Page 41 of Baby, It’s You (Clairesville #1)

Olive

“I need to talk to you,” she says.

Oh god.

“Pregnant?” I ask.

“Nope.”

“Got back together with Dennis?”

“ Hell no!”

I give her a disbelieving look. “Oh yeah, because that’s so far-fetched.”

“Come in.” She grabs my arm and pulls me in, then walks me over to her couch. “You're going to want to sit down for this.”

My heart starts beating quickly, wondering what’s going on. “You’re scaring me,” I tell her as I take a seat on her purple suede couch. I pull a pillow over my lap—a coping mechanism.

Ivy sits next to me and takes a deep breath. “I’m moving to Atlanta.”

“ What ?!” I jump up out of my spot.

She looks up at me from the couch. “I applied and had an interview to work at a high-end bridal boutique that I’ve been stalking for years on social media, and I got the job.”

“You’re kidding me!” I say.

Ivy shakes her head . “I didn’t think I would actually get the job. The shop is super exclusive and expensive, but I did a Zoom interview, and they offered me the job on the spot. I didn’t even think about it; I knew I wanted to do it.”

She has always been the more impulsive of the two of us, never backing away from a new experience. I admire her for it most of the time, but it’s also what has led her into so many unhealthy relationships that move too quickly.

“I can’t believe this,” I tell her.

“I know,” she whispers back.

“I'm happy for you.” I force a small smile, and she gives me a yeah right look. “Seriously, I am. I’m just surprised, that’s all. I didn’t even know you were looking for a new job.”

“Yeah, I’m sorry for not saying anything.

I just didn’t want to mention that I was applying places until I knew for sure what I was doing.

I know you’ve been dealing with so much already; I didn’t want it worrying you.

My life just feels stagnant right now and honestly, I want to start over somewhere new. ”

I listen to her as she describes the new bridal boutique in Atlanta and scrolls through their Instagram, listing off the designers to me.

Her excitement is so palpable that I try to bury my feelings of self-pity and celebrate Ivy’s accomplishment.

I know I will be devastated once she leaves.

I barely have Jane anymore, my maternal figure, and now I’m losing the only best friend I’ve ever had.

I don’t even realize I’m in a trance while she talks until Ivy sets her phone down and takes both my hands.

“I have kind of a crazy idea.”

I wait for her to keep talking.

“If, for some reason, and I preface this by saying I really hope this doesn’t happen,” she quickly adds, “but if for some reason you’re not able to buy the bar from Tripp, I want you to move to Atlanta with me.”

I pull my hands back from hers. “I’m not leaving Clairesville. This is my home, and the bar isn't going anywhere. We’re raising the money; we’ve almost hit the goal.”

“I know.” Ivy nods, agreeing with me. Then, more gently she adds, “I’m just saying. If it doesn’t work out, consider starting over with me. Just think about it.”

“Okay,” I tell her. “I will consider it. When do you move?”

“September first.”

“That’s in two weeks!”

“Yup. I’ve been going through my shit all morning. I’m trying to purge most of my closet. I’m going to be a classy broad now,” Ivy jokes. “I get to wear heels every shift. Actually, it’s required .”

“Your poor feet,” I tell her.

“I know. Good thing I can soak them in all the money I’ll be raking in,” she jokes. I laugh and then we hold eye contact, our faces turning sentimental. Knowing each other's thoughts so well, I can see that she feels as torn up at the thought of leaving me, as I do of losing her.

“I’m really going to miss you,” I say.

“I will visit you all the time. I promise. I will only be nine hours away. That’s basically one audiobook of a drive.”

“Okay and I will visit you, too, if I can ever get Barney to be reliable.” I roll my eyes and Ivy snorts.

“I would love to see Barney take Atlanta; she deserves a joy ride.”

“I will just need to have AAA on standby. She’s one drive away from exploding.”

“Our girl would never. She would possibly die a dramatic death in the middle of traffic so everyone would have to stare at her as they angrily passed, though. Barney would love the attention.”

“Who else am I going to talk to like this?” I sigh.

“I will just be a phone call away,” she tells me.

I nod as she sits up quickly. “I’ve been so wrapped up in figuring out what I’m doing recently that I completely forgot to ask you how it’s going with the video series!”

I start to tell her about everything Hunter and I have filmed recently, feeling myself smile as I think about the adventures we have been on so far.

“What’s his YouTube channel?” Ivy asks, pulling her phone out of her back pocket. “I can’t believe I haven't watched any of them yet. Sorry, I’ve been a horrible friend.”

“It’s fine, I get it, you've got your own stuff going on.” I laugh and tell her his channel name.

I scoot closer to her as she clicks the first video, the one that features Rob’s voice and shows the bar.

Then it’s the clips of Sonjia and her bees.

Ivy says “aww” as it continues to play. Finally, it cuts to the final moments of the video.

It’s Hunter sitting in his room, explaining the purpose of the video series.

Suddenly, Ivy drops her phone like it’s on fire.

“What the fuck!” she says and picks it back up, blinking like she can’t believe her eyes.

“What?” I ask her. She’s freaking out.

“That is Dennis’s cousin !” She looks at me wide-eyed and points an accusing finger at the phone.

“ What !” I shriek. “Hunter? There’s no way.”

“One hundred percent it is. He came and got Dennis’s stuff after I kicked him out.”

“Dennis must be living with him,” I say, putting the puzzle pieces together.

When Hunter said he had a family member staying in the guest room, it was Dennis.

I feel sick suddenly, thinking of someone sweet like Hunter letting someone as vile as Dennis live with him.

Is he like his cousin? Dennis told Ivy everything she wanted to hear in the beginning, treated her like a queen, only to end up a lying, cheating dick.

Is Hunter like that? He seems so different to me.

He made me feel safe; he still makes me feel safe.

I feel so confused and overwhelmed. Last night weighs even heavier on my mind. I need to talk to Hunter. Now.

“Ivy. I've gotta go,” I tell her and quickly get up. I walk out the door and head to my car without even saying goodbye. I’m not going to let myself chicken out of this. I’m going to his house to talk to him.