Chapter 96 This Was Andy’s

Chapter 96 This Was Andy’s
Chapter 96: This Was Andy’s 

Ivy 

I don’t know how long I slept, but the light through the curtains told me it was already noon when I finally opened my eyes. 

Everything ached. My head pounded in a slow, heavy rhythm. My eyes felt itchy and swollen, like I’d cried even in my sleep. And worse, there was a dull, strange ache low in my abdomen that trailed lower, settling between my legs.

I sat up too fast and nearly screamed. This was not my bedroom.

This was Andy’s.

The walls, the dark wood furniture, the faint scent of his cologne mixed with something warmer else, coffee and pancakes. I threw the covers off. 

The clothes I had worn yesterday were gone. Someone had changed me. I was in one of his oversized t-shirts and nothing else underneath except my underwear.

My heart started slamming against my ribs.

Was it Andy? Did he change me? What else did he do while I was unconscious?

The door opened before I could finish the thought. Andy walked in carrying a mug of coffee in one hand and a plate of breakfast in the other. He looked almost normal. Calm. Like nothing about this situation was wrong.

“Good afternoon,” he said.

“Why am I in your bed?” I didn’t bother with greetings. “Why didn’t you take me to my own room, Andy? What did you do to me?”

He set the plate and mug down on the side table. The frown that crossed his face looked almost genuine. “Why would you ask that?”

“Because I know you.” My voice came out steadier than I felt. “I know what you’re capable of. It’s not out of character for you to do something to me while I’m unconscious in your bed. I know how unstable you are.”

Something flickered in his eyes—hurt, or a very good imitation of it. Andy was crafty. 

“Is that truly what you think of me now? That I can’t help you out of your clothes without touching you? That you can’t sleep in my bed without worrying I’d rape you? Really, Ivy?”

I didn’t want to listen. I didn’t have the energy for his wounded act. I swung my legs over the side of the bed and stood. The ache between my legs flared for a second and then settled into a throb I forced myself to ignore.

“I’m going to see Leo.”

Andy’s hand shot out and caught my wrist. He yanked me back down onto the mattress hard enough that I bounced.

“You’re drained, Ivy. Stop thinking about that man for now. He’s safe at the hospital. He’s fine. His trainer is there with him. He doesn’t need you—”

“I love him.” The words cut him off cleanly. “I love Leo. I want to tell him that nothing happened between you and me. That it was a misunderstanding. You seduced me.”

Of everything I said, he latched onto the first part like it was the only sentence that mattered.

“Stop lying. You don’t love him. I’m the one you love. It’s pity. That’s what you feel for him. You just feel guilty for how he ended up—”

“No, Andy.” I shook my head. “I don’t love you. Not anymore. I even doubt I ever did.”

He stared at me.

“I made mistakes,” I continued. “I was stupid. I placed you on a pedestal like you were a god. I gave you the power to treat me like trash and make me feel sad and unwanted for years. I convinced myself I loved you just because you saved my life once. Andy, I never owed you love or a decade of affection for that. All I owed you was thanks and gratitude.”

His grip on my wrist tightened.

“What are you talking about? We had something good going on, Ivy. Stop trying to ruin it. For all we know, Leo might be faking this. It might just be a pretense to get you back. Maddie is in on it too. Don’t fall for their games.” 

I looked at the boy I had once decided was the best man on earth. The boy who pulled me out of the water. The boy who used to feel like home.

All I saw now was someone I didn’t recognize.

“I don’t know you, Andy,” I said quietly. A small, exhausted smile pulled at my mouth. “I thought I did. God knows I wanted nothing more than to be yours. Just like Maddie. But I realize now that I was blinded. That I was chasing shadows.”

He grabbed my shoulders and shoved me flat against the mattress, pinning me there. His face was inches from mine.

“You know me,” he hissed. “It’s me, Andy. I saved your life. You owe me your life. I’m the one you love. Not Leo.”

I stayed still. Calm. Watching the thing behind his eyes that I had never allowed myself to see before.

“Tell me something, Andy.” I lifted my legs and wrapped them loosely around his waist, holding his gaze. “If I gave myself to you right now. All of me. If I let you inside me the same way I let Leo… would you still want me afterwards?”

He frowned, confused by the sudden shift. “What sort of question is that?”

“You don’t want me,” I said. A single tear slipped free and tracked toward my ear. “You don’t love me. You just love the idea of having me. All you want is to fuck me because you’re jealous that Leo got that part of me first. You think it’s a slap in the face. You feel slighted. Isn’t that the truth?”

“That’s false!” His voice cracked into a shout. “I want you! I love you!”

I laughed. It sounded weird even to me. “You will never have me, Andy. Ever.”

He stared at me for a long moment. Then his mouth twitched. The anger drained out of his face and was replaced by something else—something that looked almost like amusement.

“You think?” he said softly. “Too bad… I was really looking forward to it.” It sounded more like honesty and more like mockery. 

The words slid under my skin like ice.

I shoved him off me with every bit of strength I had left and scrambled to my feet. The ache in my body protested, but I ignored it. 

I walked to the door, put my hand on the handle, and looked back at him one last time. “Don’t you ever put your hands on me again, Andy. I’m warning you.”

He didn’t look upset. He didn’t even look particularly bothered. He simply leaned back against the headboard, folded his arms behind his head, and watched me like this was all mildly entertaining.

I didn’t wait for whatever he might say next. I just opened the door and walked out.

The house was quiet. The smell of the pancakes he had made was still in the air. I went straight to my own room, locked the door, and stood under a scalding shower until my skin turned pink. 

Some parts of my body still ached in ways I didn’t want to examine too closely. I told myself it was stress. Yesterday had been long enough to leave anyone feeling bruised from the inside out.

I dressed quickly—jeans, a soft sweater, sneakers I could walk fast in. Then I crossed the hall and knocked on Poppy’s door.

“Pops? Are you awake?”

She opened it already dressed, hair pulled back, eyes tired but alert.

“Yeah. It’s past three in the afternoon. Why would I still be asleep?” She tried for a joke and almost managed to get it. “Going somewhere?”

I nodded. “I’m going to see Leo. I need to see him before I leave town tomorrow.”

Her face fell. “Oh. Okay.” She hesitated. “I’m going to meet Dad. He’s with Julia at the hospital. I’m going to bring them back home. Dad said she doesn’t want to spend another night there.”

“How is she?” I asked, reaching for her hand.

Poppy shook her head and looked away. “It’s bad. But she’ll be fine. She just needs rest.”

I swallowed the fresh wave of tears. “I’ll go see Leo now. Then I’ll come back early so I can spend some time with Julia. My flight leaves at seven in the morning.”

Poppy gave me a small, sad smile and nodded. “I’ll drive you there.”

\~~~~~

The ride to the hospital was quiet. Poppy didn’t ask about Andy. I didn’t offer. When we arrived she squeezed my hand once, then headed toward Julia’s room while I walked the opposite direction.

The rude nurse from yesterday was gone. In her place stood a middle-aged woman with kind eyes and a soft voice.

“I’m looking for Leo Teague’s room,” I said, trying not to sound as desperate as I felt. “I’m his girlfriend.”

She smiled like she already knew.

“He’s been expecting you,” she said. “Go down the hallway and stop at the first door on your right.”

He’s been expecting me.

The words lit something fragile and hopeful in my chest. Yesterday I had been barred from even standing near his door. 

Today he was waiting. That had to mean he was awake. That had to mean he still wanted me. That had to mean there was still a chance to explain everything—the kiss with Andy, the misunderstanding, the way I had been ready to leave and how none of it mattered as long as he was alive.

I nearly jogged the last stretch of corridor. My mind raced ahead of me, building soft, possible futures. 

Leo awake and tired but smiling, reaching for my hand, letting me tell him I loved him out loud for the first time. Letting me stay. If things go well today, I'll gladly cancel my flight and stay with him.

I stopped in front of the door, took one steadying breath, and pushed it open.

The scene inside turned every hopeful thought to smoke.