Shadow of the Day (Wolf Moon Sequel)

Chapter 41: Not Exactly Welcoming

Ivy POV

Weeks passed and things reached a sort of calm. Lila and I returned to normal, despite the fact that I began to feel that familiar impatience growing once more. It wasn't as visceral as before though; talking to Matt had helped me see from a new perspective and I was committed to making it work, letting her come to me when she was ready.

Joe also started coming around more often, seeming calmer and calmer as the weeks went by. He still trembled though, but I was beginning to think that was just part of who he was. And Matt? Well things had seemed to be improving on that front, but had suddenly reached a standstill. It was disorienting. We still spoke and hung out, but he never made a move to take things any further. I was beginning to wonder if maybe I read too deeply into his actions, that maybe he really did just see me as a friend to look out for.

"So..." Joe said.

We were at the dining room table enduring another awkward encounter. No matter how many tines we saw each other or talked it never got easier. It seemed to actually get worse.

"So..." I echoed.

We sipped from our cups. I had tea. He had black coffee. His foot tapped out the usual rhythmic beat, a jittery anxiety inducing tune that made thought impossible. So maybe he wasn't totally calm, but he was definitely calmer and quieter than usual.

I traced the grain of the table top. His fingers tapped his mug.

"So tell me about your sister," he said.

"What?" My head snapped up

"Tell me about her. She's a big part of your life right? Tell me about you guys growing up." He seemed oddly curious and his fingers had stilled in their rhythmic tapping.

"Um...well..." I faltered, unsure of what to say. "Why?"

Out of respect for Lila, I didn't really want to share any details of her life with Joe, especially given that he was tight with Devin and could relay the info. And Lila never seemed to really trust Joe either, whenever he came by she made sure to be around, or made sure her dad was home, not letting us be alone in the house for a minute. And when she came down she was always polite, yet distant, studying him while making polite chit chat. I wasn't sure if this distrust was from not knowing him at all or because of who he kept company.

"You never really talk about her, I was curious. I do want to get to know you and your life better, and she's a big part of it," he said, voice steady and firm.

"She always felt like my real sister. We're very close, so I never felt out of place or like I didn't belong," I said tactfully. Until we moved her and she started keeping secrets anyway...but I wasn't going to go there. It wasn't his business and either way we were better now. She was opening up, slowly, but she was trying. Which was all I could ask for really.

"That's nice," he nodded, coughing into his arm a moment then chugging coffee to dispel some of the roughness of his throat.

"You really should quit smoking." I couldn't help but chastise him.

He simply shrugged, fingers picking up the beat again. "I'm too old to change who I am now."

I pursed my lips. "You tried to find me, didn't you?"

His blue eyes met mine, fingers drumming double time. "That's different."

"How?"

"It..." he floundered, then deflated. "It just is."

That stung a little, but I tried not to let it get to me. Joe wasn't super touchy-feely, so trying to get any info out of him was worse than pulling teeth.