The Girl Next Door - Emma Hart Page 0,7
lay down on my bed before I checked my phone in case Ivy had text.
She had.
IVY: I safely made it to bed without the monsters snapping at my ankles.
I smiled.
ME: Thanks for checking in. I’ll spray under your bed tomorrow.
IVY: Maybe if you’d done that in the first place, I wouldn’t be a walking incubator.
ME: On the bright side, you can’t get rid of me now.
IVY: You and I have different opinions on what a ‘bright side’ is.
ME: I know. I thought sleeping with you was one, but I guess you disagree there, too.
IVY: I knew that was a bad idea.
ME: How are you feeling?
IVY: Like, am I feeling sick? Or am I feeling like my world is spinning at a million miles an hour and nothing makes sense anymore?
ME: Do you need me to come over?
IVY: No. I need someone to pinch me. Or just kill me so I don’t have to tell my grandmother tomorrow, because she probably will kill me.
ME: It’ll be fine. Do you want me there when you tell her?
IVY: Do you WANT to die at the hands of a constipated old woman?
ME: I can’t say that’s ever been on my shortlist. I thought maybe bungee jumping.
IVY: If you go bungee jumping and die and leave me to raise this baby alone, I’ll kill you again.
ME: You can’t kill a dead person.
IVY: You just watch me, Kai. You just watch me.
IVY: How are you feeling? You seemed scarily calm when I told you.
ME: In my defense, you were crying so hard I thought you might drown yourself. I didn’t have much time to think about me.
IVY: Well, now you have. Are you sure you’re not mad?
ME: I told you I’m not mad. We knew what we were doing when we chose not to use a condom.
ME: It’s sinking in. I’m a little shocked, yeah, but I’m okay.
IVY: Are you sure?
ME: You’re not allowed to worry about me.
IVY: I am. You can’t help me if you’re dead.
ME: I have no imminent plans to die.
IVY: Then you’re definitely not coming to tell my grandmother. In her eyes, the only person worse than me will be you.
ME: …Does pizza make you feel sick?
IVY: If it does, I might just let my grandmother kill me.
IVY: Why?
ME: I was going to get you pizza for after.
IVY: Oh. I have to work tomorrow night.
ME: In a bar? Is that safe?
IVY: OMG, I wish people would not ask me that.
IVY: Yes, it’s safe. I’m serving people cocktails, not glugging pure ethanol.
ME: Just checking.
IVY: Mm. I’m going to sleep now. I’ll talk to you tomorrow.
ME: Check in when you’ve told your grandma so I know if you’re still alive.
IVY: If she hasn’t broken all my fingers.
ME: I hope you’re joking.
IVY: So do I. Goodnight.
***
Anna’s gaze followed me as I walked across the kitchen to put two slices of bread in the toaster.
“Spit it out,” I said, pushing the lever down.
“How are you feeling this morning?”
“Like I wish I’d never let you stay here.” I grabbed the butter from the fridge. “How are you?”
“Wishing I’d drowned you when we were younger,” she replied dryly. “Seriously, Kai, how are you? You had a shock yesterday.”
I peered over my shoulder at her. She looked genuinely concerned about me, so I blew out a long breath and said, “It’s going to take me a few days to fully come to terms with it, I think. But I’m fine, sis, really. I just need to be there for Ivy right now.”
“I understand that.” She wrapped her hands around her coffee mug and leaned forward on the island. “You have to look after yourself, too.”
“I know, and I will.”
“You should ask her out, you know. When this has settled.”
“Anna…” I sighed, flipping my toast and pushing the lever back down for another minute. “I said last night that wasn’t an option. Just because I have feelings for her doesn’t mean I’m going to take advantage of this situation. I regret ever telling you that.”
“You only told me because I was setting you up.”
“With your friend whom I hate.”
“Po-tay-to, po-tah-to.” She waved her hand in the air dismissively. “I thought she wasn’t real until yesterday, not gonna lie.”
I popped my toast and put the slices on the cutting board. “I think your break-up has made you go crazy.”
“No. I’m sane now. I was crazy when I dated that wild motherfucker,” she asserted, blowing on her coffee before she took a sip. “What are you doing today?”
“Working.” I motioned to my