âHey, hey, Balfour, whatâs the rush? Nolanâs here too, right? You gotta hear what Ivy thinks herself.
Maybe she wants to stay.â
Balfourâs face was a mask of ice. âShe said sheâs tired.â
If sheâs tired, whatâs there to discuss? Getting some rest is the main thing.
Mara kept interfering, and Ivy knew exactly what she meant.
She didnât want to drag these people back to her apartment â that was her sanctuary, her quiet place.
âIf Ms. Lewis is so keen on this dinner, then letâs go eat outside the studios, and after weâre done, Iâll head back to rest.â
The two men seemed reluctant, but Mara clapped her hands in agreement.
âThatâs the spirit! Tired or not, a proper meal is a must. Itâll help Ivyâs ankle heal quicker too!
And so it was settled, and they all prepared to head out.
Balfour and Nolan flanked Ivy on either side, while Mara took the lead.
âWhatâs this all about? You guys watching me like hawks â I can barely use my crutches.â
Ivy stopped, exasperated, but Balfour saw an opportunity and asked, âYou donât need them, then?
Shall I carry you?â
But at the sight of Ivyâs rejecting gaze, Balfourâs outstretched hand retracted.
Nolan, who had never seen Ivy use crutches before, felt his heart twist in sympathy.
His brows furrowed, and his usually composed face etched with concern for Ivy.
âUsing crutches must be so hard. If you donât want Balfourâs help, I could carry you instead?â
Balfour bristled at Nolanâs offer.
âThis is between my wife and me, so no need for you to butt in.â
Ivy turned to Balfour. âI only need the crutches for a short while, so whatâs wrong with that? Iâm not permanently disabled. Besides, isnât it good that I can fend for myself? Why the pitying looks? Itâs overwhelming. Go on, mind your own business. Balfour, you can go with Ms. Lewis.â
With that, the men stopped their worrying looks.
Still, as Balfour walked ahead, he couldnât help but glance back at Ivy from time to time.
Even by her side, he worried she might stumble.
Mara remained silent throughout the walk.
Back home, she hadnât realized what Ivy meant to Balfour, or how far their relationship had progressed.
But this short time together filled her with dread.
Balfourâs gaze was constantly captivated by Ivyâs every move. When had he ever been like this?
When Ivy spoke, Balfour watched her face; when she was silent, he watched her form.
As Ivy limped along, concern was plain on Balfourâs face.
Mara felt like a clown, ignored while the two men focused on another woman â and a crippled one at that!
When had Mara ever been sidelined? She had to be the center of attention among women. And here was Ivy, the siren, garnering the menâs sympathy with her injured ankle.
Men, Mara thought bitterly, always fall for the damsels in distress.
Ivyâs act was sure to trigger their protective instincts.
Mara seethed internally, yet kept a sunny smile on her face, even turning back occasionally to feign concern for Ivy.