Page 132 of Light My Fire Three Times
“Yeah,” he scoffs, the frustration evident in his voice. “That’s what’s so weird. She got a boyfriend after that whole thing ended. And honestly? I thought that was the end of it. She moved on, and I moved on. It’s like… we were both just killing time or something. But now, she’s back, causing trouble for me. And I have no idea why.”
I nod slowly. “Well, she might have achieved that. Because now people are suspicious.”
“Which meanseveryonemight know soon.” Jesse sighs. “We need to figure out how to handle that.”
He doesn’t sayIvy,but we both know who he means. And honestly, I don’t think either of us is prepared to bring her into this yet. But we might not have a choice in the matter.
CHAPTER FORTY-FOUR
Jesse
DECEMBER 23RD
I’m standingin the middle of my living room, looking around at the half-hearted Christmas decorations I’ve thrown together.
The lights are tangled in a way that makes them look intentionally messy, and the tree… well, it’s leaning a little to the left, as if it’s trying to escape.
But it's here.
It’s Christmas, right?
Olivia deserves at least this much. A Christmas that doesn’t look decorated by a guy who can barely tie his own shoes.
I’m still working on figuring out what the hell I’m doing with all of this to make it perfect, when the doorbell rings.
I glance over at the clock. It’s late. I wasn’t expecting anyone.
I open the door, half expecting to see a delivery guy or maybe Leo dropping by to talk shop. But when I see her, standing there in front of me with a look that could freeze hell over, my stomach drops.
Ivy.
Uh oh.
Considering what happened yesterday and judging by the look of disapproval on her face, I know where this might be going.
Shit.
“Hey, Ivy.” I force a smile on my lips. Maybe if I just act casual, this won’t get out of hand. “What’s going on?”
Her eyes are wide with fury, but there’s something deeper there, too… hurt. That’s what hits me first. I feel it in my chest, but I try to shrug it off.
“I need to talk to you,” she says, sharp as a razor. “And don’t you dare pretend like you don’t know what I’m talking about.”
I step aside to let her in, closing the door behind her. “Okay, let’s talk.”
“I want to know why,” she demands, her eyes drilling into me. “Whyher, Jesse? After everything you’ve given me hell for with Freddie. Mitchell and Timothy, too. Why the hell are you sneaking around with Olivia? Why the hell didn’t you just tell me? Why did I have to find out through town freaking gossip?”
I freeze. For a split second, my mind tries to process the words, but it doesn’t help.
The words hit me hard as bricks, one after another. Ivy’s face is twisted with anger, but it’s the hurt behind her words that stops me dead in my tracks.
“I didn’t plan for any of this,” I say, trying to explain, but my words seem to be coming from someone else. “It wasn’t like I was looking for this. It just happened. We didn’t want to hurt you, Ivy, which is why we didn’t say anything. We were trying to work out what it was first.”
She shakes her head and clucks her tongue. “Really? You’re secretly dating my best friend, and now you want to tell me that it ‘just happened’? Don’t you dare tell me this is just some damn coincidence!” She crosses her arms, shaking her head. “Is this some kind of revenge because I fell for your best friend, huh?Because of me and Freddie? I thought you were okay with things now.”
“It has nothing to do with that…”
“Or is it because my relationship isn’t conventional? Because I’m with the twins, too? Is this because you’re embarrassed about me? Or you want to make me feel like shit too? Because this isn’t the way. Olivia has been through so much recently. I don’t want her more hurt than she already is.”
