Page 40 of Saving Ian Pope

I swung around and took a step back when Ivy thrust my phone in my direction, a deluge of negative energy hitting me like a tidal wave. “What?”

“Are you sure you don’t want to leave the Dodger cap at home in case the paparazzi happen to be on the trail taking pictures? You wouldn’t want them to miss you, would you?”

She knew. Was it too late to join Chloe at the gym?

Chapter 14

IVY

Icy fingers had scrabbled across my skin when I’d picked up Ian’s phone and saw the partial text from Jack. Now, facing Ian, the ice had numbed me as his demeanor and posture confirmed the worst. He might be a liar, but he was no good at concealing his emotions.

“I...you...”

I cut him off. “Don’t attack me for looking at your phone and texts. It was sitting there, face up, when I was brushing crumbs off the table. It buzzed, and I glanced at it. Kinda hard to miss this text.” I brought the phone close to my face and read aloud in my best English accent. “Pap call worked, mate. Good pictures.”

He put his hands together as if in prayer and rested the tips of his fingers against his scruffy chin. “Guilty. I approved it, and Jack set it up. I’m sorry. I didn’t realize how much it would upset you. I felt like a right prat when you started crying last night.”

His words sucked the wind out of my sails, and my shoulders slumped. “You don’t even get it. I wasn’t crying for myself. I was crying because of how that one guy was treating you, the questions he was shouting. It was vile.”

“I appreciate that, Ivy.” He placed his hands over his heart. “Your defense of me—it means everything, but I’ve been dealing with that shit for a very long time. For someone like me, it’s the price you pay for the rewards. And Jack’s not wrong. It worked. The comments were mostly positive; the pictures generated a vibe and having you by my side only added to the glowing aura. It was a win for me, but I’m sorry it hurt you.”

I sniffed. “Why didn’t you just tell me? I felt blindsided.”

He tossed his hat on the sofa, and then sat down beside it, hunched forward, his elbows on his knees. “I didn’t want you to think I was a dick. I don’t ever want to seem desperate or weak in your eyes. Does that make sense to you?”

He had no idea how much.

“I don’t see you that way. I understand you inhabit a different kind of world, and you thrive on publicity. I think if you had told me, I would’ve handled it better.” I cupped his phone in my hands, and he glanced up, a little closed-lipped smile on his face. I coughed. “Or, maybe not.”

“If I’d told you what was planned, you probably would’ve refused to go out, and I didn’t want to ruin your night. That little scuffle at the end of the evening didn’t spoil anything, did it? We still had a great time. I got a banger out of it, and as Jack pointed out in his text, the pap call worked.”

I opened my hands and walked toward him. “I suppose you’d like to read his text. I’m sorry I looked at it.”

He shrugged as he took his phone from me. “I believe that you just happened to see it. Chloe probably turned the phone over when she thought it was hers.” He patted the cushion beside him. “Do you want to sit here and read it with me?”

I dropped down beside him, leaving a few inches of space between us. I couldn’t let him know I forgave him so readily. I understood better than anyone why he didn’t tell me, but it still felt like betrayal.

I leaned over his arm as he began to read Jack’s text aloud. “Pap call worked, mate. Good pictures—you know that part.” He tapped the message and continued. “Good accompanying article with some positive spin for you. Ivy looked hot—” Ian growled and bit my shoulder “—and fan reaction to her was good. She’s a PR dream, and nobody has identified her, yet.”

My body stiffened, and I clasped my hands between my knees.Yet. Maybe Ishouldleave the country with Ian.

“He ends it. Talked to Hugh, and he said you even sent him a song that night. Comeback time, mate.” Ian placed a steadying hand on my bouncing knees. “Ain’t so bad, huh?”

“Not so bad but a weird way to live your life.”

“It’s all I’ve known for a long time, but I like the life you’ve shown me here. I feel like the moment we went on that Ferris wheel at the pier, we entered a bubble, and it hasn’t popped, yet.”

“I think that article was the first pinprick.”

“I know.” He cupped my face with one hand and kissed me. “Let’s go on our hike, and I promise there won’t be any paparazzi hiding in the bushes.”

Maybe not, but with my face splashed across several gossip sites, it might be just a matter of time before someone ID’d me—the real me.

***

The following day, Chloe decided to treat me to a pedicure and lunch to apologize for blabbing about me to Ian. I had ripped Chloe a new one, especially for telling Ian I took all my dates to see Van. That wasn’t even true. Two guys—one hated the concert and the other used it as leverage to take me to a heavy metal tribute, all-day head-banger that left me with a raging headache.

The night with Ian had been magical...until it wasn’t. The stunt worked out for him, so I couldn’t blame him too much. I forgave easily—people in glass houses and all that—which was why I was sitting next to Chloe at the nail salon with my feet soaking in bubbling water.

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