𝔼𝕧𝕖𝕣𝕘𝕣𝕖𝕖𝕟

Chapter 28 : Itemized

On Monday morning, I wake up to the sound of Ivy's voice booming from downstairs.

I rush to put on my clothes and brush my teeth, nearly tripping as I run out of my bedroom.

I freeze at the top of the stairs when I see the reason for Ivy's anger.

"Get the fuck out of my house!" She yells at Michael, who is currently standing in the middle of the entryway.

"Ivy, I am begging you, please," Michael says, and Ivy groans.

"Don't you get it? I. don't. want. you. here."

I hesitate between going back to my room discreetly and going down there to make sure Ivy is okay.

Before I can make a decision, Michael lifts his head when he notices my movements and Ivy follows his gaze.

"Good Morning. Forgive me for waking you up, Alexander."

Ivy sighs with relief when she finds me.

A few weeks ago I was Michael.
I was the one being stared at in horror, and now she turns to me for reassurance.

I walk down the stairs looking more composed than I feel on the inside.

"Good morning, Michael," I say and extend my hand to shake his.

Ivy sends me daggers through her eyes.

"And good morning, you," I smile at her and she softens.

Michael clears his throat, "Ivy and I have a session today. I thought she knew."

I open my mouth to tell him we weren't informed but Ivy beats me to it.

"And I thought you heard me the first time when I said I wasn't going through with it!"

"Okay, let's all calm down," I say.

I wish Tyler was here.

On the other hand, I always encouraged Ivy to come to me for help. I keep telling her she can count on me, but the minute things get ugly I run away from the responsibility.

"I don't want to calm down, Alex. I want him gone," Ivy grits her teeth and Michael looks at me helplessly.

"We need to go and pick up Mason from the hospital and pay his medical bill, V. We're already running late," I try to plead with her through my eyes and she nods stiffly.

"As for you, Michael. Maybe you could accompany us to the hospital and we can talk more about the sessions while we wait for the paperwork to be completed ?"

Michael stares at me in disbelief, "of course, it works for me."
Ivy is gaping at us and she doesn't waste a second pulling me aside by the sleeve of my shirt.

"What the fuck, Alex? I don't want him there!"

I rub my face with a hand, "Ivy, I beg you," I say as I grab her by her shoulders, "I know you don't want him around but it isn't my place to kick him out. Tyler isn't here right now and I have no idea what to do about it. This is the best I could come up with,"

Ivy glares at me but doesn't protest.

I sigh, "please?" 

"Fine," Ivy huffs and I release her.

"I'll go get ready, you can call Dex and tell him we're going there now."

Ivy throws a look in Michael's direction before she runs up the stairs and into her room.

Michael and I are left standing in the entryway and the silence is terribly awkward. It goes on for about two minutes until he decides to break it.

"I am sorry for all this. I am not trying to cause any trouble, I just want to reconnect with my daughter."