Ivy

by Willa Nash

This was why she came to Treason. Not for the music. Not for the crowd. Not for the dancing. She came for him. What would Ivy say if she knew Elora was fucking her older brother?

“If you walk away this time without kissing me, I swear to make your life a living hell.”

“I’m tempted to leave just to see what you’d do. Got a feeling I’d enjoy your brand of torture. But . . .”

She didn’t just love this man. She admired him.

“Wear green. I like green.” She harrumphed. “I always wear green. It’s my favorite color.” “Mine too.” He winked, then strode into the hallway.

“No one in this world knows me like you do. Because I haven’t let them. Not even Mira. And though you might pretend to shut me out, Elora Maldonado, no one in this world knows you like I do.”

“You and me, we fit,” he said. “We fit so fucking perfectly it shouldn’t be real.

“Want me to start calling you Cassie?” he asked. “No.” “Good. Because I like Cassia better than Cassie.” She smiled. “Me too.” “Or maybe I’ll just stick to Red. My Red.”

“You’re getting a tattoo?” Elora asked Zain as he settled into a chair. “We are. I was hoping you’d get one too.” Zain pointed to the neon sign on the wall. Two hearts. One beat. An hour later, Zain had the first part of that script inked over his heart. And Elora had the second half inked over hers.

“From the moment I saw you in that club, you were mine. To touch. To hold. To kiss. To protect. You were mine.

“Because, baby, this is going to be so fucking good.” No, this was going to be great. This was going to be the love of her

Ivy thrust her champagne flute into the center of their circle. “Let’s do another toast.” “Again?” Zain teased. “What are we toasting this time?” “To secrets.” Ivy smirked. “And the friends we trust to keep them.”