Page 71 of Ink Me Three Times
It stings, but I swallow the hurt.
He’s shutting me out. And that’s what it feels like, a door closing in my face, one that I didn’t even know was there until it was too late. My hand still lingers where I’d touched his arm, and I feel foolish for trying to pull him back when all he wants is space.
"Right. Yes, I will… get going then," I say, the words tasting like defeat.
Penny’s still at the table, completely unaware of the tension hanging between the adults in the room. She’s busy with her waffles, syrup smeared across her face and hands, a big grin lighting up her eyes.
But for me, the room feels heavy now. It’s like I’m standing on one side of a window, looking in at a life that’s slowly slipping away from me. I hate it. But more than that, I hate that I don’t know how to fix it.
I glance at the clock.
Seven o'clock. I should get going. I can’t stay here much longer, not with the mess that’s brewing under the surface between Freddie and me. Not when I’m desperate for some kind of clarity, even if I don’t know what it looks like yet.
So, I say my goodbyes, even if they feel like ash on my tongue, and I make my way outside.
The thought of what’s coming makes my stomach lurch again.
I make my way to the meeting spot, my heart pounding.
When I see Timothy waiting there, leaning casually against a post, I feel a strange mix of relief and dread. He’s just standing there, looking effortlessly calm. There’s something about him, something steady, that almost makes me want to fall apart.
"You okay?" he asks when I approach, and I can’t help but wonder if he’s picking up on my nerves.
"I will be," I say, my voice too tight.
He offers me a small smile. "Let’s take a walk. Might help clear your head."
It’s a quiet evening, the sun starting to dip below the horizon, turning the sky into a watercolor of soft purples and pinks. The air’s chilly, but the pace of the walk is soothing.
Especially since we’re not talking about anything deep yet.
"...so that’s Sunridge Ranch. Kinda like a retreat here, I suppose."
I gasp. "Wow, it looks like a postcard. All rustic buildings and sprawling land. I love it."
Actually, a lot of Coyote Glen is like that. Peaceful in a way I wasn’t expecting. It’s justmethat’s chaos here…
He smiles at me, nodding. "Yeah, it’s pretty nice. Makes you appreciate the quiet."
We walk for a while, the silence between us stretching out in a comfortable way. But it’s not long before I feel the weight of the conversation hanging there, waiting to be had. Finally, Timothy breaks it.
"So, I wanted to talk to you about something. I think we need to clear the air… about everything. About us."
I stop walking, the words striking me like a jolt of electricity. He’s clearly been waiting for me to say something, to acknowledge it, but the weight of his words hits me harder than I expected.
"What do we need to clear the air about exactly?" I ask, trying to keep my voice steady, but my chest is already tightening.
I know what’s coming, but I don’t know how to process it.
Timothy stops too, glancing at me with an expression that’s almost… apologetic?
"I know things have been confusing between all of us. I don’t know if you’ve figured it out, but... well, we’ve all developed feelings for you, Ivy. All three of us."
I freeze. I mean, I literally stop breathing for a second.
What did he just say?
My brain scrambles to make sense of the words.All three of us.
