Page 36 of Wild Heart
I set the phone down back into its cradle on my desk and shifted my attention to my computer, so I could pull up my email. Apart from the time I’d taken off the day before Wyatt’s wedding, it was safe to say I hadn’t slowed my pace at work. But now, my reasons for working the extra hours were different.
My motivation wasn’t about needing to distract myself from the thoughts of how bad the situation was with Ava, like it had been for sixteen months.
Now, I was working so hard, because I wanted to get ahead.
I wanted to be able to take a few days off next week in order to spend some time with Ava. We had a lot to discuss, and I didn’t want to rush things with her. So, I had been pouring myself into work this week.
Though, if I was being entirely honest with myself, my need to work wasn’t just about my desire to have some time off next week. I guess there was a small part of me that needed to find a way to keep my mind distracted.
Because whenever I wasn’t caught up in a project at work, my mind wandered to Ava, our night together, and the plans I had for us when she returned.
If nothing else, at least my need for a distraction was a good one now.
I’d just barely gotten the email I needed to review pulled up on my screen when the door to my office swung open. Ivy stepped inside and slammed the door shut behind her. Jumping in my seat at the sound, I took her in. She was red in the face, and her chest was heaving.
My muscles tightened, worry consuming me. “Are you okay?”
My sister took two more deep breaths. “No, I’m absolutely not okay.”
As quickly as I could, I tried to run through everything I’d approved lately. Had I done something that would have impacted her in her position at the hotel? Ivy and I worked in two separate places on the Westwood’s campus. While she was responsible for everything related to The Westwood Hotel, I was busy in the office dealing with anything and everything pertaining to marketing and product development. Despite the differences in our day-to-day job duties, it was still possible our paths would cross through work-related events.
When I couldn’t come up with anything that might explain why Ivy seemed so distressed, I braced myself for what she was going to say. “Tell me what’s going on.”
“You. I’m so mad at you; I don’t know what to do with myself.”
Her hands were balled into fists, her anger evident, but there was a touch of sadness in her voice. “Well, I’d like to apologize for whatever it is. Would you care to fill me in?”
Ivy stepped forward, moving toward my desk. She kept her eyes pinned on my face, and when she came to a stop right in front of my desk, pressing the tip of one finger onto the hardsurface, she asked, “How long have you known that Ava was into you?”
With that single question, it was all coming together for me. I had a feeling I knew why my sister was so upset. But I figured it was best to just answer her questions before I eased her fears. “Since you were both fifteen.”
“You’ve known all these years, and you’ve never done a thing about it until now?” she questioned me.
I couldn’t get a read on Ivy. Was she upset it’d taken me so long, or was she mad I did anything at all?
I could only assume Ava had shared the news of what happened between us with Ivy. I expected nothing less would have eventually happened, because they were so close, they were like sisters. But I had to admit it surprised me she would have done that before she and I really had the time to talk about everything. Either way, I didn’t mind and gave Ivy a simple but honest response. “Yes.”
“I can’t believe you,” she rasped.
Ivy was on the verge of tears, and I hated seeing her so upset. But it baffled me why this would affect her so negatively. Wanting to quell her fears, I insisted, “Ivy, I don’t want you to think I’m going to steal her away from you. I know how important your friendship is to her. I know yours means just as much to her, too. So, I’d never seek to take that away from either one of you. No matter how my relationship with her progresses, I don’t want you to think I’d ever stand in the way of you and her having the same friendship you’ve always had.”
Her brows drew together, confusion washing over her expression. “Your relationship? What relationship?”
Nodding, I replied, “Well, exactly. I think this visit is a little premature, considering the relationship hasn’t technically been established. But I get that Ava probably shared things with you,and it’s only natural you’re assuming we’re practically engaged to be married.”
“Yeah, um, if only that was the problem,” she spat.
Ivy was a strong-willed woman. She never let anyone walk all over her, and she always stood up for herself. She also occasionally had a flair for dramatics in certain situations. But there was something about the way she was acting now that went beyond her usual brand of fierceness. “Do you want to have a seat, calm down, and tell me what exactly you’re so upset about?”
She shook her head. “No, Tate, I don’t want to sit down. I’m entirely too upset to sit down.”
“Why? This is a bit extreme, don’t you think?”
Her lip curled with disgust. “You would think that, wouldn’t you? I don’t think my reaction is extreme at all. Because now, all thanks to you and your selfishness, I have no best friend.”
I wanted to laugh, because she was taking this far too seriously, but I fought against that urge. If she was in a mood like this, I’d only incense her further by acting like it was a joke. “I already told you I wasn’t going to come between your friendship. You and Ava will still be able to spend plenty of time together.”
Ivy cocked a brow. “Oh, yeah? And tell me, Tate, how you expect that’s going to happen whenshe’s not coming home!”