Page 47 of Salvation (Rising From the Ashes #3)
Ivy
M J’s house is beautiful with wooden shutters, white siding, and a wrap-around porch.
It’s warm and welcoming. Everything my grandparents’ home never was.
Nerves shake my hand as I reach out, ringing the doorbell.
MJ and Lily both texted me this morning, begging me to come over for their spa day.
I’d thought about saying no because I was nervous, but as I sat in that huge mansion alone, I realized that if I plan on staying here in Benton Falls, things have to be different from what they were before.
Campbell can’t be my only friend. So I forced myself out the door to make new friends—something I’ve never been good at.
MJ opens the door with a bright smile, easing some of the tension in my shoulders. “Ivy, I’m so glad you decided to come. We’re going to have so much fun. Lily’s already in the living room.”
“Thanks for having me. I—uh—I brought these.” I stick out my hand, holding the container of cookies, and MJ’s jaw drops open.
“Is that what I think it is?”
“Cookies from Della Rae.”
“You are an angel. I’ve heard rumors about these but never tried them for myself.”
Ripping off the lid, she grabs a cookie and shoves it into her mouth, her eyes rolling to the back of her head as she chews.
“Sooo good,” she says with her mouth full. “Now, I’m really glad you came. Come in.”
She steps to the side, letting me in as she stuffs her mouth with another cookie, and I laugh, following her to the living room and taking in my surroundings as we go.
Just like on the outside, everything inside is welcoming.
There’s no white wall in sight. Pictures of Hayes, MJ, and their friends hang everywhere.
If I had a dream house, this would be it.
When we reach the living room, Lily looks our way and smiles. “Ivy, I’m so excited you decided to come.”
MJ laughs, filling the home with even more warmth. “What are you talking about, Lily? You told her that if she didn’t, you’d come to her house and kidnap her. She was probably terrified not to show.”
Lily shrugs, unapologetic. “Sometimes kidnapping is good motivation.”
Snorting, MJ moves to sit beside her, keeping the container of cookies in her lap and swatting Lily’s hand away when she reaches for one. “You would know, wouldn’t you?”
“Um—would you?” I ask, choosing to sit on the couch opposite them. “Because that’s a little concerning.”
The two women must read the genuine worry in my voice because they throw their heads back, falling into one another as they laugh.
“Theo technically kidnapped me one time out of the grocery store parking lot, and now the whole town won’t quit talking about it.”
“And was it good motivation for you?” I ask, amused at their laughter.
Lily wiggles her brows. “The best.”
I join in on their laughter this time, my nerves completely melting away.
“So, Ivy, how is the mural coming?” Lily asks as we all calm down. “Do you need anything from us?”
“It’s—uh—it’s different than any project I’ve worked on before, but I’m excited about it. Thank you so much for giving me the opportunity.”
“I wouldn’t have dreamed of giving it to anyone else. Your art is incredible. How long have you been painting?”
“Since I realized I was good at it in middle school,” I say, shrugging to avoid making a big deal about it.
“Oh, I want to see your paintings,” MJ says, picking up another cookie and still blocking Lily from getting any. “Hayes says he saw some of your work from when you were younger and that you’re really good. Do you have any I could see?”
“I don’t actually. When we were younger, Campbell always begged to keep all my paintings, and as I got older, I started to sell them. I don’t keep any of my art.”
“Wait—” MJ screams, startling me as she finally passes the cookies off to Lily and sits up as quickly as her stomach will let her. “Campbell has some of your paintings? Are you telling me that the willow tree painting hanging in his guest bedroom is yours?”
“I mean—I haven’t been to Campbell’s house, but I know he has my willow tree painting. He—uh—he bought it at my first gallery show. I didn’t even know he was there.”
“Shut up,” MJ squeals. “Shut up. Shut up. I’m obsessed with that painting. I’ve asked Campbell if I could buy it several times, and he’s refused every single time. I never understood—not until now. You’re not just good. You’re spectacular.”
Heat blooms in my cheeks from both the compliment and the way MJ narrows her eyes as if something had just occurred to her. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.” She nods, and then, without missing a beat, she says, “Now let’s circle back to the part where you said you haven’t been to Campbell’s house because WHAT? That man’s obsessed with you. How have you not been to his house?”
“He’s not obsessed with me,” I mumble.
MJ and Lily look at one another, then simultaneously say, “He’s obsessed with you.”
“Look,” Lily says, leaning in, “I haven’t known Campbell as long as MJ, but even I can see a change in him since you’ve been around.
He’s always been this funny, loving guy, but I didn’t realize how much of that was just a mask until you came around.
His happiness is real now. He’s not faking it anymore. ”
Emotions clog my throat, making it impossible to speak around them, because it hit me that neither was I. For my whole life, I faked a smile and did as my grandparents had asked, but I am finally doing what I want—and I don’t have to fake my smile anymore. It’s real.
“Mmm-hmmm.” MJ hums, pulling me out of my thoughts. “I agree with everything Lily just said. Now, give me back my cookies.”
She looks at Lily, giving her the stink eye when Lily pulls out a cookie and takes a slow, methodical bite. MJ’s eye twitches, and I take the momentary reprieve to pull out my phone and text Campbell.
Ivy: Hey.
The text isn’t long or eloquent, but it’s my way of making the first move when he’s always been the one to do it in the past. My leg bounces up and down when I see the text has been delivered and then read.
I wait, holding my breath, as three dots appear, but they disappear without a response.
I scrunch my forehead, confused because it’s unlike him not to text back as soon as he sees it—not that he has to. It’s just not like him not to.
Flipping the phone over so I don’t drive myself crazy waiting for the text to come through, I speak up, breaking up the fight over the cookies. “So,” I say, trying to keep my voice casual. “What are the guys getting up to today?”
I can tell by their faces that the question didn’t come off half as casual as I’d hoped, but neither one calls me out for it—at least not verbally. Their smirks, on the other hand, are two signs that might as well scream that they know I’m really asking about Campbell.
Eventually, MJ’s smirk breaks, and she groans.
“They went to that new ax-throwing place a few towns over. Honestly, I tried not to ask too many questions for my sanity. I do know that Campbell didn’t go with them.
He texted Hayes this morning saying he wasn’t feeling well.
Now, if you’ll excuse me. I need to pee for the twentieth time today. ”
Lily stands with her. “And I am going to grab a snack since MJ refuses to share.” MJ shrugs unapologetically, and Lily rolls her eyes. “Ivy, do you want anything?”
“No, thank you. I’m good.”
They both leave the room, and unease gnaws at my gut. Eyeing my phone, I will it to ring with an incoming text message, but the insanity gets to me. Flipping my phone back over, my fingers fly over the screen, and I send off another text.
Ivy: Are you okay? MJ said you aren’t feeling well.
The text is delivered, and the three dots appear again. This time, a response comes through.
Campbell: I’m fine.
Ivy: Usually, when a girl says she’s fine, it means something else.
Campbell: I’m not a girl, and I don’t want to do this, Ivy. Not today.
The use of my real name is the first thing that throws me. Campbell rarely calls me Ivy. It’s always sunshine. The context of the message is the second. I don’t understand what this is.
Ivy: Do what, Campbell? Ask if you are okay?
Campbell: Talk.
Anger, hurt, and worry all war for their place in my chest, but I can’t decide how I feel.
The last time I saw Campbell was a week ago.
He dropped me off after the football game and kissed me at my doorstep.
We’ve texted since then, but our schedules have been crazy this week, so we haven’t seen each other in person.
I chew on my bottom lip, trying to decide what to do, when Lily and MJ come back into the room. I try to mask my concern, but MJ clocks it.
“Ivy, are you okay?”
For a second, I contemplate hiding the truth, but these women are trying to be my friends—and if that’s ever going to happen, I have to let them in.
Making my decision, I shake my head. “No. Actually, I’m kind of worried about Campbell?”
“Why?” Lily asks. “What happened?”
Deciding it will be easier to show them my texts, I hand over the phone and let them read. When they’re done, MJ looks up at me with tears shining in her eyes.
“You need to go to him. Right now. I would call Hayes, but I don’t think he will get there fast enough. Besides, I think he needs you more than anyone. This is how it started last time, and Hayes and I—we—we missed it. Just go to him.”
MJ’s bottom lip trembles. She doesn’t have to explain what she meant when she said it was how it started last time. I already know. It’s the signs they missed for Campbell’s depression, and I refuse to let him suffer that alone ever again.
Frantically, I gather my stuff, but my heart is racing so fast I can’t think right. I don’t even know where he lives.
A warm hand lands on my shoulder, and when I look up, I find Lily standing beside me with a sad smile. “I’ll drive you.”
In any other circumstance, I would argue, but this is Campbell. I’ll do anything as long as it gets me to him.
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