IVY POV
The ride back was quiet.
Too quiet.
Walter didn't say a word, and neither did I. I just stared out the window, watching the city lights blur past, my head pounding and my patience completely gone.
When we finally pulled up in front of my apartment building, relief hit me hard.
"Have a lovely morning, Ivy," Walter said gently as he opened the door for me.
"And you too… and thank you," I replied, my voice tired but sincere.
I hurried inside, climbed the stairs, and unlocked the door. The moment I stepped in, Max looked up from the couch.
"Hey," he said casually. "So… how was the tutoring… "
"Shh." I cut him off, throwing my hands up like if he spoke one more word I might explode.
He blinked, confused, as I walked straight to the fridge. I grabbed a bottle of water, twisted the cap off, and gulped it down like my life depended on it.
Then I screamed.
Aaaaaaaghhhhhh
Not a cute scream. Not a quiet one. A full‑blown, frustrated, losing‑my‑mind scream.
Max jumped. "Bitch, what the hell?!" he yelled, staring at me like I'd lost it.
"I'm going to kill that bastard," I snapped, my hands shaking, my chest tight with anger.
Before he could say anything else, I stormed past him and headed straight to my room, slamming the door behind me.
I leaned against it, breathing hard, my heart racing.
Hale was officially the most exhausting human being I had ever met.
I slid down the door until I was sitting on the floor, my back pressed against the wood, my knees pulled to my chest.
"What did I get myself into?" I whispered.
My phone buzzed.
I froze.
Slowly, like it might bite me, I pulled it out of my pocket.
Ronan Hale:
My stomach dropped.
RH: Hey, tutor girl
RH: I think your study material isn't so great.
I scoffed, a dry, humorless sound leaving my lips.
"Unbelievable," I muttered.
Another buzz.
RH: Same time tomorrow. Prepare better.
I stared at the screen, my thumb hovering, my heart racing between anger and something I didn't want to name.
I typed back before I could stop myself.
Me: At 4 a.m. You can't be serious.
The reply came instantly.
RH: I'm always serious.
I let my head fall back against the door.
"Psychopath," I whispered.
A soft knock came from the other side.
"Ivy?" Max's voice, careful. "You okay?"
I took a deep breath, wiped my face, and pushed myself up.
"Yeah," I called back, even though it was a lie. "Just… exhausted."
Silence for a second.
Then his voice again, gentler. "You want ice cream or wine?"
Despite everything, a weak smile tugged at my lips.
"Both," I said.
I walked quietly towards the kitchen, still fuming but trying to let some of the tension go. Max was already pulling out two bowls.
"You really went full Hulk on Hale, huh?" he said with a teasing grin.
I rolled my eyes, trying to ignore the heat in my cheeks. "Hulk? Please. That guy is impossible. He… he just… ugh… I can't even…" My words trailed off as I flopped onto a barstool, staring at the counter.
Max leaned against it, smirking. "Sounds like someone's got a serious problem with Hale."
"Problem? Problem? Max, he's… he's infuriating! He doesn't take anything seriously! He fails everything and… he's… he's…" I groaned, running a hand through my hair, frustrated and tired. "I don't even know how to explain it."
Max chuckled, shaking his head. "Sounds like his made quite an impression ."
I shot him a glare, but my lips twitched despite myself. "Impression? Don't be ridiculous."
"Uh-huh," he said, waving a spoon at me. "Have never seen you this mad since high school… and the last time you had a crush on that dude."
I ignored him and dug into the ice cream, trying to calm down. Every spoonful was a tiny relief, a moment to just breathe. But even as I sat there, a part of me couldn't stop thinking about Hale…his piercing gaze, that smug smirk, the way he made my chest tighten without even touching me.
I clenched my fists under the counter. Why does he have to be so… annoying?
Max just watched me silently for a moment, then shrugged. "You're in deep, huh?"
I blinked at him, my mouth full of ice cream. "Deep? Max, I'm drowning. And he's just… swimming circles around me."
Max laughed, shaking his head again. "Well, good luck, tutor girl. Looks like your nightmare just officially started."
I muttered under my breath, taking another spoonful. "Don't call me that… Nightmare… doesn't even cover it."
I sat there for a while, trying to calm my racing thoughts, but it was impossible. Every time I closed my eyes, I saw his face… his hazel blue eyes, the piercing gaze, the way he acted like everything was under his control. My chest tightened, and I felt my stomach twist with a mix of frustration and… something I couldn't understand.
Max finally spoke again. "You're not going to get any sleep worrying about him, are you?"
I shook my head, letting out a heavy sigh. "No. I… I have to figure out how to get through this tutoring thing without losing my mind."
Max smirked knowingly. "Good luck with that. You're basically volunteering to babysit a genius, arrogant, hockey-playing nightmare."
I groaned, covering my face with my hands. "Nightmare doesn't even cover it. He's a monster. And he's… he's… ugh… I can't even deal with him!"
"You will," Max said calmly, nudging me gently. "Just… remember why you're doing it. Letter to Kirkland & Ellis."
I peeked at him through my fingers. "Yeah… that's the only reason I'm sticking with this. That, and not letting Professor Reyes think I chickened out."
Max shrugged. "Then focus on that. And don't let him get under your skin too much… though, looking at you, it's already happening."
I groaned again, leaning back in my chair. He was right. That smug, impossible boy had already gotten under my skin… and I still had two months with him.
I let out a long, shaky breath and whispered to myself, "Tomorrow… tomorrow I'll be ready for him."
For now... I'm too tired.