Chapter 86: Little Cheater

Chapter 86: Little Cheater

Leo

Anton and I were just finishing the last round when the door to the home gym opened.

I didn’t turn immediately.

My focus was still on the bag, on the violence of my fists meeting leather, on the way each impact sent a clean jolt up my arms that felt better than thinking. Sweat ran down my spine in steady lines.

The speakers were still on, blasting something aggressive enough to drown out everything else. Anton gave me a short nod of approval, already reaching for his water bottle, when movement in the doorway finally pulled my attention.

Ivy. She walked in wearing a bikini. The same one she had been in earlier by the pool with Poppy.

The faint sheen of sunscreen and chlorine was still visible on her shoulders. Her hair was loose and a little messy from the sun.

She looked soft, warm and entirely too innocent.

Anton greeted her with a polite nod. She returned it. Then he left without another word, the door clicking shut behind him. The gym suddenly felt smaller.

I pulled the headphones down around my neck and let the silence settle.

“Thought you were downstairs,” I said. My voice came out almost too casual. “Need anything?”

She bit her lip and shook her head. The gesture was small, nervous. “No. I just… wanted to be with you.”

Hmm. Already feeling the heat of your actions, Ivy? Is that guilt finally catching up?

I studied her for a second longer than necessary.

The way she stood there like she still belonged in my space. Like yesterday hadn’t happened. Like she hadn’t stood in another man’s room and let him put his mouth on her while I got a front-row seat.

“Okay,” I said. “I’m almost done. I’m actually stepping out soon.”

Her frown was immediate. “Where are you going?”

I smiled. “Why do you ask? Keeping me prisoner now? Or is there something you want to tell me? You’ve been acting rather strange since yesterday.”

Her eyes widened the way a child’s would when they’re caught with their hand in something they shouldn’t touch. Then she shook her head repeatedly, too fast, too many times.

“No. Of course not. I’m totally fine.”

Wow.

What a shame, Ivy. I really did think we were endgame. I had started building plans around the idea of us.

Around the way she looked at me when she wasn't scared that I'd hurt her. Around the soft sounds she made when she finally let me into her body.

If only you’d been a little more truthful. If only the part of you that still belonged to Anderson hadn’t decided to surface the second my back was turned.

“Good,” I nodded, already peeling off the boxing gloves. The Velcro made a sharp sound in the quiet room. “I’m going to take a shower now. Might be back late.”

I started moving toward the door that led to the bedroom. The quicker I left this space, the safer she would be.

The more she stood there lying to my face, the more the bitter, uglier part of me wanted to close the distance and make her feel even a fraction of what I had felt watching that live feed.

Violence was easy. Restraint was the hard part. And right now restraint was the only thing keeping the situation from turning into something neither of us would walk away from clean.

But she didn't get the hint. She followed me.

“Can I ask where you’re going?” Her voice was soft, careful. “I was hoping we would spend the day together.”

I almost laughed at how gentle she sounded. At how harmless she tried to make herself. At how she still acted like nothing was wrong.

She acted like yesterday had been erased. Like the image of Anderson’s hand on the back of her neck wasn’t still burned behind my eyelids every time I closed them.

I kept walking. She struggled to keep up in those flimsy flip-flops, the soft slap of her steps following mine down the short hallway.

“Sorry. I already made plans. Can’t cancel.”

“Not even for me?” she asked as I reached the bedroom door.

“No.” I pushed it open. “Sorry, Ivy. Would be rude to cancel on—”

“Is it Maddie?” The question came out desperate. “Is she the one you’re going to see?”

I didn’t turn around. “Yeah.”

Madison and I were going to look at a few apartments today. Then I was going to help her pick up some things for the baby.

Nothing complicated. Just enough to keep my hands busy and my mind off the girl currently standing behind me in a bikini. I had told Madison I would help with the baby in any way I could.

That promise still stood.

Regardless of who the father was. Regardless of the mess between the sisters. Regardless of the fact that every time I looked at Madison now I was reminded of the girl who had chosen someone else over me.

“Why are you going to see her again?” Ivy’s voice betrayed her. It cracked on the last word. “You met up with her yesterday. Why are you meeting up again today?”

I chuckled under my breath. “You sound bothered. Why? Madison and I just have unfinished business to discuss. Nothing else.”

“I don’t like you meeting up with her.” The words came out almost like a whine. “Can I go with you?”

The request nearly made me choke.

“Why would you want to tag along with me to go see your sister?” I asked, finally glancing back at her. “Don’t you find that a little silly?”

“Not at all.” She reached out and grabbed my arm. Her fingers were warm and slightly damp. “I don’t trust Maddie. She’s always up to something.”

You don’t trust her because you’re guilty, Ivy. Why do you get to do it, but others can’t?

I carefully pulled my arm out of her hold. The loss of contact felt necessary. “No. You’re not going with me. There’s no need.”

She looked hurt. Properly hurt. The kind of soft, wounded expression that would have made something in my chest loosen.

For half a second I almost fell for it. I almost reached for her the way I would have two days ago. Almost pulled her against me and pretended the video had been a fever dream.

I shook the thought off hard.

“I’ll try my best to be back early,” I said. “Is that okay?”

Instead of answering, she closed the remaining distance until she was pressed right against me. I could feel every inch of her through the thin material of the bikini.

The warmth of her stomach against mine. The softness of her breasts against my chest. The faint tremor running through her body. She rose up on her toes and tried to kiss me.

I turned my head.

Her lips landed on my cheek instead. She pulled back, looking surprised. “Leo?”

“Sorry. I’m all sweaty.” I gave her a small smile. “I’d hate to sweat on you when you look this sexy.”

That seemed to ease whatever doubt had started forming. She stepped even closer and ran her hands down my bare chest.

I could feel the fine tremors in her fingers. She was nervous. More nervous than she wanted me to notice.

She folded her lips together, then spoke quietly. “I don’t mind how sweaty you are.”

Wow. Was Ivy actually trying to seduce me?

I never would have guessed that the day would come when shy, careful, once-virginal Ivy Lennon would initiate something like this. Not after everything. Not when the guilt was still so fresh it practically radiated off her skin.

Regardless, my treacherous body reacted to her. Hard. I couldn't control it. I was still very much attracted to the little lying cheater.

I caught her wrists gently and pulled her hands away from my body.

“I’m not in the mood right now,” I told her. The words came out kindly. “And I don’t even have enough time. Don’t want to stand Madison up. That wouldn’t be nice.”

Her face changed.

“Isn’t this what you want?” She looked like I had slapped her. The words were small. “Leo, is something wrong?”

Her eyes were already going glassy.

“Did I do something? You can tell me. And don’t try to act like you don’t have any idea what I’m saying. I’m not crazy. You’ve been shutting me out since yesterday. I have feelings too, Leo.”

“I never said you were crazy. I'm just saying that having sex isn't the best thing to do when I have an appointment with someone.”

“Why are you like this? Did I do something wrong?”

I folded my arms across my chest, creating space between us as I tried to understand how I had suddenly become the villain for declining what she was offering.

For not wanting to put my mouth on the same mouth that had willingly and eagerly been on Anderson’s less than twenty-four hours ago.

No, miss. I think I'll pass.

“I thought you said you wanted me,” she whispered. The first tear slipped down her cheek.

“I do. But you’re not mandated to spread your legs for me just because you think that’s what I want, Ivy.” My voice stayed level. “You’re not a whore.”

I stepped around her and walked into the bathroom without looking back.

I stood there for a long moment with my hands braced on the edge of the sink, staring at my own reflection. Sweat still cooled on my skin. My pulse was steady. The kind of steady that only came after deciding something irreversible.

Behind the door I could hear the quiet, broken sound of her crying. I didn’t open it.

Some doors, once closed, were better left that way.