwin was lobbying for a move to Australia. Just last night, he’d read her the list of pros he’d been making to living in Melbourne. Item number one? Kangaroos. He really wanted to live where there were kangaroos.
So much so that he’d given her an early Christmas gift. Last night, he’d surprised her with two first-class tickets to Australia for spring break.
Now that she had a break from classes for a few weeks, she planned to start researching job opportunities. Maybe even line up an interview or two for their trip.
“Are you going to hang out?” he asked as they approached the building where he had his last final exam. “Or walk home?”
“How long do you think this test will take?”
“Twenty minutes. Thirty max.”
“Then I’ll wait. We can go home together.” It was cold but she was dressed for winter in a coat, hat and gloves. The fresh air was invigorating and she wouldn’t mind a little extra time outside. Edwin had insisted on driving together today, and Cassia missed her daily walks around campus.
“ ’Kay.” He kissed her, a little too long and a little too deep to be considered anything but blatant PDA. But she didn’t care.
Cassia wanted the world to know that Edwin Clarence was hers. “Love you. Good luck.”
“Love you too, Red.” He smiled, then headed inside while she wandered to a bench beneath a tree, brushing off the snow before taking a seat.
Campus was quiet today. Being the Thursday afternoon of finals week, there were plenty of students who had finished their last tests and were on their way home for the holidays.
This would be the first Christmas without Dad. Finals had been a welcome distraction, but now that they were over, dread was seeping in. Edwin would probably go over the top to make her smile. She’d let him.
Cassia hugged her backpack to her lap, the bag almost empty now that she’d sold back her textbooks. The money she’d gotten today was going toward Edwin’s Christmas present—AirPods, since he’d lost his somewhere at home, and a black lace teddy she’d bought at a lingerie shop. She’d let him shred the latter off her body on Christmas Eve.
“Hey.”
Cassia’s head whipped around as Elora took a seat beside her on the bench. “Hey.”
“All done with finals?” Elora asked.
“Yeah. You?”
“Just finished. How are you?”
“I’m good.” Cassia hadn’t seen Elora for weeks. Not since before the fight with Ivy at the manor. “How are you?”
“Good.” A smile stretched across Elora’s face. A smile so bright and vibrant, Cassia barely recognized her former roommate. “You moved in with Edwin, right?”
“I did. And you’re living with Zain?”
Elora nodded. “I still have some things at the manor. I’ll probably get them at Christmas. You’re going, right?”
“Yes, she is.” Ivy strode to the bench and sat on Cassia’s other side. “Hi.”
“Um, hi?” Cassia still wasn’t sure what to say to Ivy.
They weren’t friends. But were they still enemies? After a week away from the manor, she’d had plenty of time to think. As much as she wanted to doubt Ivy and stay on guard, Cassia believed that Ivy hadn’t called Josh.
And when Michael had approached her on Monday after a test, Cassia had ignored him completely.
“How did finals go?” Ivy was bundled in a thick green parka. The color was practically neon against the snowy backdrop and a sharp contrast to both Elora’s and Cassia’s black coats. But it suited Ivy. Green of any shade really was her color.
“I probably should have studied more.” Elora’s mouth curved into another smile. “Zain’s doctor cleared him for sex, so . . .”
“Eww.” Ivy feigned a gag. “We need to put some boundaries in place. The fewer details I know about my brothers’ sex lives, the better.”
Elora laughed, a sound so carefree and happy once again Cassia stared at her like she was an entirely different person.
“This is weird,” Cassia blurted. “Are we acquaintances? Or . . .”
“Friends,” Ivy declared. “We’re friends. You’ll get used to it.”
“How’s the manor?” Elora asked.
“I don’t know,” Ivy said. “I haven’t been there in a week. I’m staying at Tate’s. But Geoff will have it all ready for Christmas. The decorators came today with a tree.”
“I—” Whatever Elora was going to say was cut short when a man walked past on the sidewalk.
He slowed, doing a double take at Cassia. Then he dropped his gaze to his feet, ready to keep on walking. He would pretend she didn’t exist, simply because that’s what she’d asked him to do.
“Hi, Henry,” she blurted. Apparently today words were just spewing from her lips.
He stopped walking, turning to give her a small smile. “Hi, Cassie.”
“Happy holidays.”
“Happy holidays,” he repeated, then dipped his chin before carrying on his way.
“You know Dean Neilson?” Ivy asked.
Cassia nodded. “He’s my uncle.”
“He’s my biological father,” Elora said, and if Cassia hadn’t been sitting, she might have fallen on her ass.
Her biological father? Henry hadn’t even glanced at her. Did he know? Did that make them cousins?
Ivy’s jaw dropped. “What?”
“He doesn’t know about me,” Elora said. “And I’d like to keep it that way. It was more of a sperm donor situation. But Zain knows. You might as well too.”
“You’re confiding this secret in me?” Cassia asked. Maybe she’d fallen asleep on the bench. Maybe this was a dream.
Elora shrugged. “We’re friends.”
“Exactly,” Ivy said.
A giggle broke free from Cassia’s mouth. It started small, then grew and grew until she was laughing. Why was she laughing? Maybe because of all the people at Aston, the last two she’d expected to be sharing secrets with were her roommates—former roommates. Whatever the reason, she couldn’t stop.
Ivy joined in next. Then Elora. Until the three of them were making such noise that they were getting looks from the few people walking by.
Minutes passed until they finally pulled themselves together. Cassia had to wipe tears from the corners of her eyes. There was an ache in her side. She hadn’t laughed like that in, well . . . in a really long time.
“Sounds like we have stories to share. How about we celebrate the semester being over at Treason tonight?” Ivy asked.
This little encounter had been surprising. It was enough for one day. Best not to push it.
Ivy stood. “Let’s meet at nine.”
Before Cassia could say no, Ivy was gone.
“Zain wanted to go to the club tonight anyway. He’s slowly working his way back to normal.” Elora stood and waved. “See you tonight.”
Cassia was still sitting dumbfounded when Edwin found her on the bench.
“What’s that look?” he asked.
“I, uh”—she shook her head—“I guess we’re going to Treason tonight.”
“Cheers!” Ivy raised her champagne.
Everyone clinked their glasses together, a chorus of cheers sounding through their group.
Cassia took a sip from her flute, then laughed. How was this fun? A night at Treason with Ivy and Elora shouldn’t have been enjoyable. But since the moment she’d set foot in the club, she’d had a blast.
“What’s funny?” Edwin asked, his arm draped around her shoulders.
“Nothing.” She leaned in to plant a kiss on his mouth. “Just surprised this is fun.”
“Save some energy for extra fun later,” he murmured, pulling her closer into his side. His other hand was splayed on her thigh and he inched it higher.
They’d already had a post-semester celebration in bed before they’d come to the club. Since they’d been here, his hands hadn’t once left her body, and the foreplay was beginning to make her ache.
“Your cheeks are flushed, Red,” he whispered in her ear. “One more hour. Then we’re out.”
She nodded, taking another sip of her champagne.
Elora was sitting in a similar position with Zain, tucked into his side as he reclined on the couch in his lounge. The bouncers hadn’t let many people onto this tier tonight, wanting to make sure Zain had space and it didn’t get so crowded that someone accidentally bumped his broken leg.
“Fair enough.” Ivy nodded. “Maybe someday you will.”
After Ivy earned her trust. And damn it, she would. The way Edwin looked at her, Cassia would be around for a long, long time.
“Francis adores you,” Ivy told Cassia. “I think she secretly hopes your good influence will rub off on me. Even though you’re not living here, I hope you’ll visit her often.”
“I’d like that.”
“Good.” Ivy smiled. “Then you’d better keep your key.”
Cassia studied her for a long moment, then gave a little headshake like she couldn’t believe this was happening.
Edwin chuckled, tugging her into his side. “We’d better go. I left the car running. We’re heading to the library to study.”
“Bye.” Ivy walked them to the door. “Oh, and Edwin?”
“Yeah?”
“I’m not going to Mom and Dad’s for Christmas. I was thinking of inviting Elora and Zain over for dinner here.” The idea was forming in her mind as she spoke. “Maybe Francis and Daisy could come. We could hire a caterer or something. I don’t know. Would you guys come?”
Edwin looked to Cassia. She lifted a shoulder. Was that a yes?
“Depends.” Edwin smirked. “What are you getting me this year?”
“Guess you’ll have to show up to find out.”
He chuckled. “Good luck with finals.”
“You too.” She waved, waiting in the threshold until they were in the Bentley. Then she retreated to the foyer, only to stop short as Michael came down the rear hallway.
Was there a revolving door at the manor she wasn’t aware of?
“Hey.” Michael moved with that confident swagger she’d once found so appealing. Today, she hoped that swagger would lead him the hell out of her house. For good.
“What are you doing here?” She didn’t mask the irritation in her tone. And how had he come in? She’d be having a conversation with Geoff once Michael was gone. The back door was usually left unlocked, but if Michael was using it at will, that would change.
“Thought I’d see what you were doing tonight,” he said. “Feel like dinner?”
“No.”
“No?”
“No, I don’t want to go to dinner with you.”
His eyes narrowed.
“You need to knock before you come into my house.” She strode past him, but he grabbed her elbow a little too tight. Ivy dropped her gaze to his hand, then lifted her chin. “Today is not the day to provoke me, Michael.”
Michael let her go but sneered. “Heard your guy cheated on you with Allison.”
“No, he didn’t.”
After Ivy had flushed that pill yesterday and thawed, both physically and mentally, she’d thought about Allison. How she’d come to Tate’s doorstep. How she’d handed him that pregnancy test. Somehow, Allison had known Ivy would be there to overhear. And somehow, Michael had known to bring it up today.
Was Allison even pregnant?
She should have realized it sooner. She should have stood by Tate’s side.
She’d assumed the worst. Shame on her. She wouldn’t make that mistake again.
“You sure about that?” Michael asked.
“Oh, I’m sure. But if we’re sharing rumors, I heard that Allison is pregnant. Should I be saying congratulations, Daddy?”
There was a flash of shock in his gaze.
Okay, so he hadn’t known. Which meant Allison’s play had been hers alone. Chances were, that pregnancy test had been bogus. Or maybe she was pregnant with Michael’s kid. If Ivy planted a few doubts in his head, she’d call today a win.
“Bye.” Ivy left the foyer and walked through the manor, collecting her coat before going outside to meet Roy.
He was waiting for her in the rear driveway, per her request earlier. He smiled at her through the rearview mirror as she settled into the back seat. “Where to?”
Ivy gave him the address, earning a wary glance, but he kept his mouth shut and drove.
“Should I wait here?” he asked as he parked against the sidewalk.
“Probably not a bad idea.” Her stomach twisted in a knot as she stared at the building out her window.
Given her track record, she’d screw this up sooner or later. But if she truly wanted her life to be her own, to be happy, it was time to act. So she pushed out of the car and walked to the front door, her heart pounding as she raised a finger to ring the doorbell.
It didn’t take long before the lock flipped. The door swung open.
And Tate filled its frame.
He crossed his arms over his chest, his biceps straining at the sleeves of his shirt. His scowl was firmly fixed in place, but even angry he was beautiful.
“You told me to decide,” she said.
“I did. And?”
“And I don’t like who I am. But I’d like to change.”
“Good.”
She waited for more—a crack in his expression or an invitation inside. But he just stared at her, blocking the doorway. “I should have trusted you.”
“Yep.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Good.” Another good. Nothing more.
What was he waiting for her to say? It was like trying to finish a puzzle when three of the pieces were missing. “May I—”
“No.” Tate stepped out of the way and closed the door.
“Uh, okay.” Ouch.
Her heart, her pride, crumbled into tiny, brittle pieces at her feet.
This had always been a possibility, right? She’d spent last night tossing and turning in her bed, knowing that he might be done with her. She’d gone too far this time, believing Allison’s bullshit.
Even a man like Tate would have his limits, and clearly, Ivy had found the edge.
But damn it, she wanted him. She wanted one more chance. Just one more chance to do better.
As she stared at the door’s wooden face, her stomach sank. There’d be no more chances. “Damn.”
Roy spotted her returning to the car and climbed out, rushing to meet her at the back. “Let’s get you home. I knew this was a bad idea after picking you up yesterday, frozen on the sidewalk. What kind of man would send you out of his house without a coat?”
“It’s not him, Roy.” Ivy gave her driver a sad smile. “It’s me. I screwed this up. And I left without my coat. I failed him.”
Roy studied her, his eyebrows knitting together. “Well, if that’s the case. You don’t strike me as someone who fails, Miss Clarence.”
“I’ve been failing a lot lately,” she admitted. As a roommate. As a sister. As . . . what was she to Tate? A lover? Girlfriend?
Those labels sounded so trivial, even in her head. She wanted to be more. She wanted to be his entire world. She wanted to be so wrapped up in his life that no one would be able to tell where he ended and she began.
This couldn’t be over. She wouldn’t allow it. What if this was all a test? What if this was a trial of her own to pass?
“You know what, Roy? You’re right.” She was Ivy Clarence, for fuck’s sake. “You can go. I’ll be staying.”
“Are you sure?”
“Very.”
“If you change your mind, I’m just a phone call away.”
“Thank you.” Ivy waited until the car’s taillights were out of sight, then she steeled her spine and returned to Tate’s, pressing the doorbell again.
That stunning scowl was still on his face when he answered.
Ivy planted a hand on his chest and pushed. Hard. Until they were both inside and she closed the door behind them. “I don’t have many people in my life who challenge me.”
Tate planted his hands on his hips. “Ivy—”
She held up a hand. “You make me better. So you can’t be done with me. Not yet. I want you. But mostly, I need you.”
Tate sighed. “I’m pissed at you. You should have trusted me.”
“I know.”
“What did you do with that pill?”
“Flushed it.”
“Good.”
“Stop saying good.”
“Great.”
She rolled her eyes. “I’m sorry.”
His shoulders relaxed and his arms fell to his sides.
“Can I have one more chance? Please?” Ivy would beg if needed.
Tate took a step forward to tuck a lock of hair behind her ear. “Did I say we were done?”
“No.”
“No, I didn’t. And what did I tell you?”
Her heart skipped when his eyes gentled. The scowl on his handsome face disappeared. “We’re done when you say we’re done.”
“Exactly. And we’re not done. But stop acting like a fucking brat, okay? I don’t like it.”
“No promises.” It probably wasn’t what he wanted to hear. Ivy wouldn’t change overnight. “Though I’ll try to tone it down.”
Tate chuckled, framing her face with his hands. “Good.”
“What’s with you and good today?”
“Just calling it like it is.” His lips coasted against hers, his tongue dragging along the seam of her smile. “Because, baby, this is going to be so fucking good.”
No, this was going to be great.
This was going to be the love of her life.
fifty-one
“How’d the test go?” Edwin asked Cassia.
“Fine.” Her gloved hand was locked in his own as they walked across campus. “There was only one question I’m worried about.”
But missing one out of a hundred wouldn’t break her grade.
“It feels good to be done.” There was a weight off her shoulders. The semester was finished. A final term remained, then she’d bid farewell to Boston. Though she didn’t feel the urgency she had just a week ago to move across the world. As it turned out, Boston wasn’t so bad. Living with Edwin for a week had been a dream.
And though she still wanted to leave for a year or two, Cassia had a feeling she’d return. That they would return.
After an adventure.
Edwin was lobbying for a move to Australia. Just last night, he’d read her the list of pros he’d been making to living in Melbourne. Item number one? Kangaroos. He really wanted to live where there were kangaroos.
So much so that he’d given her an early Christmas gift. Last night, he’d surprised her with two first-class tickets to Australia for spring break.
Now that she had a break from classes for a few weeks, she planned to start researching job opportunities. Maybe even line up an interview or two for their trip.
“Are you going to hang out?” he asked as they approached the building where he had his last final exam. “Or walk home?”
“How long do you think this test will take?”
“Twenty minutes. Thirty max.”
“Then I’ll wait. We can go home together.” It was cold but she was dressed for winter in a coat, hat and gloves. The fresh air was invigorating and she wouldn’t mind a little extra time outside. Edwin had insisted on driving together today, and Cassia missed her daily walks around campus.
“ ’Kay.” He kissed her, a little too long and a little too deep to be considered anything but blatant PDA. But she didn’t care.
Cassia wanted the world to know that Edwin Clarence was hers. “Love you. Good luck.”
“Love you too, Red.” He smiled, then headed inside while she wandered to a bench beneath a tree, brushing off the snow before taking a seat.
Campus was quiet today. Being the Thursday afternoon of finals week, there were plenty of students who had finished their last tests and were on their way home for the holidays.
This would be the first Christmas without Dad. Finals had been a welcome distraction, but now that they were over, dread was seeping in. Edwin would probably go over the top to make her smile. She’d let him.
Cassia hugged her backpack to her lap, the bag almost empty now that she’d sold back her textbooks. The money she’d gotten today was going toward Edwin’s Christmas present—AirPods, since he’d lost his somewhere at home, and a black lace teddy she’d bought at a lingerie shop. She’d let him shred the latter off her body on Christmas Eve.
“Hey.”
Cassia’s head whipped around as Elora took a seat beside her on the bench. “Hey.”
“All done with finals?” Elora asked.
“Yeah. You?”
“Just finished. How are you?”
“I’m good.” Cassia hadn’t seen Elora for weeks. Not since before the fight with Ivy at the manor. “How are you?”
“Good.” A smile stretched across Elora’s face. A smile so bright and vibrant, Cassia barely recognized her former roommate. “You moved in with Edwin, right?”
“I did. And you’re living with Zain?”
Elora nodded. “I still have some things at the manor. I’ll probably get them at Christmas. You’re going, right?”
“Yes, she is.” Ivy strode to the bench and sat on Cassia’s other side. “Hi.”
“Um, hi?” Cassia still wasn’t sure what to say to Ivy.
They weren’t friends. But were they still enemies? After a week away from the manor, she’d had plenty of time to think. As much as she wanted to doubt Ivy and stay on guard, Cassia believed that Ivy hadn’t called Josh.
And when Michael had approached her on Monday after a test, Cassia had ignored him completely.
“How did finals go?” Ivy was bundled in a thick green parka. The color was practically neon against the snowy backdrop and a sharp contrast to both Elora’s and Cassia’s black coats. But it suited Ivy. Green of any shade really was her color.
“I probably should have studied more.” Elora’s mouth curved into another smile. “Zain’s doctor cleared him for sex, so . . .”
“Eww.” Ivy feigned a gag. “We need to put some boundaries in place. The fewer details I know about my brothers’ sex lives, the better.”
Elora laughed, a sound so carefree and happy once again Cassia stared at her like she was an entirely different person.
“This is weird,” Cassia blurted. “Are we acquaintances? Or . . .”
“Friends,” Ivy declared. “We’re friends. You’ll get used to it.”
“How’s the manor?” Elora asked.
“I don’t know,” Ivy said. “I haven’t been there in a week. I’m staying at Tate’s. But Geoff will have it all ready for Christmas. The decorators came today with a tree.”
“I—” Whatever Elora was going to say was cut short when a man walked past on the sidewalk.
He slowed, doing a double take at Cassia. Then he dropped his gaze to his feet, ready to keep on walking. He would pretend she didn’t exist, simply because that’s what she’d asked him to do.
“Hi, Henry,” she blurted. Apparently today words were just spewing from her lips.
He stopped walking, turning to give her a small smile. “Hi, Cassie.”
“Happy holidays.”
“Happy holidays,” he repeated, then dipped his chin before carrying on his way.
“You know Dean Neilson?” Ivy asked.
Cassia nodded. “He’s my uncle.”
“He’s my biological father,” Elora said, and if Cassia hadn’t been sitting, she might have fallen on her ass.
Her biological father? Henry hadn’t even glanced at her. Did he know? Did that make them cousins?
Ivy’s jaw dropped. “What?”
“He doesn’t know about me,” Elora said. “And I’d like to keep it that way. It was more of a sperm donor situation. But Zain knows. You might as well too.”
“You’re confiding this secret in me?” Cassia asked. Maybe she’d fallen asleep on the bench. Maybe this was a dream.
Elora shrugged. “We’re friends.”
“Exactly,” Ivy said.
A giggle broke free from Cassia’s mouth. It started small, then grew and grew until she was laughing. Why was she laughing? Maybe because of all the people at Aston, the last two she’d expected to be sharing secrets with were her roommates—former roommates. Whatever the reason, she couldn’t stop.
Ivy joined in next. Then Elora. Until the three of them were making such noise that they were getting looks from the few people walking by.
Minutes passed until they finally pulled themselves together. Cassia had to wipe tears from the corners of her eyes. There was an ache in her side. She hadn’t laughed like that in, well . . . in a really long time.
“Sounds like we have stories to share. How about we celebrate the semester being over at Treason tonight?” Ivy asked.
This little encounter had been surprising. It was enough for one day. Best not to push it.
Ivy stood. “Let’s meet at nine.”
Before Cassia could say no, Ivy was gone.
“Zain wanted to go to the club tonight anyway. He’s slowly working his way back to normal.” Elora stood and waved. “See you tonight.”
Cassia was still sitting dumbfounded when Edwin found her on the bench.
“What’s that look?” he asked.
“I, uh”—she shook her head—“I guess we’re going to Treason tonight.”
“Cheers!” Ivy raised her champagne.
Everyone clinked their glasses together, a chorus of cheers sounding through their group.
Cassia took a sip from her flute, then laughed. How was this fun? A night at Treason with Ivy and Elora shouldn’t have been enjoyable. But since the moment she’d set foot in the club, she’d had a blast.
“What’s funny?” Edwin asked, his arm draped around her shoulders.
“Nothing.” She leaned in to plant a kiss on his mouth. “Just surprised this is fun.”
“Save some energy for extra fun later,” he murmured, pulling her closer into his side. His other hand was splayed on her thigh and he inched it higher.
They’d already had a post-semester celebration in bed before they’d come to the club. Since they’d been here, his hands hadn’t once left her body, and the foreplay was beginning to make her ache.
“Your cheeks are flushed, Red,” he whispered in her ear. “One more hour. Then we’re out.”
She nodded, taking another sip of her champagne.
Elora was sitting in a similar position with Zain, tucked into his side as he reclined on the couch in his lounge. The bouncers hadn’t let many people onto this tier tonight, wanting to make sure Zain had space and it didn’t get so crowded that someone accidentally bumped his broken leg.
