17: Is He Really Your Boyfriend?

17.

Ivy's POV 

As soon as the front door shut behind him, my entire body screamed for release. The tension in my shoulders, the tightness in my chest. I wanted to collapse right there in the hallway, sink to the floor, and let the exhaustion swallow me whole. 

I barely had a second to steady my breathing before my mother’s voice cut through the silence behind me.

“He’s really something, isn’t he?”

I turned with a smile on instinct.

“Yeah,” I said, forcing the word out.

Her eyes gleamed with excitement as she stepped closer, practically vibrating with enthusiasm. “I knew something was up, Ivy. You’ve been so secretive lately, and now I know why!”

Before I could react, she reached forward and grabbed my hands, squeezing them between her own. Her warmth should have been comforting, but it only made me feel more trapped.

“I can’t believe you didn’t tell me!” she gushed. “My daughter, the little bookworm, finally dating? I never thought I’d see the day.”

I swallowed hard, nodding along, pretending like I was just as thrilled as she was.

She had no idea that I wasn’t dating Demi. That this wasn’t some sweet, romantic relationship. That every moment I spent with him chipped away at me, left me hollow, left me exhausted.

And yet, here she was. Proud. Excited.

Instead, I let her tug me toward the living room, where she all but dragged me down onto the couch beside her. She turned to me, eyes bright with curiosity. 

“Tell me everything. How long has this been going on?”

“A few months,” I said.

Her eyebrows shot up. “Months?! Ivy, that’s huge! And you didn’t tell me?”

“I wanted to be sure before saying anything.” 

She nodded approvingly, as if that was exactly what she expected from me. 

“Okay, okay,” she leaned in like we were sharing some huge, exciting secret. “So tell me. How did you meet? How did it happen?”

I had no real story to tell. No sweet, movie-perfect moment. Just a bunch of bad decisions. So I told her the same thing I told Amari.

“I helped him with an assignment, and then we got locked in the library. We had to wait until someone let us out, and we just started talking more after that.”

Her face softened, a smile tugging at her lips. “That’s adorable. What do you like about him?”

I almost scoffed. Nothing. Absolutely nothing.

Everything about him made me feel disgusted, made my skin crawl. But I couldn’t say that.

“He’s… charming,” I forced out. “And confident.”

It wasn’t exactly a lie. I mean, he completely and successfully charmed my mother just a few hours ago.

He just also happened to be a monster.

“I love that,” she gushed. “You need someone to bring you out of your shell. And Demi seems to adore you.”

Her voice was full of warmth, full of excitement. She smiled at me, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear like she used to when I was a kid.

“Ivy, I’m so proud of you,” she said, her voice soft and full of something I couldn’t bear to name. “You have never, even for a minute, embarrassed me.”

My stomach twisted so violently I thought I might be sick.

I forced a smile, one that I hoped looked real, and swallowed past the lump in my throat. “Thanks, Mom.”

She kissed my forehead, sighing like everything in her world was perfect. Like I was perfect.

“I just want you to be happy,” she murmured.

Happy? I didn’t even remember what happy felt like.

I felt like I was suffocating.

The walls of the living room seemed to close in, her warm gaze only adding to the crushing weight in my chest. She didn’t know. She couldn’t know.

I shouldn’t have let this happen. I should have been smarter.

I should have never gotten involved with Demi, not even for a second. But I had made one mistake. One reckless, stupid decision, and he had taken that and twisted it into something I couldn’t escape.

And now, here I was, sitting next to my mother while she beamed at me with pride, completely unaware of the storm raging beneath my skin.

But I had to keep making my mother proud no matter what. I couldn't shatter her heart. Not even a tiny crack.

I had to keep my secret. And if that meant doing whatever Demi wanted, even if it killed me, then so be it.

My mother patted my cheek, her expression still glowing with happiness. “Go on and freshen up so you can get a good night’s rest.”

I nodded quickly with a forced smile, needing to get away before I cracked. “Okay, Mom.”

Immediately I got to the stairs, my breathing came out in short, shaky bursts. My head was spinning, and my hands were shaking. I felt like I was going to collapse.

I needed a second. A moment alone to get it all together.

But when I opened my bedroom door, I saw

Brandon was sitting at my study desk like he owned the place.

I stiffened immediately, every nerve in my body going on high alert. “What the hell are you doing here?”

He didn’t even flinch at my sharp tone. He just leaned back in my chair, arms crossed over his chest, completely unfazed. 

“It’s my father’s house.”

Of course, it was.

I turned toward the door. “Then I’ll leave.”

I didn’t have the strength to deal with him. Not tonight. Not after everything.

But just as I reached for the handle, his voice cut through the air like a knife.

“Is Demi really your boyfriend?”

My hand froze midair.

I inhaled slowly, forcing myself to turn back toward him. My face was carefully blank. “Of course, he is.”

Brandon tilted his head, dark eyes scanning my face like he was trying to peel back every layer and see what was underneath.

“Then why did you just tense up?”

I stiffened even more, cursing myself. I hadn’t meant to react. I hadn’t meant to give anything away.

“That’s a stupid question,” I muttered, crossing my arms. “Why are you even asking me this?”

Brandon didn’t answer right away. Instead, he stood up, and I immediately took a step back.

“You’ve been acting weird. Too tense. At school, at dinner tonight. Even right now as I asked you about him.” 

I could feel my heartbeat hammering against my ribs, a wild, frantic rhythm.

“I see the way you are with him. You’re always on edge. Jumpy. Like you’re waiting for something bad to happen.”

I kept stepping back as he walked toward me until my back hit the wall.

He didn’t stop until he was just inches from me, his towering presence caging me in, and my breath hitched.

“Is he really your boyfriend, Ivy?”

I lifted my chin, trying to mask my panic. “It’s none of your business. You should leave.”

Brandon studied me for another moment before finally stepping back and I exhaled sharply. He walked toward the door, but just before leaving, he paused.

“I’m sure there’s something there. And I’m going to find out what it is.”