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Chapter 22
Isleptinuntilten the next morning. I couldn’t remember the last time I slept that late. The first thing I did was check my phone. I had sixteen texts from Thea. Oh, poor Thea. I totally forgot to let her know I was okay, and she was stuck picking up my slack after I passed out.
Are you okay?
Please just text me a smiley face.
This is getting out of control.
Are you alive?!!?!
I texted her back right away.I am so, so sorry. I hadn’t eaten all day and passed out. I’m fine now. Am I fired?
Immediately the three dots showed up.Don’t you ever do that to me again!! I don’t know. Mark was pretty flustered. I’m sure he’ll forgive you, though. You haven’t given him any problems until now.
That was a relief. I could still work for the catering company and help with groceries.
Another text came in from Thea.Are you sure you want to keep working, though?
I blinked a few times. Did I?
My door burst open and Katy peeked in. “Finally!” she exclaimed, rushing into my room and jumping on my bed.
I groaned as she pushed on my stomach. “I’ve told you before, this is not my favorite way to wake up.”
She wrapped her arms around my neck and squeezed me in a giant hug. “I’m just so glad you’re alive.”
My breath caught in my throat. What seven-year-old ran around saying things like that? One who knew what it was like to nearly lose the ones she loved, that’s who. I pressed a kiss to her head. “I’m fine, silly girl. I just needed to sleep and eat something.”
She pulled away. “Good thing you’re awake now. Mom made a big breakfast, so you can eat.” She frowned. “But Scott’s still here.”
“He’s not so bad, Katy girl,” I said, climbing groggily out of bed. My head still hurt; whether residual from last night or lack of caffeine, I wasn’t sure.
She scrunched up her face in thought. “I guess he did save you last night,” she conceded. I followed Katy as she bounced down the stairs, relieved that she might begin to forgive him. Scott was sitting at the kitchen table with my parents. I had forgotten all about our conversation last night, including the fact that he said heloved me. It came flooding back to me as I saw him sitting comfortably in my parents’ cozy kitchen. The same kitchen I had eaten breakfast in every day of my life. What was happening? This was so weird.
I looked around the kitchen and living room, trying to see it for the first time through Scott’s eyes. I had been at his childhood house enough to know what he was used to. Stark white perfection. I used to tell Amy that her house looked like heaven. This house was the exact opposite. Colorful kitchen appliances, a worn-in couch, cupboards crammed with mugs and mismatched dishes. I loved it, but what did Scott think?
His eyes met mine, and the warmth in them made me melt. He must not have been that horrified by the decor. He stood up and walked over to me, running his hands down my arms.
“How are you feeling?” he asked gently.
I nodded. “Nothing some breakfast and coffee can’t fix.”
He smoothed the back of my hair and gave me a half-smile. “I’ll help with that.” He headed to the coffee machine to get my mug set up.
My mom stood up from her seat and walked to me, and my dad wheeled over. “How are you feeling?” my mom asked.
“I have a bit of a headache.” I shook my head. “But I’m so embarrassed about the drama I caused at the benefit.”
My dad waved his hand. “We’re more worried about you.”
“I feel so awful that I pushed you guys to get on the show. And it turned into a disaster.”
“We’re grown adults, Ivy,” my mom said. “We made the decision to go on the show. Maybe you encouraged us a little bit, but at the end of the day, we bear the responsibility.”
“I can’t believe they staged that drama with Maritza Sanchez,” I said.
My dad laughed. “I can.”
