Ivy

by Willa Nash

One, and only one, person at Aston knew about her past. And he’d vowed never to share the ugly truth.

And Elora had learned a long time ago not to trust her best friend.

And in the center of it all, there he was. He sat on the largest couch with a tumbler of amber liquid in hand as he surveyed his club. A king on his throne. Zain.

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?

Michael Bamford wasn’t just a Sigma. He was the Sigma.

“Join a team for the group project in 410,” said a deep voice. She jumped, pressing a hand to her racing heart. “You scared me.” “Sorry.” The guy at her side held out a hand, the corner of his mouth turned up. “Michael Bamford.”

Ohhhh nooooo

She’d made her uncle swear to keep their relationship a secret. He’d helped her get into Aston, but that was where their interactions had to stop. No good would come from people learning her truths, including her real name.

“We’ll keep it simple for today. My brothers are off-limits. Break that rule, and I’ll evict you faster than you can blink.”

They fit together like puzzle pieces. Her edges weren’t so jagged when he held her close.

A first kiss smelled like a man. Like clean soap with spicy undertones. Like temptation and anticipation. When Cassia closed her eyes, when she thought of the scent she wanted to inhale before a man’s lips touched hers, it was Edwin’s.

“He was a man I knew years ago. It was . . . fleeting. And he died.” The floor tilted beneath Elora’s feet. Her mind whirled. Dead.

Calling it. Cassias dad

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

“Trusting people is how you get your heart broken.” “You’ve got it wrong.” Edwin shook his head. “Trusting people is how you mend your broken heart.”

“I won’t be a secret,” he said. “I won’t play games. I won’t fuck around. I have no desire to be a whatever. We don’t need a label, but I sure as hell won’t pretend you don’t mean something. Clear?”

Don’t ask me to hide you. There are very few real and normal things in my life. Don’t steal one from me.”

On the screen was a woman with cheery coral hair, the color nearly identical to Cassia’s.

Cassia shook her head. “I-I know her.”

Instead, his heart monitor flatlined.

EXCUSE ME

She knew that face. She’d seen him walking around Aston’s campus. He was the dean of students. Henry Neilson.

OMFGGGGG

“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.”

Tate walked arm in arm with Allison fucking Winston.

OmfgGgggggg

She sucked in a breath. “You already knew.”

Devney youre killing meeee

“Josh is my ex.” She swallowed hard. “And my father’s lover.”

OMFGGG DEVNEYYYYYYYYYYY OMGGGGGGG

pregnancy test. With a tiny plus in the window.

FUCKING A

And when Elora had walked into Treason years ago, he’d taken one look at her and known he was fucked. Because even though their parents had created a goddamn mess, he’d wanted Elora anyway.

“I am your father, Elora Maldonado. From the moment you took your first breath until the moment I take my last. Understood?”

“What’s with you and good today?” “Just calling it like it is.” His lips coasted against hers, his tongue dragging along the seam of her smile. “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 life.

Why was she laughing? Maybe because of all the people at Aston, the last two she’d expected to be sharing secrets with were her roommates—former roommates.

“To secrets.” Ivy smirked. “And the friends we trust to keep them.”

Now they were just . . . sisters. Sisters-in-law.

“Welcome home, baby.”

Omggggg

After all, secrets were Ivy’s specialty. And oh, what fun those secrets could be.