I haven’t seen Mom’s face get so bright since the day Dad and I surprised her with a ring with my birthstone on it for Mother’s Day a few years ago. “I’d love to teach you. We’ll have to schedule a time with your parents to make sure it’s okay to come over. And it’s the perfect time of year because Santa won’t have to eat what we make.”
Ivy gets quiet.
Mom studies her closely.
I fill the silence. “Can we play outside after we’re done? I want to show her the old fort by the creek.”
With Mom’s permission, I lead Ivy through a thin patch of trees leading to a creek that winds around town. Dad told me the stone foundation left in the middle of the trees used to be an old fort from the French and Indian War, and when I relay that information on to Ivy, her eyes widen in wonder instead of boredom like my other friends when I showed them.
And that’s when I know.
We’re going to be good friends.
Chapter Eight
Ivy
I’m walking inside after a long day of classes and work, my feet throbbing in the cheap pair of knock off Chucks I bought at Walmart, and tense when I hear deep sets of laughter coming from the living room. When I walk past the open room, Caleb sees me first, then Raine who’s cuddled up beside him on the couch.
“Hey,” I greet them tiredly, about to ask how their days were since they always give me the same courtesy before my eyes go to DJ sitting on the couch across from them by himself.
To my recollection, he’s never been here before. I don’t attend most of the parties held if I can help it, and I’ve never heard the girls talk about the football team making many appearances—least of all the big flirt who’s using that charming smile on me again. When they do show up, it’s always big news. The girls dare each other to make moves on some of the players, which usually winds up with a lot of colorful public displays of affection and morning after walks of shame out the front door.
“Long time no see, Ives,” DJ says, jumping up from the couch with a wide smile on his face. He’s in his usual jeans and college sweatshirt, red with a black and white embroidered dragon across the front, and the same pair of dirty boots he always wears. I asked him if he owns more than those, and he said he has an entire closet full of shoes but is too lazy to break any of them in.
I’m taken aback at the nickname. “You just saw me this morning in class.”
He grins, all boyish and dimpled as he approaches me with outstretched arms. “And it’s been far too long since I’ve seen that pretty face of yours. C’mere.”
Before I can object, he’s wrapping me in a tight hug. My body locks up from the contact knowing he doesn’t smell right. Not bad, just not like cinnamon and pine. Instead he’s wearing some expensive-smelling body spray that takes over my senses. I can’t find myself to return the hug, so I keep my arms to my sides until he backs away.
He doesn’t seem offended by my stillness. “We’ll have to work on your hugging skills. You’re not supposed to stand there acting like you’re being held captive.”
Debatable.
Before I can ask what he’s doing here, Raine and Caleb walk over to us hand in hand. I used to envy the way they always felt the need to touch one another. I haven’t had that in a long time, and the desperate, rushed touches I’m used to is nothing in comparison to the obvious love they have for each other.
It’s Raine who says, “We thought you’d like to go out with us for food. Syd mentioned that there was a party here tonight so…”
When isn’t there a party? This house has become known for them around campus. “Er, I’m not sure.” My eyes go to the kitchen, where the door to my room is. Despite the plumber never coming, there hasn’t been any more leaks. Caleb fixed Sydney’s tub and said he could find some new tile to redo the pieces damaged on my ceiling from his Dad’s store in town. Hesitantly, I look back at the three expectant faces and see them all waiting. “What did you have in mind exactly?”
“Malvin’s Place,” DJ pipes up, slinging an arm around my shoulder. I never liked touchy-feely guys, but I refrain from shaking his arm off like I want to because it’s innocent. “You can’t say no to pizza, can you
?”
“I’ve got a lot of work to do,” I try, despite the stuck out lip the blond is giving me.
Caleb laughs, playfully smacking DJ’s arm. “I think she just told you no, bro.”
Raine gives me a small smile. Seeing her pressed against Caleb, both of them with warm, genuine expressions on their faces, makes it hard to turn them down. “We won’t be out long. Cal and I wouldn’t mind getting away from here, and Malvin’s has the best pizza in town if you haven’t been yet.”
“I’m paying,” her boyfriend adds, eyeing me like he knows that’s a deciding factor in my decision to agree or not.
And, sadly, it is. At least he doesn’t look judgmental about it. Plus, if he’s offering… “Can I change first?” I tug on the clothes I’m wearing, covered in flour and other food from the bakery.
They all nod, and Caleb yanks DJ back when he tries following me, DJ saying, “I can come help if you need me to.”
I silently laugh at his theatrics like I have since he’s taken over the seat next to mine in class. What’s worse is that his buddies have all followed suit, taking other peoples’ seats around us. There’s an unspoken rule about seat assignments once the semester passes the first week—nobody takes different spots. Yet nobody has complained about the sudden change, probably because most of the football team doubles the size of everybody else. A few peers cast me accusatory glances when they see me surrounded by the burly men like I’m to fault for their eviction, and I can’t say they’re unwarranted. It’s hard to refute when all the guys greet me with a short “hey, Ivy” or head nods every time they take their seats as if we’ve been friends all semester.