Maybe I never have.
CHAPTER 31
IVY
The Next Day
The morning starts off like most others have in Ravelle so far. Except for the part where Soren seems preoccupied. He frowns a lot, and something is clearly on his mind.
Finally, after coffee is done and breakfast has been cleaned up, he approaches me at the kitchen counter and leans toward me, his elbows resting on the gleaming quartz. “I need to talk with you about something.”
My stomach clenches, the ghosts of Adrian and his many ‘talks’ haunting me with little placards that say ‘Heal’. I’m one art gallery opening away from a complete mental breakdown.
I take a deep breath, expunging the ghosts and reminding myself that Soren is not Adrian.
He’snothinglike him.
“O—kay?” I try to keep my voice neutral, but the squeak at the end of the two syllables gives me away.
As much as I’m giving him the benefit of the doubt, no goodconversation has ever started by announcing a talk is necessary. I would be foolish not to be wary.
He swallows, his gaze never leaving mine. “Has anything been going on that you haven’t shared with me, Ivy?”
I stare at him, confused. “What do you mean?”
“Anything you’ve chosen not to share with me.”
My mind races. I don’t know what he’s talking about. I tell him literally everything from the moment I wake up to the moment I fall asleep.
At least, I think I do. “No-no. I don’t think so. We talk about everything.”
A shadow passes over his face. “I really thought I could trust you, Ivy,” he says. “That you tell me what’s going on in your life.” He frowns. “And now your dishonesty is devastating. After everything.” His voice raises, for what might be the first time I’ve ever heard.
And it’s terrifying.
A vein pulses in his forehead and I flinch. “You’ve been receiving messages, Ivy. And you didn’t tell me!”
My face burns crimson, my gut churning as realization hits me. “You mean… the messages on my phone?”
“Yes, Ivy. The messages some type of stalker has been sending you.” He shakes his head, his mouth a sneer. “That you somehow thought not to tell me about, even though you just about send me an inventory count of the number of grains in your cereal bowl.” He pauses, glaring at me so hard my whole body tenses. “I find it a curious omission.”
“I—I don’t know who they’re from.”
“Isn’t that evenmorereason to tell me?” He leans forward, squinting at me. “So I can help you figure out who’s tormenting you?”
I look down, heat creeping up my cheeks.
When he puts it that way…
“I’m sorry, Soren. I just thought it might be a wrong number or something. I didn’t think it was a big deal.”
“Ivy!” His voice rises again. He’s shaking now, almost imperceptible but a distinct departure from his usual poise. “Whoever this is says they’ve been watching you! That’s grounds for me to end them. Not something you should keep quiet and worry about by yourself.”
“I—I didn’t think of it that way!” My own voice rises now, my head spinning. “I preferred to push it out of my mind.”
“That’s how things fester, Ivy.” His tone lowers, as if he realizes he’s escalating my panic. “How am I supposed to take care of you if I don’t know everything?”
He circles the counter and places his hands on my upper arms, gripping firmly. “Do you understand, Ivy? Do you understand how much I need to know everything about you and your life?”