Page 89 of Yours To Hold
“What’s with you tonight?” Peter nudges me.
“I’m fine.” I stab my own piece of steak and pop it in my mouth.
“You’ve been off all week,” Nash agrees.
“Can you please drop it?”
“Hey, we’ve got a big few weeks coming up. I need you on your A game.”
“Have I not been on it all week?” I drop my fork, turning to look at both of them.
“I mean, crabbier than usual, but fine,” Peter says.
“Aunt Gemma, do you know why Ivy left?” Willow asks, shifting my attention once again. I love her innocence. She has no idea why Ivy left.
“Ivy left?” Gemma asks, turning to face me.
“Willow, why don’t you go play video games upstairs?” I tell her. I want to know Gemma’s answer.
Because she has to know something.
“I thought I wasn’t allowed any screen time after dinner?”
“Tonight’s an exception.” I smile at her from across the table.
“Yes!” She throws her fist up in the air.
I wait until I hear the ding of the machine through the thin walls before facing Gemma. She’s got a fighting look on her face.
“Same question, Gem. Do you know why Ivy left?” I don’t hide the bitterness from my voice.
“Throwing it back to you. Ivy left?”
“Don’t act like you don’t know.”
Everyone’s eyes are ping-ponging back and forth between the two of us.
“I got home yesterday from LA. I called her and she didn’t pick up.”
“Wait, really?”
Gemma nods. “I texted with her a few times, but nothing that was important.”
“So you didn’t know she was leaving?”
“Mason.” Gemma’s voice is soft, like she’s trying to coddle me. “She was always going to leave.”
“It doesn’t make it any easier,” I mumble.
“She said it was a summer fling.”
“It wasn’t for me.”
“Oh, holy shit,” Nash whispers next to me. “You love her.”
“You love her?” Gemma gasps.
“Of course I fucking love her, okay?” My outburst stuns everyone into silence. “I wouldn’t be acting like this if I didn’t love her.”
