Page 48 of Light My Fire Three Times
Ivy tilts her head, her eyes narrowing slightly. “Leo? Really? Why?”
“I just don’t think he likes me. At all.”
Ivy doesn’t say anything right away. She’s quiet, letting me vent, and I appreciate it more than I can say.
She knows I don’t usually open up like this, especially when it comes to the guys. I hate feeling vulnerable, and Leo seems to have this uncanny ability to make me feel… small.
Finally, Ivy lets out a long breath.
“Liv… I get that Leo’s frustrating. I’ve known him for a while, and trust me, I get how he can get under your skin. But you need to understand something.” She leans forward, looking serious now. “Leo’s protective of Karl. Always has been. It’s not just you, okay? It’s how he’s wired. But if he keeps pushing you away, he’s going to ruin this whole thing. And if he ruins this for you and Karl… I don’t know if I’ll forgive him.”
“I don’t know if Karl and I can continue, I’ll be honest.” I sigh. “Right now, I might as well just be spiraling again.”
“There’sno wayyou’re going to let Leo ruin things for you. Not when Karl is such a good guy, Liv.”
I tilt my head back, staring at the sky as Ivy’s words echo in my head.Don’t let Leo ruin things.It’s hard to take that in because I don’t know what to do.
Karl is good. He’s funny, he’s caring, and he’s been a solid rock when the ground under me feels like it’s crumbling.
But I do need to get out of his home.
I have to.
“I don’t know what I want,” I admit, barely a whisper, as though saying it out loud might make it more real.
Ivy doesn’t hesitate. “You don’t need to have all the answers right now, but don’t let Leo wreck everything. You know, youcould always stay with us while your apartment is being fixed. I know the room is… a little tight. But the couch is free.”
I smile at her, but I’m sure it doesn’t reach my eyes. “What about the guys?”
“Oh, theyloveyou,” she insists. “They would love to have you around.”
“Sure. But the triplets, Penny, and four adults? I’m pretty sure I’ll be in the way, and Ivy, you already have too much chaos on your hands.”
Ivy chuckles. “Hey, we’ll make it work. We always do.”
“Thetightsqueeze here might just be a little bit too… small.” I sigh heavily. “I will just suck it up. Stay in the bedroom as much as I can, and cope with it until I can figure out my next move. Currently, I need to focus on the coffee truck as much as possible to ensure my business runs smoothly. Karl’s place is near my spot, so that makes it easier for me.”
“Howarethings with the coffee truck?”
I smirk. “You mean, how grateful am I that you pushed me into it?”
“Well, yeah.” She tosses her head back and laughs. “Come on, Liv, youknowI love a bit of credit when I’ve done something amazing, like helped you make your dream a reality, and inmytown as well, so I get to keep you around for a little longer.”
“Actually, I love it.” I let out a breath. “Much as it’s scary to do something sonew, soout there, I love it. It’s truly a dream come true. The people of this town are also supportive. It's like I’m getting myself back, you know? I didn’t even realize how much of myself I’d lost along the way.”
“Yeah, Coyote Glen is an awesome place,” Ivy agrees. “I mean, look at me. I came here to visit Jesse, and ended up in the most unconventional relationship of my whole life. Yet people here accept me. I don’t think I could live anywhere else in the world.”
As Mia starts crying and Ivy is distracted, her words sit with me. I also wasn’t planning on sticking around.
I’m supposed to be back under Richard’s control right now, running myself ragged for him. But I’m here.
Yes, life isn’t perfect. I have a lot of complications to deal with, but it’s so much better than what I left. I don’t think I couldevergo back to that life, but does that mean I can stay here? With the complications that follow me around?
Karl and Leo?
Jesse too?
Urgh, I don’t know. Why do Ialwaysfeel like I have the stresses of the world on my shoulders? Why can’t I just shake this alloff?
