"You think he's going to be okay?" Callie asks.
"I think he's going to be fine. Better than fine. He's going to be good."
She nudges me. "Look at you, being all optimistic. You're starting to sound like Nash."
"Well, maybe I could learn a few things from him. He is my big brother after all. He should be starting to rub off on me by now."
When I look over to check on Ivy, I see her shoulders shaking, and then Liza's. They're both crying. Shit. Then they hug each other and I see Ivy smiling. Like really smiling. They're happy tears. Tears of relief that it's not cancer.
"Looks like good news," Jen says.
"Yeah. I knew it would be." I stand up, smiling, as Ivy comes rushing over to us.
"It's not cancer. It was just scar tissue from his injury. He's going to be okay."
I hug her. "I told you it'd be good news."
"You were right." She laughs through her tears. "I don't know how you knew, but you were right."
I didn't know. That's the thing. You never know what's going to happen. But planning for the best felt a hell of a lot better than planning for the worst.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
Ivy
It's Monday and my dad's recovery is going well. He'll be released from the hospital later this week. He's already excited about returning to work. Liza and I had to remind him that it'll be a good three months before he can go back, and even then, he'll have to work limited hours and not do anything too strenuous while his back continues to heal.
My dad said Jake's family has been by to see him twice since Saturday. I wasn't there when they stopped by, but I need to call and thank them. They're such great people. I love them all. They're so generous, not thinking twice about helping someone. Bryce had to order a part for Liza's car and Jake's dad wouldn't let her pay for it. He said he'd take care of it, and Bryce is doing the labor for free.
Nash and Callie gave Liza and me some restaurant gift cards so we wouldn't have to worry about making meals with everything going on. And Callie offered to come over and cook if we want a homemade meal instead of going out. I turned her down, saying that's way too much work, but she'd totally do it if I asked. That's just the way she is. The way they all are. They just want to help.
When Mitch came by the hospital yesterday, my dad said he offered him a job whenever he's ready to work. Mitch had mentioned the idea to me and I told him he should ask my dad. But I think it'd be good. The Wheelers are the best contractors in town. They follow strict safety guidelines, they give clear directions, and they care about their workers.
Jake and I haven't talked since Saturday, and I haven't seen him, but he's texted me just to check in. I told him I needed time with Liza. This has taken an emotional toll on both of us, and now that the worst is over, we just want to spend some time together. We're always so busy with our separate lives that we don't see each other as much as we'd like to, and after this ordeal, we need each other.
As for Jake and me? I'm at the point now that I just want to be done with this. I love Jake, even more so after having him there for me during such a difficult time, and I really wanted us to stay together, but I'm not going to keep waiting around for him. He's had multiple opportunities to tell me how he feels and give me an answer about our relationship, but he hasn't, and I'm done waiting. I know I told him he could have more time to think about it, but the fact that he even has to both angers and concerns me. He either wants to be with me or he doesn't. And if he's having doubts, then he should talk to me, not shut me out. If he can't be honest with me about his feelings, then I can't see a future for this relationship.
I've decided I'm going to talk to him tonight and end things. I'm already hurting inside just thinking about it, but it's what I need to do. It's not what I want, but sometimes what you want just isn't meant to be, and you have to accept that and move on.
It'll take a while for me to accept that our relationship is over but I do have to move on. I don't have a choice. I don't have time to spend crying over Jake. I have to get to work and make some money. Fast. My family was already behind on paying our bills, and now a massive hospital bill is going to be coming our way. I don't know how we're going to pay it. I'll have to move back home and give my dad my rent money, but even that won't be enough. We're going to be in serious financial trouble.
That's why I'm here today, working this shitty job that I already hate after only being here a few hours. I was so desperate for money that I called up Nick yesterday to see if that job he offered me was still available. He said it was, so I took it.
He wasn't exaggerating when he said it was in a bad part of town. This area has one of the highest homicide rates in the city. When Nick told me the address I almost changed my mind, but then I thought of all the bills coming our way and reluctantly agreed to it. At least it's during the day and it's in a church. Criminals wouldn't attack people at a church, would they? I'm pretty sure they would, but I'm trying to be positive, like Jake told me to be. There are always two outcomes, a good and a bad, and I'm choosing to think only of the good. That I'll do my job and get paid without getting hurt.
"How's it coming?" Gary asks, poking his head in the door. Gary is the guy in charge. He's around 50 with a long, scraggly beard and pockmarked skin, and eyes that look glazed over. I'm pretty sure he's high on something so I've been trying to avoid him.
"Fine. Everything's good."
"Us guys are going to lunch," he says. "You coming?"
"No. I'm staying here."
"Might want to keep the doors locked." He smirks. For some sick reason, he thinks it's funny to scare me. He's been saying stuff like that since I got here. Warning me about how dangerous it is to work here, especially as a woman.
"Yeah. Got it." I grip the screwdriver in my hand, preparing to make it a weapon. If Gary, or any of the other guys, get near me, they'll be getting hurt.
When I got here this morning, all the guys leered at me and I got an uneasy feeling in my stomach. A lot of them have been to prison, another factoid Gary was more than happy to tell me, followed by his signature smirk.
When I saw those guys looking at me that way, I almost turned around and left, but I don't have my car. I took the bus here because Liza needed my car to get to class and then work. I didn't tell Liza where I was going because she would've tried to talk me out of it. She knows I'm at a job site but she doesn't know where. I just told her it was a church remodel. And I didn't tell anyone else where I was going. Now I'm thinking maybe I should text Liza and tell her where I am in case I go missing after being murdered.
I shouldn't think that way. I'm in a church. I'll be fine.
I get back to work, making the new baseboards. It's a boring job. I miss the creativity and skill level required by my last job, but when you're desperate for money you can't be picky.
My muscles tense up when a girl screams outside the window. It's followed by a guy yelling curse words at her, then glass breaking and tires squealing. This has been going on all morning. I don't know what's going on out there and I'm afraid to find out. What's even more disturbing is that I haven't heard any police sirens. Even the cops don't want to come here.
My phone rings and I pick up without seeing who's calling. "Hello?"
"Ivy, it's, Jake. I need to talk to you. Can I come over?"
"Jake, I told you, I'm spending time with Liza this week."
"Isn't she at class right now?"
"Yeah, but it's still not a good time."
"I saw your dad this morning. He looked a lot better."
"You went to the hospital?"
"Yeah, before work. I stopped by there last night too, with Nash and Callie."
"Oh. I didn't know. I haven't seen him yet today."
"You haven't been to the hospital? Why not?"
Because I had to leave at the crack of dawn and take three buses in order to get here on time. But I can't tell Jake that. He'd freak out if he knew I was here.
"I just haven't had
a chance to get over there yet."
"It's twelve thirty. Did you sleep in or something?"
"No. I've just been busy. Jake, what do you need? Why did you call me?"
"Because I need to talk to you and I don't want to wait."
I sigh. "Fine. Then talk."
"Not over the phone. I need to talk to you in person. Can I come over?"
"I'm not at my apartment right now."
"Then where are you? On your way to the hospital? Because we can talk when you're done. Just call me and let me know when you get home."
"Jake, we'll just talk some other time. Don't you have to work this afternoon?"
"I'm taking it off. I really need to talk to you. Now will just agree to let me come over?"
Tires screech outside the window and a car door slams.
"What was that?" Jake asks.
"Nothing." I move farther away from the window but the noise outside is so loud you can still hear it. It sounds like two guys yelling and then a shot rings out.
"Oh, God." I duck down to the ground.
"Ivy, what the hell was that noise? It sounded like a gun going off."
"It was," I say, my voice shaking. Now I'm really scared. Someone just fired a gun right outside the room I'm in.
"What the fuck is going on?" he asks. "Where are you?"
"At a job." My voice gets even shakier as my heart beats faster. "I'm in a church and there's these guys outside on the sidewalk, right by the room I'm in. They're fighting and one of them just shot a gun."
"Tell me where you are."
I give him the address.
"What the fuck are you doing there?" he yells. "People get killed in that part of town!"
"I know, but I needed the job."
"I'm coming to get you. I'll have someone go back later and get your car."
"I don't have my car. I gave it to Liza. I took the bus."
"Just hang on. I'm on my way."
The two guys are getting louder and I hear another shot.
"Jake, I'm scared. What do I do?"
"Stay on the phone with me." His voice is steady and strong, making me a feel little bit better. "Is anyone else there at the church?"
"The guys on my crew went to lunch. I don't know if anyone else is here."
"Is the building locked?"
"I don't know. I think so. I'm in one of the rooms where they do bible study."
"Can they see you? Those guys on the street?"
"No. There's blinds covering the window but they're right outside it."
"They have no reason to come inside. Just try to stay calm and don't make any noise."
I take some deep breaths, forcing myself to relax and reminding myself those guys are fighting with each other, not me. They have no interest in me.
"Ivy, you still there?"
"Yeah."
I hear some other voices outside the window. More men yelling, then something hits the wall. It sounds like someone threw one of the guys against it.
"Jake, they're fighting again. And now there's more of them."
"Just hang on. I'm going as fast as I can. I'll be there soon, okay?"
I hear sirens in the distance, getting closer.
"Is that the cops?" Jake asks.
"Yeah, I think they're coming." The sirens get really loud, stopping right outside the church. "They're here. The cops are here."
He exhales a breath. "Thank God. Okay, where are you? I'm almost there."
"I'll go wait by the front door."
"Is there a back exit? I don't want to get involved in whatever's going on out front."
I check the back window. "Yeah, there's a parking lot out back. I'll go wait back there."
"Stay in the church. I'll come to the back door."
I quietly sneak out of the room and down a hallway and locate the back exit. I look out the window and see Jake's SUV whip around the building and come to an abrupt stop as he parks. His door flies open and I come out of the church. I drop my toolbox as he takes me in his arms.
"Ivy." He hugs me so tight he lifts me off the ground.
"They had guns, Jake," I say, still shaking. "That shot could've gone through the window."
"I know, but you're safe now. I've got you." He sets me down. "Let's get out of here."
He takes my toolbox and we get in his SUV. He locks the doors and speeds off.
"You're never going back there again," he says as we're driving back. "Why the hell did you take that job anyway?"
"Because I need the money. My dad's hospital bill is going to be huge and we're already behind on paying for his physical therapy. He had to stop going weeks ago."
"Fuck," he mutters. "Ivy, why didn't you tell me this? I would've paid for it."
"I would never ask you to do that. It's not your responsibility."
"It doesn't matter. The man needed help."
"You don't have the money for that."
"If I didn't have enough, then my brothers would chip in, and so would my dad. We'd find a way. Just please promise me you won't take a job like that again."
I nod.
"Ivy." He squeezes my hand. He hasn't let go of it since we left. "I need to hear you say it."
"Yeah, okay. I promise."
"How'd you even find that job?"
"Nick."
"Nick Lessner?"
"Yeah. He was going to do it, but his wife had the twins and he needed to stay home and help her, so he asked if I wanted the job."
Jake shakes his head, his jaw clenched. "I knew I fucking hated that guy."
"It's not his fault. He warned me it was in a bad area."
Jake huffs in anger. "Because he wanted to see if you'd do it. It was a set-up, Ivy. He wanted you to go there."
"What are you talking about?"
"Nick's wife isn't due until March. Tom mentioned it just last week when I saw him. Nick lied to you. He's not home with his wife. He's working at an office building downtown. I saw him there just this morning when I was dropping off paperwork for some permits."
"Are you serious?" I rest my head back on the seat. "I should've known he was up to something. He kept egging me on, telling me a girl would be too scared to go to that part of town. He knows I hate it when the guys at work act like I'm not tough enough. And I fell for it."
"That asshole's never working for us again. Neither is his dad. And if I see Nick, I'm gonna beat him unconscious then drop him off in that neighborhood. See how he likes it."
"Jake, don't. I don't want you getting in trouble. Not hiring him is enough of a punishment."
He pulls into his apartment building.
"What are you doing? I have to go home."
"I told you, I need to talk to you."
"I don't feel like talking right now. And I need to clean up. I feel like I need a shower after being in that place."
"You can use my shower. And we don't have to talk. I just need you to listen. Can you do that for me?"
"Yeah, okay." I agree to it, but I'm not sure I want to hear whatever it is he has to say.
We go up to his loft and I go straight to the shower, wanting to get the smell of that place off me. It smelled like mold and smoke and stale coffee. And I'm going to smell like that again when I put my clothes back on. I just want to burn those clothes. That smell is never coming out and it'll always remind of being at the place, scared for my life.
Jake must've read my mind because when I get out of the shower, my clothes are gone and I see one of Jake's t-shirts, neatly folded and sitting next to the sink. It's the light blue t-shirt I wore the first night I stayed over. There's also a pair of white bikinis I must've left here. I put them on, then slip the t-shirt on and towel dry my hair.
Wearing Jake's shirt, being in his apartment, causes tears to well up in my eyes because I don't want this to be over. But I can't keep waiting for Jake. The longer we drag this out, the harder it will be. I was going to break up with him tonight, but as long as I'm here, I might as well do it now.
This is so hard. I don't want to do this. I love him, and I don't want this to be over.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
Ivy
"Ivy, are you okay in there?" Jake asks.
"Yeah." I wipe the wetness from my eyes and open the door.
"Here. I got you a drink." He hands me a bottle of water. "Thought you might be thirsty."
"Thanks." I take it and follow him back out to the living room.
"You want something to eat?"
"No. I'm not hungry."
"I put your clothes in a bag."
"You can toss them. I don't want them. But I need to borrow a pair of your sweatpants so I have something to wear home."
"You left some yoga pants here. You can wear those."
I'd forgotten how much of my stuff I still have here. I'm just going to leave it. I'm not going to spend time packing stuff up. After I tell him this, I just want to go home.
We sit on the couch and I turn so I'm facing him.
"Jake, I know you said you wanted to talk, but I need to say something first."
"Go ahead."
I hesitate, then just say it. "I can't do this."
"Do what?"
I keep my eyes aimed at the couch because I don't want to see his face. I can barely say this, and seeing his face would make it that much harder.
"I can't wait any longer for you to make a decision. What happened with my dad was a huge reminder that life is short, and I don't want to spend it being unhappy."
"I don't make you happy?" He sounds so hurt it almost makes me cry.
"You DO make me happy. But I'm not happy that you can't make a decision about us. Because it shouldn't be that hard. When I asked you about our relationship, I wasn't asking you for a five-year plan, or expecting you to promise me a ring someday. I just wanted to know if this relationship was moving forward, or if you already had an end date planned. I didn't want to keep getting closer to you if you were just going to end it and go back to being how you used to be. I needed to know if you really wanted to be with me. It was a simple question, Jake, but you couldn't give me an answer. You still haven't. You keep saying you need more time. But if you really felt something for me, it shouldn't be that hard. You shouldn't need all that time."
Give Us a Chance (Wheeler Brothers #2) Page 26