TAINTED

Chapter 11

IVY

Luckily, Rhys was fully clothed when he sat beside me on the sofa. I looked up at him from the book I was reading but ignored his close proximity and didn't acknowledge him. I was glad he hadn't tried to speak with me since the other night. I was beginning to think he was avoiding me. Maybe that was best. He was Blaine's brother, and of course, in due time, we would need to learn how to get along, but right now, it was probably best we didn't talk. I stuck my nose back in my book but watched from the corner of my eye as he changed the channel to a mindless sitcom and took a sip from a can of beer.

"You ever watch this show?" Rhys asked quietly. "It's quite funny."

Looking up from my book, I readjusted myself on the sofa, trying to move further away from him.

"Or is television not your thing? Growing up, you always had your nose in a novel," he said, looking over his shoulder at me.

"Reading is good for your brain."

With a little smirk, he said, "There is a life outside of fiction."

I looked up at Rhys and let him stew in my silence. Regardless of his apology and measly attempt to converse with me, I was still angry at him.

He glanced at the backside of my novel and then back at me, raising his eyebrows meaningfully. "Wild by Cheryl Strayed? I didn't realize you were a girl of adventure. You know we have a whole playground of wild right outside those patio doors. You could be doing what Cheryl did instead of just reading about it."

"I happen to like reading about other people's adventures."

He nodded, and silence stretched for a long, weird beat until he said, "But you don't like having adventures of your own. I get it."

"That's not what I said."

Rhys laughed as I eyed him, and he continued to flip through the television channels.

"I liked it better when we didn't try," I said, annoyed.

"Try?" he said and shook his head. "Am I not allowed to try and have a conversation with you?" he took a swig of his beer. "I get it. Things were easier when I wasn't here." He smirked, reminding me of my jab at him last night. It made me wince slightly. "But I am here, Ivy. And I didn't like how we left things the other night. I'd prefer it if we could try to get along."

I shrugged before folding my book shut and straightening up on the sofa. "I feel like nothing good ever comes from us talking. Maybe if we keep to ourselves, normal will eventually come between us. You are Blaine's brother. I have to accept that. And we may have to put up with each other forever potentially."

Rhys smirked. "Forever, huh?"

I didn't reply. I didn't know how to respond. I never really thought about a forever with Blaine. The words just slipped out of my mouth. Forever was a pretty scary word. Right now, I had no intention of committing to Blaine or anyone forever.

"Here, have a beer," he pulled a beer can from the case beside him, and I took it from him without an argument. The beer was cold, and I was rather thirsty. I cracked it open and took a sip. It was frothy and hoppy, just the way I liked it.

"Is reading Wild your only plan for tonight?" Rhys asked.

I shrugged. "Maybe. I wasn't exactly expecting your company. You never stick around the ranch." I glanced over at him. "Since we are trying with each other. Why don't you tell me where you sneak off to every other night?"

"Out," he replied, glancing at me with a playful smile. "At least I leave the ranch."

"I leave the ranch." I frowned. "I work all day at the resort."