Page 21 of Recovering Ivy

“Dealer. User. Both. I only had two years left and tried to stay away from the house as much as possible. By then, my mom was so bad, she didn’t notice where I was or what I was doing. All she cared about was Lance supplying her with drugs. Hell, she didn’t even care if the power was on. As long as she was high, all was right in her world.”

“Baby.” Zane gentled.

“Don’t. It was a long time ago. I’m over it.”

“You are? Is that why you look at me like I’m a piece of shit with some shady motive? I offer you help and protection and the next thing that comes from your pretty little mouth pisses me off so bad, I see red.”

“I didn’t…”

“You did. I get it. It pisses me the fuck off, but I understand. They did you dirty, baby. How else are you supposed to look at me? Just by the little you shared, I take no one has ever offered you anything without their hand out. But check this, Ivy. I’m not them. Not that you’ll believe me now, but in time you will.”

In time?

There was no time.

“I like it better when you’re being an ass,” I blurted.

“Why’s that?”

I thought about ignoring him.

But I didn’t. Instead, I gave him my truth.

“Because no one has ever taken the time to understand anything I say or do.”

“That’s fucked.”

“That’s my life.”

“Still fucked.”

“It is what it is. Why would someone take the time?”

“The time has come.”

Oh, no. It was time to change the subject.

“If you’re not gonna let me leave, can I at least go to bed?”

Why was I giving in? I should’ve walked my ass out the door and never looked back.

But I didn’t.

“You want the master or the spare?” he asked.

“Huh?”

“The master bedroom or the spare room?” he spoke slowly.

“Um. Where are you sleeping?”

His face got tight and his forehead pinched.

“Serious as shit, woman. Are you asking what I think you’re asking? I fully understand you’ve been fucked in the past. But I am not another douchebag in what I assume is a long line that’s screwed you.”

“It’s not...” I started, then stopped.

“Come again?”