Chapter 28

IVY

I was tired from dancing. I left Blaine on the dancefloor and joined Missy in the kitchen. I needed a mini-escape from pretending. This secret was eating me up inside. The more he touched and kissed me, the harder it was to keep on acting normal.

When I entered the kitchen, Missy laughed at something Eddie said. She passed me a mixed drink but continued to be enthralled with whatever nonsense he was feeding her. I leaned against the counter and scanned the party for Rhys. He was nowhere to be found. I sipped my drink and tried not to overthink where he could have disappeared. After a few minutes, lost in thought, I shifted slightly only to catch a glimpse of something or, more pointedly, someone moving in the driveway through a nearby window.

My eyes focused on Rhys loading up the trunk of his Range Rover with his belongings. What the hell was he doing? Was Rhys about to sneak out of his party? Without saying goodbye?

My feet started to move before my mind could stop them. I pushed through the crowd, pulled open the front door, and walked up to Rhys. Seeing him about to leave the party ignited something fierce inside me that I wasn't expecting. My heart pounded, and I could feel heat spreading all over my cheeks. I needed more time.

"Rhys. Where are you going?" I shouted.

He took a step and then turned to face me. His face was gorgeous in the moonlight, composed and yet achingly sad. His blue eyes nearly broke my heart. They glistened too much. I had to look away.

"Rhys...please... answer me. Where are you going? You can't leave yet."

"Ivy, stop," he looked away and tossed the last duffle bag in the back of his trunk. "Go back inside."

Panic rose into my throat. "If you go right now...I'm scared I'll never see you again. Just a bit more time, please."

His calm face broke with a touch of anger. "You need time? God Ivy..." He shook his head, and his eyes glistened with unshed tears. "I said go back inside. Blaine needs his dance partner."

I swallowed hard. The hurt in Rhys's voice wasn't lost on me. When I didn't respond, he continued. "I can tell Blaine suspects something is going on with you. The longer you lie to him, the more you will hurt him. I can't stay here any longer. It's killing me to look my brother in the eye."

"Rhys, please..." I whispered again. My eyes were stinging with unshed tears, too.

He ran both of his hands back through his hair. "No, Ivy...no." his voice grew quiet, and a sharp pain spread all over my chest. "I can't stay. Just be with Blaine."

I shook my head, tears falling down my cheeks. Seeing my pained face, he brought a hand up to my cheek. "Then choose Ivy. Choose right now."

"I'm sorry. I can't. You're leaving me," I whispered. "Again."

He stopped breathing, and his eyes grew full of understanding. I watched a tear fall from Rhys's eye, and he quickly wiped it away. I hated myself for being such a coward. Deep down, I wanted to take back my words, but I knew there was no way I would be the reason the Wyatt brothers hated each other. He started to remove his hand and back away from me, and I clutched him tight and pulled him closer. I needed to hold him one last time. He swept me into his arms for a tight embrace. I threw my arms around his neck and curled one of my hands through his hair. I inhaled the scent of his skin, not wanting to let go.

In a voice thick with emotion, he whispered in my ear, "Blaine is the right decision, Ivy. He won't leave you. He's the good Wyatt brother he always has been. You'll get married, and Blaine will take over Whitefish Resort. You'll have beautiful children and live a picture-perfect life. He can give that to you. And I promise I'll stay away because you deserve all the happiness in the world. Me leaving is the only way Blaine doesn't get hurt. And if I stay any longer, he will find out about us. I can't have that." I couldn't hold back my emotions any longer. Tears were falling mercilessly down my cheeks. I pulled back to look at him, tears streaming down his face now. "You'll be okay, but I have to leave, Ivy. It's too painful to see you two together. I need to leave. Tonight."

"What about you?" I asked.

He smiled sadly. "I'll be making my music, Ivy."

Why was saying goodbye to him so hard? This should be easy. He was letting me go. He was blessing me to be with Blaine and live a full and happy life without him, like our summer together never happened. Why couldn't I breathe? Why couldn't I let him slip away into the night? It felt wrong not to leave with him. Everything felt so incredibly wrong and confusing.

"But it hurts so much to say goodbye." Pain rocked through my body, and I couldn't stop tears from falling down my cheeks.

He kissed me softly. "I know. But it's the only way."

He kissed me again and then pulled back to look at me. His eyes were pained, just like mine. He reached a hand into his front pocket and grabbed something. Holding his fist out to me, he gently pried open my hand with his other one and placed something in my palm.

Through my tears, I looked down into the palm of my hand at what he'd given me. It was a gold vintage ring, and in the center of the ring was a brilliant emerald-cut diamond. It was simple and beautiful. I inhaled sharply and couldn't speak. My hand started to shake.

"Rhys...what is this?"

"I don't expect you to wear it, Ivy. It belonged to our mother. It was her wedding ring. After she died, our father gave away her belongings and jewelry to Goodwill. I fought him not to give her things away, but he did anyway. He has no idea I went back for her wedding ring. I thought maybe I'd get to use it one day – "his voice broke just like my heart was. "I want you to have it." He cocked his head to the side and gazed at my tear-stained face. "It wouldn't make sense to give it to anyone else. It should stay in the family."

I looked up at him, unable to speak. I grabbed his face, the ring still laced in my fingers. "Please don't go."

He brought his lips to mine, kissing me. The music and noise inside the ranch melted when his lips touched mine. It started as soft, but then it turned deep enough to make me want to climb inside his Range Rover, follow him to Nashville and never look back.

The sound of the front door slamming forcefully caused us both to jump. He pulled away first, breathing heavily. A shiver moved up my spine as I stared at Rhys's wide eyes. He looked past me at a body stalking toward us. I couldn't bear to turn around and look. I knew it was Blaine.

"Shit. Fuck." Rhys whispered, never once taking his off Blaine.

My whole body started shaking.

"Ivy? Rhys?" Blaine moved closer, and Rhys and I quickly stepped away from each other. He looked confused and, at the same time, full of rage. I had no idea how much he saw, but by the sound of his thunderous footsteps, I was pretty sure he had seen our kiss.

"Blaine, please..." I tried to speak, but he ignored me and glared at Rhys. I fought back my tears as I watched anger flare in his eyes.

"What the fuck is going on here? Did I see you two kissing?" Blaine's nostrils flared up, and his chest puffed out. He took a step closer and blurted out. "Are you two fucking? Did you fuck my girlfriend?"

"Blaine, stop – "I started, but he held up his hand.

"I wasn't asking you, Ivy. I was asking my brother."

The way Blaine said the word brother was like a curse. From the look on his face, it was clear he had suspected something was going on between us all along. We weren't fooling anyone except ourselves.

Silently, I pleaded for Rhys to lie to Blaine. I wished he would make up any excuse to ease Blaine's mind about what he thought he saw. I saw people from the party slowly trickling out of the ranch and onto the front porch, watching with heightened curiosity.

"Yes," Rhys whispered, cringing.

Blaine's mouth twisted into a threatening scowl, and he glared at Rhys. An angry storm was building in his eyes, and I felt my heart quicken to an alarming beat.

"Have you been fucking her all summer?" he asked harshly.

"Blaine, we never wanted to hurt you- "

"How many fucking times did it happen, Rhys?" Blaine's eyebrows rose with his voice. "How. Many. Times? More than once?"

Rhys answered calmly. "Yes, and I'm sorry. I wish I could take it back, but I can't."

My heart clenched. He wished he could take it back. Why would he say that? But a meaningful look from Rhys, and I suddenly understood. It wasn't being with me that he wanted to take back; betraying Blaine was what he wanted to erase. I wanted to erase the hurt it was causing him, too.

"I wish I didn't want to be with Ivy, but I do. I'm sorry."

"You're sorry?" Blaine shouted, and his fist connected a blow to Rhys's jaw in the same breath. I let out a shrill scream, watching Rhys stagger backward. Blood trickled from the corner of his mouth. Recovering slowly, Rhys stood straight and wiped the blood away with his hand.

"Go ahead. Punch me again, Blaine. I deserve it. Just know we never did this to hurt you – "Rhys's face was pained, and I could see how hard it was for him to come clean with Blaine. "I tried to keep my distance from Ivy. I did. I swear."

"You didn't fuck Ivy to hurt me? You tried to keep your distance?" Blaine yelled and punched him on the other side of his jaw. Rhys stumbled backward again; this time, blood leaked from his nose. "I'm your fucking brother. How could you betray me like this?" He punched him again and again. Even though my body was frozen in shock, my mouth wasn't, and I couldn't take it anymore.

"Blaine, stop – "I screamed, voice hoarse. "You are hurting him."

Blaine turned to me with his dark eyes clouded with hurt. "But it was okay for you two to hurt me?" he shouted. He wouldn't stop. By this third and fourth blow, it felt like everyone from the party was on the front porch watching us. I wanted to jump between them, but my body was frozen. I couldn't move.

"Blaine, please. I'm so sorry!" my voice trembled. "Please. Please stop hurting him."

He turned away from me, angrier than before. "I came back for Ivy! I turned down one of the biggest opportunities of my life for her!" Blaine struck Rhys in the face and then in the stomach. Rhys wouldn't fight back. Why wouldn't he fight back? Blood oozed from his lips, cheek, and nose. His left eye was already starting to swell.

"I'm sorry, Blaine," Rhys muttered.

Blaine punched him again, and Rhys dropped to the ground. His shirt was stained with blood. I could tell his body was weak from the repeated blows Blaine was feeding him, but everything was happening so fast.

"You are my brother!" Blaine screamed at him. "I trusted you. You fucking ruined everything. Dad was right about you, you're a fucking embarrassment." Blaine kicked Rhys in the side, and his fist landed another blow to his face. Rhys toppled over, and Blaine started to kick him on the ground, shouting how much he hated Rhys and how he'd never forgive him. Rhys moaned out in pain, but Blaine wouldn't stop. And just as he raised another fist, my body unfroze. I jumped in front of Rhys, shielding him from another one of Blaine's imminent blows.

"Stop!" I screamed, tears streaming down my face.

Blaine froze in shock; his fist dropped to his side. His dark eyes stared at me in absolute horror. He was panting in fervor.

Rhys twisted behind me in pain in an attempt to get up from the ground, moaning, "Ivy, don't. Please." He spat blood from his mouth and tried feebly to sit up on his elbow for support.

"Move, Ivy." Blaine's face reignited with anger, and he raised his fist again. "Or else."

I glared at Blaine, refusing to move from Rhys's side. If he was going to hit Rhys again, he was going to have to go through me first, and I wasn't scared to fight back. This version of Blaine standing before me – full of rage and violence - was not the Blaine I had grown to love. Blaine's fist shook as if he debated throwing another punch regardless of my body covering Rhys.

When Eddie's voice broke through the crowd, calling out my name, Blaine finally lowered his fist and stepped back.

"What the hell is going on here?"

Eddie appeared with Missy by his side. He shifted his eyes between Blaine and Rhys and glared at me, wedged between them. My mind couldn't comprehend what was happening. The impact of what we'd done couldn't be ignored. It felt like I couldn't breathe.

"Tell me this isn't true, Ivy," Eddie said, voice cold. "Have you been sneaking around with Rhys?"

"Yes. It's true," I whispered.

Eddie glared down at Rhys. "Are you happy now? How many fucking times have I told you to stay away from my little sister?"

My heart stopped. What did Eddie say? Had he told Rhys to stay away from me? Rhys sputtered and coughed up some blood before Blaine piped up.

"What?" Blaine panted. "Why would you tell Rhys to stay away from Ivy?"

Eddie looked over at Blaine and met his enraged eyes. "Why do you think Rhys and I don't talk anymore? He hooked up with Ivy three years ago, during our senior year of high school. And he fucking lied to me about it even after I confronted him. He fucking lied to me, just like they both lied to you. He's a backstabbing piece of shit. Every sappy love song Rhys has ever written has been about Ivy. Don't you listen to his music? So yeah, I've told him over and over again to stay the fuck away from her. Especially once she started dating you. He's reckless and hasty and was supposed to be my best friend. Not the guy chasing after my little sister and ruining her with his ways."

"You told Rhys to stay away from me?" Eddie's words filled me with an unfamiliar fury and an aching understanding of Rhys's reason for avoiding me all these years. "How could you?" my voice trembled as I glared at Eddie. "I can't believe – of all the things you've done - I may be your sister, but I am not your property!"

"It was for your good," Eddie said. "And now look at where Rhys Wyatt has gotten you. You're officially the town whore." My hands balled into fists and started to simmer in my stomach and fizzle its way up to my throat. "You've made a fool of yourself."

"Don't you dare talk to her like that," Rhys shouted, weakly raising himself on one elbow. "Don't blame, Ivy," he moaned. "It's not her fault."

"Of all the girls in this town, you just had to go after my little sister." Eddie was starting to look as angry as Blaine. This wasn't good.

"I love her, okay?" Rhys shouted. "I love you, Ivy."

It felt as if the entire world went silent as the words escaped Rhys's lips. My heart seized at his omission, and it felt like my knees were about to give way. Our eyes met, and I could feel the love behind them as he studied my face for any indication I felt the same. Of course, I did. I loved him fiercely but was so shocked I could barely breathe.

You could hear the mumbling of the crowd, and I could feel the anger from Blaine's eyes stab me right through my heart.

"You're dead to me!" Blaine screamed before I could even muster another word. I was sure he directed his words at both of us. I turned to see him glare wildly at Rhys. I was terrified he would snap again at any moment. He ran his fingers through his hair, pulling it from the root as he glared at me. "Is this some sort of sick joke, or maybe you've lost your fucking mind, Ivy?"

I rose to my feet and forced myself to calm down. This wasn't how I wanted Rhys and me to end up together. All the love in the world couldn't repair the damage we had done. I made a huge mistake thinking I could have either of them without ruining everything.

I blinked heavily several times to try and see Blaine more clearly. He just stared at me with the fire blazing in his eyes. "How could you do this to me? I loved you." His voice was strained. He exhaled slowly. His dark eyes were moist with tears. He ran a blood-stained hand through his copper hair. "Say something."

"I'm sorry," I finally breathed. "But I love him too."

Blaine punched the side of Rhys's Range Rover passenger door and kicked some dirt. He glared at Rhys and me, his chest heaving up and down. I felt sick to my stomach at the pain I caused Blaine. I glanced over at Eddie and saw the disappointment in his eyes.

I was furious with Eddie for trying to control me all these years and for his hurtful words tonight. I shifted my gaze back to Blaine, and I was also so angry with him for physically hurting Rhys. Then I looked down at Rhys, and everything became too much too soon as irritation sizzled in my veins. I loved him fiercely, but Rhys made it clear he was about to leave me again. I felt like I couldn't trust any of them. I wasn't confused anymore for the first time in a long time. My decision became clear.

I turned around and placed my palm on Rhys's face. I wanted to be with him more than anything, but never like this. He was right to go to Nashville without me. The timing wasn't right, and I wasn't sure it would ever be.

"I love you, Rhys," I whispered.

He gazed back at me with confusion evident in his eyes. "I love you too," he whispered back. Knowing I was about to leave him like this pained me so much, but I knew it was best for all three of us.

I took a deep breath, closed my eyes and said aloud. "I'm sorry, Blaine." When I opened my eyes, I looked over at him. "I'm so sorry. But none of you need to worry about me; I'll be accepting an internship in Fredrickton. And you should go back to France."

Blaine shouted a curse word, and Eddie tried to grab my arm, but I pulled away from his touch and turned to Missy. "Please, Missy - I need you to give me a ride."

Missy looked up at Eddie, down at Rhys and then at Blaine. They all looked confused as hell, but none of them said another word. My heart was torn in two different directions, but I was choosing myself this time. I had ruined everything, and I wasn't sure I would ever recover from the guilt I felt inside.

"Okay. Let's go." Missy nodded as she led the way over to her car parked alongside the driveway, and we left. And this time, I couldn't look back.