Page 49 of Sins (The Sins Trilogy 1)
Chapter Twenty
Anthony
When I get out of the gym shower, it’s close to dinnertime. And I receive a call from Mother.
I answer uneasily. She’s never, ever contacted me first.
“Yes, Mother?” I say, my stomach tight.
“Tony.” Her voice cuts like a blade. “Do you mind dining out with Ivy tonight?”
“Is there something wrong?”
“She and I exchanged a few words. I think it’s better if she stays away until I can decide how I’m going to process our…conversation.”
I’m unsure exactly where this is going. What did you do, Ivy? “What do you mean?”
“She spoke to me in a way she never has before. Obviously she’s very fond of you.”
Fuck.Apprehension settles like a lump of old, congealed fat. I remember the way Mother treated Bolt and Edgar nine years ago. I’m no stranger to being banished from my family home, but Ivy is different.
You should’ve been more careful. You should’ve known Ivy might say something to anger Mother over you.“I apologize for anything she said to upset you.”
“Why? Didn’t you fill her head with rebellious ingratitude?” A short pause. “I told you to stay away from her. I told you to not take her away from me, but you did. You just can’t let me have any happiness, can you?”
“Mother, I never—”
“You have poisoned her against me, Tony,” Mother continues, her voice low and awful. “You pretended to be here for my sake—to earn my forgiveness—but this is what you really wanted, wasn’t it? To destroy what little I’ve salvaged? To show me what a fool I was, to think ever you were good and wonderful? You want me to send her away, too, don’t you?”
Each syllable is an ice pick, stabbing, making me bleed inside. “There’s no reason to cut Ivy out of your life. I’ve never meant to hurt you, Mother. I’ll speak to her and—”
“Stop pretending, you monster!” The word burns like a brand as my face heats with shame, guilt and unworthiness. “I hope you’re satisfied. You make me sick. I rue the day I had you.” She hangs up. And coming from my socially correct mother, it might as well be a backhand to the face.
My hand clenches around the phone, my breathing rough and uneven. I never wanted Ivy to stand up to Mother on my behalf, never wanted her to cause their relationship to sour over me. I didn’t think it would happen, either, because I noticed they were avoiding each other over the last few weeks.
Obviously, I thought wrong.
Mother can be upset with me, but shutting Ivy out is unacceptable. She’s been filling the ragged hole I left in Mother’s life. I rake my hair. I need to figure out how to impress upon Ivy that she should never, ever say a word to defend me.
Soon after my call with Mother ends, Ivy texts me. Wanna eat out?
It’s like she and Mother are on the same wavelength. Just how bad was their fight?
A small nerve behind my right eye starts to throb. Eating out is good. I’ll tell her how to juggle me and Mother over food that she likes. What are you in the mood for?
Pizza? I’m near a place right now. Cajun Milan.
Perfect. I remember eating there when I was little and liking it. Didn’t realize you were out and about, I text.
Just some errands. See you soon?
Leaving the gym right now.
When I arrive at Cajun Milan, Ivy’s already ensconced in a booth, her hair unbound and slightly curling around her beautiful face. She gives me a heart-stoppingly beautiful smile, the kind that can make a man’s knees weak with need, launch a thousand ships…or start a war.
I slide into the booth seat and kiss her.
“How was the workout?” she asks, a little breathless.
