Untouchable

0.49

Ivy’s POV

The night was winding down, but the mood was light and easy, and I felt content to just enjoy the present. Everyone was gathered around the fire pit—well, almost everyone. Sebastian and Lily were somewhere inside, most likely having one of those quiet, intimate conversations they always seemed to slip into when they thought no one was watching. I wasn’t surprised. They’d been sneaking around together for weeks, and though they still hadn’t gone public with it, it was clear to anyone paying attention that they were a thing.

Kayla and Nathaniel were all smiles, the kind of smiles that said everything was right in their world. And then there was me, sitting beside Adrian. He’d been quieter than usual, but not in an awkward way. He was just... there, as if being in the moment was enough.

Alistair was pacing nearby, his phone pressed to his ear. He was talking to someone, but I couldn’t make out the words from here. A few seconds later, he hung up and slipped his phone back into his pocket, his usual cocky demeanor still in place but with a certain something more subdued beneath it.

“Who was that?” I asked casually, tilting my head as he turned toward the group.

Alistair shrugged, glancing over at me before his expression softened, though just slightly. “Someone. Nothing serious.” He ran a hand through his hair and gave me a small, almost thoughtful smile.

I raised an eyebrow. “Not serious? You’ve been seeing someone.”

He shrugged again, but this time his eyes lingered on me. “I’m taking things slow. Not like with you... or Kennedy. I’ve learned the hard way, you know?” His voice dropped a bit, quieter, like he didn’t want anyone else to overhear.

I didn’t know what to say. It was strange hearing him talk like that, so open and—well, real. I wasn’t sure if I was ready for that level of honesty from him yet, especially considering how complicated things had been between us. But maybe we were past all that. Maybe... we were different now.

I noticed Adrian shifting beside me, watching Alistair with a quiet interest. He’d been hearing a lot about Alistair’s “someone” too, though it was clear that whatever was going on with Alistair, it wasn’t official yet.

“Taking it slow,” I muttered, glancing back at Adrian with a smirk. “That’s new for you, isn’t it?”

He chuckled lightly, nudging me with his shoulder. “I think Alistair is learning to be a little more careful with his heart.”

I smiled but didn’t say anything more. I wasn’t sure how I felt about the situation, or if I even had the right to feel anything. Alistair had made his choice, just like I had made mine.

As if reading my mind, Alistair turned back to us, his usual teasing smile appearing again. “But I’m not about to let you two outshine me.”

“What, you think you can do better than us?” Adrian teased, crossing his arms.

“Who knows?” Alistair raised an eyebrow, clearly amused. “But it’s not like you two are the only ones who can figure things out.”

I smirked at them, feeling the familiar warmth of the old camaraderie settle in. Things had changed, yes, but some things would always stay the same. And, somehow, that felt like just the right balance.

As the night wore on, we all settled back into our easy rhythm. Alistair stayed close to the group, but I could see that his thoughts were elsewhere. Whatever was going on with him, he was still navigating it in his own way, and I wasn’t about to pry. He’d get there when he was ready.

It was funny, how much things had shifted. There was a sense of peace now, a sense that we had all found our places. Even if it was complicated. Even if we still had growing to do.

But for now, it didn’t matter. It was summer. And for the first time in a long while, I felt like I could breathe.