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I tell myself to breathe. It’s not like I’m going back to the capital. We’re landing, and I’m immediately taking a small, private plane to fly an hour away, up to the mountains where all the well-to-do of Anderia own land and huge McMansions much larger than their estates in the capital.
My parents bought a small house up there this year—an achievement in itself. The real estate is insane over there. My dad’s work is really taking off, and my mother’s gallery has never been more popular. It doesn’t hurt that Nico takes Bella there on a regular basis. Many people go to the gallery’s small, trendy restaurant just to catch a glimpse of the fancy couple.
She kept her engagement.
I didn’t.
Because unlike her, I was engaged to a literal psycho. I sincerely doubt I would have survived my wedding day.
It’s all behind me now.
I said yes when my parents begged me to come to their first winter retreat in their brand-new house because I can’t let his ghost chase me away from my family. Buying this place is an important milestone for us. I can’t let him take that from me, too.
But there’s no denying I’m terrified now that I’m actually here.
He can’t get to me. Even if Alex is up in the mountains this winter, there’s no reason why we’d interact at all.
If I say it to myself enough times, surely, that’ll make it true?
TWO
Ivy
“Ivy!”
I break into a grin as I watch the teenager wildly waving both of her arms and jumping on her feet.
I saw her this summer, just five months ago, but she’s maturing at a crazy rate right now. She went from flat to stealing my C cup bras last year, which was an adjustment. I only get to see her every few months, so the changes are startling. Now, perched on heeled black loafers, wearing red tights and the cutest checkered miniskirt with a blazer, there’s no denying it: she’s grown up. And gorgeous.
Bella was always the pretty, confident, outspoken one. If we didn’t look like clones of our mother, I’d doubt we were related at all, but there’s no denying the surface resemblance. Her curly mane falls in soft waves to the middle of her back, but it’s ink black like my spaghetti-straight hair currently stuffed in a bun at the top of my head. We have the same green eyes, straight, upturned nose a little too small for our face, and strange mouth, with an upper lip plumper than the lower one.
But our similarities stop at the physical. She glows, so certain of her own worth, her place in the world. I’m most comfortable with my nose behind a book—preferably one happening in another universe. This one sucks.
I rush to hug her, throwing my arms around her shoulders with an excited squeal. All our differences don’t change the fact that she’s my favorite person in the world. So what if she’s ridiculously perfect? She’s also kind and sweet and adorable.
“I didn’t think you’d get here so soon!” I exclaim as we finally part, both grinning.
There aren’t that many direct flights from London to Asteria. I had a choice between an eight-hour layover in Paris, or coming a day before my family. As much as I like croissants, I went for option two. I have all my skiing stuff with me; dragging them across three different countries didn’t seem like the best idea.
Mom sent me the keys and passcodes to get into the house, and they’re supposed to join me tomorrow morning.
Bella rolls her eyes. “Like I’d leave you alone now that you’refinallyhome. School broke Wednesday, so I had Mom book me a flight to head up here with you.” She grabs the bag I discarded on the floor without asking, tilting her to the site. “Come on, I know where our next flight is.”
I hook my arm around her elbow, dragging my carry-on luggage behind me.
My big suitcase and my ski bags will thankfully be sent directly to my connection.
“You’re traveling light,” I note, spotting nothing but a small clutch across her duffle coat.
“We had our stuff sent ahead to the house,” she explains. “Now, tell me everything. Boys? How about your nightmare boss? And your roommate?”
I break into a smile, catching her up on my life. “The nightmare boss is still working me forty hours a week. But she means well.”
Last year, I interned at a publishing house for extra credit. I’m getting a double major: literature and business. In the long run, I see myself owning a library-cafe, but to my surprise, I loved my internship.
Not only did they leave me a glowing recommendation, they also offered me a part-time job I couldn’t resist. I’m assisting one of their senior editors, a fashionable, impeccably dressed woman who intimidates the shit out of me. But she’s great at her job, and not as horrible as I first assumed. She gives me a lot of work, sure, but I’ll never forget the email she sent to my professor.
Ivy Blue is an unpolished gem, and will shine in whatever industry she lands on. It will be an honor to say I was one of the first to shape her mind.
