Chapter 83 Eighty Three

Chapter 83 Eighty Three
IVY POV

I stayed there for a moment longer, my head resting against his chest, listening to his heartbeat while mine refused to calm down.

“What are you thinking about?” he asked softly.

I hesitated, then shook my head. “Nothing…”

But it wasn’t true.

It was never nothing with him.

Before I could let myself sink deeper into that feeling, I pulled away.

The shift was sudden.

Cold.

I stood up, ignoring the slight ache in my body, ignoring the warmth I’d just left behind. I bent down, picking up my clothes from the floor, my movements quick… almost detached.

“Thank you for the sex,” I said flatly, not looking at him. “It was really good.”

The words felt sharp. Deliberate.

A wall.

I started dressing, piece by piece, forcing my hands not to shake.

The room went quiet behind me.

Too quiet.

I could feel his eyes on me, heavy, unreadable, but I didn’t turn around.

I couldn’t.

Because if I did… I might not leave.

Ronan didn’t say anything at first.

I could feel it though… the shift in the room.

That heavy silence.

I slipped my shirt on, fingers moving faster than my thoughts, like if I stopped for even a second, everything I was trying to hold together would fall apart.

“Wow,” he finally said behind me, voice low… not teasing this time.

I paused, just for a second.

Then kept dressing.

“That’s it?” he added. “That’s all I get?”

I exhaled slowly, forcing my voice to stay steady. “What else do you want, Ronan?”

I turned to face him then.

Big mistake.

He was still sitting there, watching me… not with that usual smirk, not with arrogance… but something sharper. Something almost hurt.

“You think that’s all this was?” he asked.

I crossed my arms, holding onto myself more than anything. “That’s exactly what it was.”

His jaw tightened.

“No,” he said quietly. “That’s what you’re trying to make it.”

I shook my head quickly. “Don’t do that.”

“Do what?”

“Turn this into something it’s not,” I snapped, my voice rising slightly. “We agreed. This is just sex. Nothing else.”

He stood up then, slow, controlled.

Too controlled.

“And you believe that?” he asked, stepping closer.

I held my ground, even though my heart was starting to race again.

“Yes.”

A lie.

He stopped right in front of me.

Close enough that I could feel the heat of him again.

“Then why are you running?” he said softly.

My chest tightened.

“I’m not running,” I shot back.

He let out a quiet breath, shaking his head slightly. “Ivy… you always do this.”

“Do what?” I asked, defensive now.

“You feel something,” he said, tapping his chest lightly, “and then you shut it down like it never existed.”

“That’s not true.”

“It is,” he said calmly. “You just don’t like hearing it.”

I clenched my jaw, grabbing my bag.

“This was a mistake,” I muttered.

His expression hardened slightly at that.

“Was it?” he asked.

I didn’t answer.

Because I didn’t trust myself to.

I moved toward the door, my hand already on the handle.

“I’ll call a cab,” I said, not looking back.

“Ivy.”

I froze.

Just for a second.

“Don’t do this,” he said, quieter now.

I closed my eyes briefly.

Then opened the door.

And walked out anyway.

The hallway felt colder the second I stepped out.

Too quiet. Too empty.

I pulled my jacket tighter around me, my heels clicking softly against the floor as I walked toward the elevator, trying to ignore the way my chest felt… tight.

Why did it feel like I just left something behind?

I pressed the elevator button, staring straight ahead.

Don’t think about it.

Don’t think about him.

The doors slid open, and I stepped in quickly, hitting the ground floor like I needed to escape before I changed my mind.

As the elevator descended, my reflection stared back at me from the mirrored walls.

Hair messy.

Lips swollen.

Eyes… conflicted.

I looked away.

“Get it together, Ivy,” I muttered under my breath.

The doors opened.

I walked out of the building and into the night air, the cool breeze hitting my skin and grounding me a little.

My phone buzzed in my hand.

I froze.

For a second, I thought it was him.

It wasn’t.

Max.

Of course.

I let out a breath and answered.

“Hey…” I said, trying to sound normal.

“Where are you?” Max’s voice came through immediately, sharp and worried. “It’s late.”

“I’m… on my way home,” I replied, glancing back at the building for just a second before forcing myself to look away.

“Send me your location,” he said instantly. “I’m tracking your ride.”

I smiled faintly despite everything. “You’re dramatic.”

“And you’re reckless,” he shot back. “Send it.”

“Okay, okay,” I sighed softly. “I will.”

There was a pause.

Then his voice softened a little. “You okay?”

I hesitated.

My eyes flicked back to the building again.

A part of me—stupid, weak—was still waiting.

Hoping he’d come out.

He didn’t.

“I’m fine,” I said finally.

A lie.

But an easy one.

I flagged down a taxi, sliding into the backseat quickly.

“Madison Avenue,” I told the driver.

As the car pulled away, I leaned my head back against the seat, closing my eyes.

And even though I told myself I didn’t care…

I still felt him.

Everywhere.

The taxi moved through the quiet streets, the city finally slowing down as the night stretched deeper.

I kept my head against the window, watching the lights blur past, but my mind wasn’t on the road.

It was still back there.

With him.

His voice. His touch. The way he looked at me like I was something he couldn’t walk away from.

I shut my eyes.

“Stop,” I whispered to myself.

But it didn’t stop anything.

My phone buzzed again.

This time… I didn’t want to check.

I just stared at the screen for a second before finally picking it up.

Unknown number.

My chest tightened.

I answered anyway.

“Hello?”

Silence.

Then—

“You left.”

Ronan.

Of course it was him.

I closed my eyes, gripping the phone a little tighter. “Yeah. I did.”

Another pause.

“You always do that,” he said quietly.

Something in his tone made my chest ache again.

“I told you what this was,” I replied, trying to sound calm. “I’m not staying. I’m not… doing whatever it is you think this is.”

“You really believe that?” he asked.

I didn’t answer.

Because I didn’t know anymore.

The taxi slowed at a red light, the glow washing over everything in red for a moment.

“You felt it,” he said, softer now. “Don’t pretend you didn’t.”

I swallowed hard.

“I felt a mistake,” I said, even though the words didn’t sit right in my chest.

He let out a quiet breath on the other end.

“Then why do you sound like you’re trying to convince yourself?” he asked.

That hit harder than it should have.

I turned my head, staring out the window again.

“You’ll be fine, Ronan,” I said, my voice softer now. “You always are.”

A pause.

Then—

“I’m not trying to be fine without you.”

My heart stuttered.

I didn’t respond.

I couldn’t.

“You know what,” he added quietly. “Never mind.”

And then the line went dead.

I stared at the phone for a long second.

He didn’t call back. Didn’t text. Nothing.

The taxi started moving again, but my chest felt heavier than before.

My heart slammed so hard…I almost told the driver to turn around.