Page 32 of Pumped

“Hey, Ivy-bear.” I go to get her, taking her hand and leaning in close. I whisper softly, only letting my voice carry the few inches between us. “Let’s just see what they have to say, ’kay? I’ll be right here. I’ll protect you.”

She hesitates, but when I give her hand a gentle tug, she follows me down the stairs.

“Chad?” Scarlett gives her son another nudge.

He shuffles his feet andveryreluctantly lifts his head. He glances quickly at Ivy, then away again. “I’m sorry,” he says. His voice carries that distinct tone of I-know-I-did-something-bad-and-now-I’m-in-trouble-and-I’m-not-happy-about-it.

“For?” Scarlett’s starting to sound threatening.

“For being mean to you and making fun of you and calling you an orphan.” Chad rushes through his sort-of apology so quickly all the words blend together.

Behind him, Scarlett looks like she’s about to throttle him, and for some reason, seeing that helps to calm my own anger. The kid’s such an asshole even his own mom can’t stand him.

“What do you say?” Owen puts a hand on Ivy's shoulder.

She peers up at him through long, pale lashes. Her eyes are glassy with unshed tears.

“You should say ‘thank you’ and ‘I accept your apology.’”

I try to kill Owen with my eyes. How dare he? How fucking dare he ask Ivy to accept this little rat’s pathetic apology? She shouldn’t accept anything! She should demand payback. Maybe call him a couple ugly names herself.

Ivy clings to me, trying to hide behind my leg. I put my hand on her back, dislodging Owen’s in the process. She lets out a little whimper.

“She doesn’t have to do that,” Scarlett jumps in, a pleading look on her face. “Really. Chad knows what he did is wrong and there is no excuse for it. He’s getting grounded for two weeks, no playing at friends’ houses, no video games. I am so sorry. My husband is too. Not just about this, but also for your loss. I’ve met Ivy’s mom at PTA meetings before and she was so lovely. That’s why I wanted to bring him here to apologize again in person. I wanted to let you all know how sorry we are.”

The longer Scarlett rambles, the more irritated I get. So she’s met Eden before, so what? And two weeks? The kid should be grounded for the rest of the year.

But while I’m seething, Owen’s smiling like she’s just crowned him uncle of the year.

“Thank you,” he says. “We really appreciate it. It means a lot.”

I have to physically bite my lip to keep myself from lashing out.

Scarlett pulls Chad toward the door, then hurries him down the steps. “Again, so sorry. This will never happen again. I promise.”

“Thank you. I hope we’ll see you at PTA meetings soon.” Owen sees them out and closes the door behind them.

“Hey, Ivy-bear.” I struggle to keep my voice steady and even. “Why don’t you go upstairs and play with your plushies until dinner?”

She sniffles but lets go of my sweatpants. “Okay.” Slowly, she climbs the stairs one at a time.

Owen and I glare at each other in the foyer, both listening for her steps to fade.

“What the actual fuck?” I spit out, taking two large steps toward Owen.

His chin lifts, eyes blazing with defiance as he meets my gaze.

“Accepting his apology? We really appreciate it? It means a lot?” Red-hot anger roils in me, desperate to be released. How could Owen turn on Ivy like that? He’s supposed to stand up for her. He’s supposed to defend her and be on her side.

Except, all he’s done in the past few weeks is be Ivy’s worst enemy, making her do all the things she doesn’t want to do, making her cry all the time. Forget that fucking kid. Owen’s the real bully here.Owen’sthe one Ineed to protect Ivy from.

“What was I supposed to say?” Owen’s voice is quiet, steady, calm. Cold. That’s what he is. He’s so frigid.

“Anything!” I get right up in his face. “Make the kid pay!”

“He’s six years old.”

“I don’t fucking care!”

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