LOGINIVY’S POVThe party was buzzing with energy, and I was standing with Miranda when Kael amd Pedro walked through the doors.I felt my heart skip a beat when I saw him. He was wearing a black tuxedo suit, that was perfectly tailored, and his eyes were scanning the room, as if searching for something, or for someone, and I knew without any doubt that it was me. The way his gaze moved through the crowd, the way his jaw clenched when he did not immediately find what he was looking for — it was all for me.Miranda noticed him too and her whole demeanor shifted. She excused herself immediately with a sweet and apologetic voice. “I will be right back Ivy. I need to go greet some guests. Please, make yourself at home.”She walked towards Kael and I was left standing alone in the middle of the crowd, surrounded by strangers who whispered behind their hands and pretended not to stare at me.I watched her approach him, watched her block his path and start talking to him. She was wearing a white d
KAEL’S POVThe car pulled up to the party, and I could already see the flashing lights of cameras through the windows, as reporters gathered outside like vultures waiting for something to happen.I let out a long breath and gripped the door handle. I did not want to be here and I did not want to see Miranda. I did not want to be in a room full of people who whispered behind their hands and pretended to be friends.But I was here for Ivy.Pedro looked at me from the passenger’s seat and asked, “Ready?”“No.” I replied without thinking.He laughed. “Well, that makes two of us. But we are here now, so we might as well make the best of it.”I shook my head. “I cannot believe I let you talk me into this.”“You did not let me talk you into anything. You decided to come because you can not stand the thought of Ivy being here alone. You still would have come even if I had not shown up at your door.”I did not answer because he was right. I would have come anyway.Pedro loooed at me amd smiled
IVY’S POVThe closet door was wide open, and I was standing in front of it, staring at the rows of clothes that were hanging before me, but my mimd was not really on the dresses.It was on the party. Miranda’s party.I still did not know if I was making the right decision, but I knew one thing for sure: I was tired of hiding. I was tired of being afraid and I was tired of letting other people control my life.Tara was sitting on the bed behind me, watching me with a worried expression on her face. Then she asked finally, “are you really going to go?”I pulled out a dress and held it up against my body. “Yes.”“Okay. Does Kael know?” She asked carefully.I shook my head. “No. He told me not to go.”“And you are going anyway?“Yes.” I nodded.Tara was quiet for a moment. Then she said quietly, “That is not like you.”I turned to look at her. “Maybe that is the problem. Maybe I have been too much like myself for too long. Maybe I need to be someone else for a while.”“What do you mean?”
KAEL’S POVThe apartment was very quiet, and I was sitting alone in the dim light of my living room with a glass of whiskey in my hand, staring at the amber liquid without really seeing it.My mind was elsewhere.It was on her. On Ivy. On the kiss that happened just hours ago, the kiss that had caught me completely off guard and left me speechless for the first time in my life.I touched my lips, and I could still feel the warmth of her mouth on mine, so soft and gentle and full of something that I had not expected to find there. She had been bold, confident and completely in control, and I had been the the one left standing there like a fool, unable to form a single coherent thought.I smiled to myself and took a sip of whiskey, letting the liquid burn its way down my throat.Then my phone rang.I picked it up immediately, with my heart skipping a best when I saw her name on the screen. I answered with a huge smile on my face, expecting her to want to talk about the kiss or tell me s
IVY’S POVThe door closed behind Miranda, and I was left staring at the flowers on my desk, seeing the bright colors of the bouquet contrasting with the confusion swirling in my mind.I did not know what to think. I did not know what to feel. I did not know if Miranda’s apology was even genuine or if this was just another game she was playing.Zara walked closer to my desk, with her eyes fixed on the flowers. “What just happened?”I shook my head slowly and said, “I have no idea.”“She apologized and brought you flowers. She even invited you to her birthday party.” Zara said with disbelief in her voice. “This does not seem like the Miranda we know.”“That is what I am thinking,” I replied and shook my head.“Do you think it is a trap?” Zara asked with her eyes wide.I was quiet for a moment, as I stared at the invitation. “I do not know. But it could be, or it could be genuine, but I can not tell the difference, because she has hurt me so many times that I do not know if I trust anyth
IVY’S POVThe morning had been quiet, and I had been sitting at my desk for the past hour trying to focus on the reports in front of me, but my mind kept drifting back to the night before.The kiss.I touched my lips unconsciously, and I could still feel the warmth of his mouth on mine, so soft and gentle and full of something that I had not expected to find there. I had kissed Kael, and I had meant it. I had not been scared, neither had I been hesitant. I had been bold and I had finally stopped running.I smiled to myself and tried to focus on my work again, but it was impossible. Everytime I looked at my computer screen, I saw his face. Everytime I tried to read a report, I heard his voice, and everytime I closed my eyes, I felt his lips on mine.Suddenly, Zara walked into my office, with worry in her eyes. “Ivy, someone is here to see you.”I looked up from my desk and asked, “who is it?”She frowned. “Miranda.”I felt my mood change instantly. The warmth I had been feeling earlier
KAEL’S POVThe evening had been quiet, too quiet, and I have been sitting in my study for the past hour, staring at the same page of a report without reading a single word, because my mind was still on her.Ivy.Her face kept appearing in my thoughts, while her voice kept echoing in my head, and I
IVY’S POVThe building was tall and modern, and the lobby was so clean that I could see my reflection on the black tiles as Zara and I walked towards the elevator.I had been nervous all morning. My hands were cold and my stomach was tight. But I kept my face calm and walked with steady steps.“You
IVY POVI did not sleep.I lay still in the guest room all night, staring at the ceiling with my eyes burning and my throat sore. The sheets smelled wrong. Everything smelled wrong.When the gray morning rats if sunlight filtered their way through the curtains, I felt so empty and hollow, lile some
IVY’S POVI came home early because I forgot my necklace.The charity gala I had organized was still going on, but I could not stand there without my mother’s necklace, so I drove back to the pack house to get it.The house was strangely quiet when I entered. Too quiet.Then I started walking up th







