I say nothing, but when Ivan looks back at my face he grins a little, shaking his head. “See?” he says, reaching out to put a hand on my shoulder. “I’m onto something there. Don’t trust him, Fay.”
But I frown and pull my shoulder out from beneath Ivan’s hand. “You should go.” I say, hard. Because even if Ivan has a point? Jerome has done nothing but be good to me, and help me, and prove himself a good and loyal friend. And I’m not going to let Ivan shake that faith now – not when he directly benefits from it.
“Fay,” Ivan says, his face suddenly sad. “I’m sorry – I didn’t mean to –“
“Yes, you did,” I snap, glaring up at him. “You were deliberately nasty up there tonight, to Daniel and to Jerome – you threw that in their face and couldn’t keep the smile off your mouth. And now you’re trying to drive a wedge between us. You’re being deliberately manipulative, Ivan,” I say, shaking my head at him, “and it is not a good look on you. So would you please go, and stop trying to destroy what’s left of my life?”
Ivan purses his lips as he looks at me, but I can see that he’s well aware that what I’ve said is fair.
“I am sorry, Fay,” he murmurs, and then he sighs and looks down again. “You’re right. I…wasn’t trying to be nice.”
“Well at least you admit it.” I sigh, stepping away from him.
“Can I at least –“
“Good night, Ivan,” I snap, glaring at him. And Ivan sighs and meets my eyes again.
“I’ll see you soon, okay?” I don’t respond, and after a few seconds he climbs into his car and drives away. I stand alone in the driveway for a few minutes after he’s gone, thinking through what he said.
Because even if he was just trying to rattle me?
Well, it worked. I am rattled.
Should I be trusting Jerome as much as I have been?
I turn when I hear the house door creaking open behind me.
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