The Ivy Lessons (Devoted, Book 1)

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The Ivy Lessons (Devoted, Book 1) Page 22

by J Lerman


  ‘Okay.’ I hear Marc breathing. ‘I wish I could be with you. I wish I could touch you. I know it’s impossible right now.’

  I feel tears coming. ‘I wish I could be with you too.’

  ‘I can’t come into the college,’ says Marc. ‘There are photographers all around the gates. You’re safe inside – we have excellent security – but don’t leave until I tell you to.’

  ‘Okay.’

  Chapter 74

  I eat dinner in the meal hall that night with Tom and Tanya, and tell them about the latest twist in my situation.

  ‘We know,’ Tanya says. ‘We both got contacted on Facebook this afternoon by reporters asking us to sell stories.’

  ‘Oh no.’ I put my head in my hands.

  ‘I take it that means you don’t want your apple crumble,’ says Tom.

  ‘Take it,’ I say.

  ‘Isn’t that a good thing, though?’ says Tom, spooning up my pudding. ‘I mean, don’t you want your relationship to be out in the open? And now it sort of forces the issue, don’t you think?’

  ‘Yes,’ I agree. ‘It does. It forces it one way or the other. Have a public relationship and be followed by reporters for my entire time at college. Maybe have my reputation ruined. Or walk away from Marc forever.’

  ‘Tough call,’ says Tanya. She looks over at Cecile and Ryan, suddenly. ‘What are you two staring at?’

  They both smirk, and look back at their desserts.

  ‘I’m guessing reporters got in touch with them too,’ I say. ‘Oh great.’

  ‘It’ll all come out in the wash, love,’ says Tom. ‘Tomorrow’s chip wrappings, isn’t that what they say?’

  ‘We don’t wrap chips in newspaper anymore,’ says Tanya. ‘It’s unhygienic.’

  ‘Yes, yes, but you know what I mean,’ says Tom. ‘Are you really going to walk away from someone you love, because you’re scared about what the public are going to say about you? This is your life, for Christ’s sake. You’re the only one living it, so who cares what people say?’

  ‘It’s not just that, though,’ says Tanya. ‘If she’s going to be an actress, her public profile is very important. Reputations are everything in this business. If people see her in a certain light, it might be difficult for her to get work.’

  ‘That works the other way, too,’ says Tom. ‘Notorious actors get more work than unknown ones. Anyway, I think it’ll all blow over. And Sophia’s such an amazing actress that when people see her perform they’re not going to care about anything they’ve read.’

  ‘That’s if anyone will give her a part,’ Tanya points out.

  Chapter 75

  It turns very cold that evening, and I switch on all the radiators in my room, and light a fire in the grate, burning logs and twigs I’ve found in the woods. It makes the room feel cosy, and I get into bed and watch the flames dancing in the darkness.

  My head hurts. There’s so much to think about, and the truth is, neither I nor anyone else know the answers. No one knows exactly how things will turn out, no matter what choice I make. There’s good and bad with either decision.

  The worst of it right now is that I can’t see Marc. And that hurts. Being without him is painful.

  I watch the fire for a long time.

  Around midnight, I hear a tap on the French windows that makes me jump. I get up and go to the balcony. On the concrete, I see a white stone clatter to a stop. There’s another tap, and this time I see a stone hit the French window.

  I go to the balcony and open the glass doors. A rush of cold air comes in, and I shiver in my pyjamas. The college is dark and quiet, and smells like earth and trees.

  Down on the ground, I see a tall figure looking up at my window. His white face is alight in the moonlight, and his lips are red and bruised looking.

  ‘Marc?’ I whisper.

  ‘Sophia,’ Marc calls up.

  My heart shudders.

  ‘What are you doing here?’ I say. ‘How did you get in without being seen?’

  Marc smiles. ‘I have my ways. Can I come up?’

  I throw my arms around myself to stop me from shivering. ‘How can you? If I come down and let you in, some of the other students might hear.’

  Marc puts his foot to the wall and climbs the metal drainpipe. He jumps up each bracket until he’s inches away from the balcony. Then he springs across in one swift, easy movement, swinging himself over the rail.

  ‘Romeo, Romeo,’ I say.

  Marc scoops me up and carries me inside, rubbing my arms to warm me up and kicking the glass doors closed behind us.

  It’s dark in my room, but the fire embers create a warm glow. He holds me tight in his arms and kisses me. Then he puts me on the bed and lays beside me, propping himself up on his elbow.

  ‘It is the east, and Juliet is the sun.’ He smiles that devilish, beautiful Marc Blackwell smile. ‘I thought if things were going to end, they couldn’t end without me seeing you one last time.’

  ‘Who says things are going to end?’ I ask.

  ‘I just had a hunch,’ he says, ‘that you might have had enough of me. My drama. The challenges that come with me.’

  ‘Not yet,’ I say, looking into his eyes. ‘Maybe it’s you who’s had enough of me.’

  ‘Never.’

  ‘I’m glad.’

  He kisses me and I melt into the bed. Then he makes love to me, moving slowly, looking into my eyes.

  ‘I want to let go now,’ he tells me, moving deeper. ‘I want to let go with you.’

  ‘You can,’ I say. ‘I want you to. It’s what I want more than anything.’

  He moves faster, his blue eyes growing softer. He holds my face in his hands, and his breathing gets quicker.

  ‘Oh God,’ he says. ‘Oh God, Sophia. Yes. Oh yes.’

  He explodes inside me, looking deep into my eyes, his eyelids fluttering and his lips falling open.

  I don’t look away. I can’t. I feel like I’m seeing right into his soul. And it’s beautiful.

  Marc falls onto me, and whispers in my ear: ‘I need to know. Are we’re going to do this? Or am I going to have to get over you?’

  I look into his blue eyes, so full of emotion – power, strength and fear – and I know I made my decision months ago. ‘Yes,’ I say. ‘We’re going to do this.’

  ‘You’re sure?’ he says.

  ‘Yes.’

  ‘I love you.’ He strokes my hair. ‘It’s still taking me by surprise. But I’m learning.’

  ‘Me too,’ I say.

  ‘In the morning then,’ he says. ‘We’ll leave the college together. Hand in hand. Let them take their photographs.’

  ‘Okay,’ I say, feeling his arms slide around me. ‘Okay, tomorrow. First thing.’

  We fall asleep wrapped in each other’s arms, our foreheads touching.

  What did you think of this book? Loved it? Hated it? Have other criticisms or comments? Please share these with an Amazon review, and help Amazon and authors learn what makes a good book.

  Want to hear what happens next to Sophia and Marc?

  Read: Where the Ivy Grows, on Amazon now.

  Table of Contents

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Chapter 27

  Chapter 28

  Chapter 29

  Chapter 30

  Chapter 31

  Chapter 32

  Chapter 34 />
  Chapter 35

  Chapter 36

  Chapter 37

  Chapter 38

  Chapter 39

  Chapter 40

  Chapter 41

  Chapter 42

  Chapter 43

  Chapter 44

  Chapter 45

  Chapter 46

  Chapter 47

  Chapter 48

  Chapter 49

  Chapter 50

  Chapter 51

  Chapter 52

  Chapter 53

  Chapter 54

  Chapter 55

  Chapter 56

  Chapter 57

  Chapter 58

  Chapter 59

  Chapter 60

  Chapter 61

  Chapter 62

  Chapter 63

  Chapter 64

  Chapter 65

  Chapter 66

  Chapter 67

  Chapter 68

  Chapter 69

  Chapter 70

  Chapter 71

  Chapter 72

  Chapter 73

  Chapter 74

  Chapter 75

  Want to hear what happens next to Sophia and Marc?

 

 

 


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