Chapter 4

Ivy carefully placed the plates on the dining table, setting everything perfectly, just like her mom liked it. Tonight, Emily was home, and that meant one of their rare family dinners. Ivy glanced around the table, noting the absence of Trevor and secretly hoping it would stay that way.

As they all took their seats, Emily looked over to Justin. "Is he coming?" she asked, her voice laced with a hint of exasperation.

Justin shrugged, a slight frown tugging at his lips. "Wouldn’t expect him to show up at all," he replied, barely masking his irritation.

But just as he spoke, Trevor sauntered into the dining area, wearing his usual smug grin. Ivy muttered under her breath, "Speak of the devil," and picked up her spoon, ready to dig in and ignore him completely.

Before she could take her first bite, Emily gently placed her hand on Ivy’s wrist. "Let’s say grace," she reminded, nodding for everyone to put their spoons down.

They all bowed their heads as Emily led a short prayer, each of them murmuring “Amen” in unison. With that, they finally started eating, the clinking of cutlery the only sound breaking the silence.

Ivy kept her gaze firmly on her plate, doing her best to stay out of Trevor’s line of sight. But after a few moments, she felt eyes on her. Glancing up, she caught Trevor staring directly at her, a mischievous glint in his eye. He didn’t miss a beat, winking at her, causing a flash of irritation to shoot through her.

Unable to hold back, she scoffed in disgust, rolling her eyes.

Emily looked up, eyebrows raised in concern. "Is something wrong, Ivy?"

Ivy shook her head quickly, forcing a tight smile. "No, nothing, Mom."

But as they returned to their meals, Ivy couldn’t help but silently fume, wishing Trevor would find someone else to pester.

  After dinner, both Ivy and Justin started stacking the plates, getting ready to take them from the dining room to the kitchen. Just as they were about to leave, Emily raised a hand to stop them.

"Wait a second," Emily said, a small smile on her face. Ivy and Justin paused, exchanging a quick glance before turning their attention back to her.

"So, some good news," Emily continued, looking at both Justin and Trevor, who was still lounging in his chair with his usual nonchalant expression. "Your parents will be coming in two weeks’ time," she said, her voice full of warmth.

At this, both Justin and Trevor stiffened slightly, their expressions falling flat. The two of them exchanged a glance, a silent understanding passing between them, but neither said a word. 

Emily seemed to notice the shift in their mood. "I know you’re not thrilled, but they genuinely want to bond with you both," she said gently, her gaze full of concern and a bit of hope.

Trevor let out a low scoff, rolling his eyes as he muttered, "Isn’t it a bit late for bonding?" 

Emily sighed softly, her face slightly falling. "I know it may feel that way," she admitted, her voice tinged with a quiet sadness. "But sometimes, people realize things later than they should. They want to try, at least."

Justin remained silent, staring at his hands, while Trevor leaned back in his chair, an unreadable look in his eyes. Ivy could feel the tension in the air, and she shifted uncomfortably, unsure of what to say. Emily gave them a reassuring smile, though it was clear she wasn’t fully convinced this reunion would go as smoothly as she hoped.

"Well," Emily finally said, breaking the silence, "just think about it. You don’t have to make any decisions now." 

With that, Ivy and Justin resumed clearing the table, the room feeling heavier than it had before.

 

Ivy noticed Justin had gone silent since her mom broke the news. He’d withdrawn, his usual playful energy dimmed. She nudged his shoulder gently, drawing his attention.

When he finally looked at her, she gave him a reassuring smile. “You don’t have to make up with them if you’re not ready,” she said softly. “Don’t force it. If it’s meant to happen, it’ll come naturally.”

Justin’s face softened, and this time his smile seemed genuine. “Thanks,” he murmured, gratitude clear in his eyes.

As they finished up with the last plate, he leaned over and gave her a quick, affectionate kiss on the cheek. "I’m lucky to have you,” he said quietly before turning to leave, the faintest trace of relief in his steps. 

Ivy’s cheeks burned as she stacked the plates into the cupboard, replaying the soft kiss Justin had just given her. She tried to shake off the flustered feeling, but her cheeks were as red as tomatoes.

“So cute,” came a voice from behind, making her nearly jump. She spun around, scowling as soon as she saw who it was.

Trevor leaned casually against the doorway, smirking at her. 

"Can you not sneak up on people like that?” she snapped, rolling her eyes.

He just chuckled, crossing his arms. "Didn’t think you’d get so blushy over a little kiss on the cheek."

She shot him a glare, grabbing another stack of plates. “Mind your business, Trevor.”

“Oh, but you and Justin are my business,” he said, grinning in that infuriating way of his.

Ivy huffed, trying to ignore Trevor’s smug grin as she shoved the plates into the cupboard with a bit more force than necessary. She wished he’d just leave already, but Trevor looked like he was settling in for a show.

“Face it, Ivy,” he said, leaning against the counter. “You’re head over heels, and Justin? He’s completely oblivious.”

She shot him a deadly look. “And what’s it to you?”

“Oh, nothing,” he shrugged, his smirk never fading. “Just love watching you squirm.”

Ivy clenched her jaw, willing herself not to react. She hated that he got to her so easily, and he knew it. Trevor’s games were nothing new, but tonight he seemed particularly keen on getting under her skin.

“Why don’t you just go bother someone else, Trevor?” she muttered, turning back to the dishes. “Don’t you have something better to do?”

He laughed softly. “What could be better than watching you play pretend?”

Ivy ignored him, focusing on rinsing the dishes even as her hands trembled. Trevor was wrong—Justin wasn’t “oblivious.” He was just… Justin. Her best friend, someone she could count on, someone who’d always been there. But Trevor’s words dug at her, making her question things she’d rather not think about.

Finally, she couldn’t take it anymore. She slammed the last plate into the drying rack and turned to him. “Look, Trevor. I don’t know what your problem is, but I’m not interested in your opinion on my life.”

He held up his hands, feigning innocence. “Hey, just looking out for you. After all, not everyone’s as patient as Justin.”

Before she could snap back, he turned and walked out of the kitchen, leaving her fuming and a little shaken.

~~

"What do you mean you declined his offer?" Stephanie asked, visibly annoyed.

"Am I really supposed to make a deal with the devil?" Ivy replied, dipping her hand into the bag of chips.

"Yes, duh! Trevor’s his brother, so he probably knows what Justin likes better than anyone."

"I’m his best friend, Steph. He tells me everything," Ivy argued, popping a chip in her mouth.

Stephanie shook her head. "Not everything. Trevor’s a guy, Ivy. He knows how guys think, and he and Justin might even be more alike than you realize."

Ivy let out a heavy sigh, looking defeated. "So, what do you think I should do?"

"Simple," Stephanie said, grinning. "Go to Trevor and ask him for advice."

"Easier said than done," Ivy muttered.

Stephanie rolled her eyes, clearly unimpressed. "Come on, Ivy. What's the worst that could happen? He might tease you a bit, but if it gets you closer to Justin, isn’t it worth it?"

Ivy sighed, glancing at the bag of chips as if it held the answer. "You know he’s going to make me pay some ridiculous price for his ‘help.’"

"Yeah, probably," Stephanie admitted with a grin. "But that’s just Trevor being Trevor. Besides, you’re tough. You can handle him."

Ivy groaned, leaning back in her chair. "Fine. I’ll talk to him. But if he tries to make me do his laundry or wash his car, I’m blaming you."

Stephanie clapped her hands excitedly. "That’s the spirit! Now, just try not to overthink it. Play it cool. Trevor loves it when people get all nervous around him—it’s like he feeds off the drama."

Ivy laughed, rolling her eyes. "Great. That’s exactly what I need—another ego boost for Trevor."

Stephanie nudged her. "You’ve got this. Go get your intel and then report back."

Ivy chuckled to herself, already regretting this plan. She knew Trevor would tease her endlessly, but she couldn't shake the curiosity about what tactics he might actually suggest to win Justin over.

On her way home, she kept rehearsing ways to approach him, feeling both ridiculous and nervous. What if he just laughed in her face, called her desperate, or—worse—revealed that the whole offer was just a joke to mess with her? The thought made her groan, catching Justin’s attention.

"Are you okay?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Yeah... just thinking about school," she said quickly, attempting a casual shrug.

He narrowed his eyes, clearly unconvinced. "Hmm."

When they finally got home, Ivy headed straight to her room to mentally prep herself on how to approach Trevor without coming off as desperate or ridiculous. Soon enough, it was dinnertime, and they all gathered around the table, sharing polite conversation. Afterward, Ivy offered to help clear the plates, making her way to the kitchen while justin and Trevor lingered in the dining area.

Ivy’s heart hammered as she heard footsteps approaching the kitchen. She took a steadying breath and looked up, watching Trevor stroll in with that familiar, smug expression.

“I’ve changed my mind,” she said, forcing herself to hold his gaze. Trevor’s smirk only deepened.

“Quicker than I thought,” he chuckled.

She rolled her eyes, focusing on the plates in front of her. “Just don’t make me regret it.”

“I won’t,” he replied, his voice laced with amusement.

She hesitated before asking, “So… what’s the first ‘lesson’?”

Trevor stayed silent for a moment, and just as she was about to look up, she felt his hand slide onto her waist. Her eyes went wide as he leaned in, his chest lightly pressing against her back.

“What the hell are you doing?” she whispered, trying to push him away, but he didn’t budge.

“Relax,” he murmured, his voice low, his hand still at her waist. Her mind raced, trying to make sense of what he was doing, when suddenly—

“What the hell?” Justin’s voice cut through the tension, making her heart skip a beat.

Ivy’s face went pale as Justin stood there, glaring before storming out. She shoved Trevor away, her face flushing with both anger and embarrassment.

“What is wrong with you?” she hissed.

Trevor just smirked, completely unbothered. “Chill, kitten. That was lesson one… make him jealous.” Then, without another word, he strolled out, leaving her speechless and more confused than ever.

TBC