Chapter 38: Acceptance and Secrets

Robyn POV

This is so boring. I don't know how the Cullens manage to endure this day after day for decades—or however long they've been doing it. High school was miserable the first time around, and now I have to endure it all over again. I hated it then, and nothing's changed now. Well, at least I'm not starting from freshman year.

Right now, I'm sitting in Spanish class, grateful that I know just enough to get by. Unfortunately, Jessica is in this class too, and she's been hounding me for the gossip about why I missed school and where Edward is. I'm counting down the minutes until lunch—which, thankfully, is right after this.

I miss Faye, Emmett, and Rose.

It sucks not having Rose and Emmett in any of my classes. I wonder if it's okay to sit with them at lunch—I'd love to. I already miss Rose's gentle, caring nature and Emmett's goofy jokes that always make things feel lighter.

And Faye… I wonder what she's doing right now. It's Monday afternoon, so Charlie will be at work later, which means she will have some time to herself. I could try mind-linking her, but what if she's busy? Would it be bad to bother her? Worse, what if we can't even connect from this far? We've never tried long-distance before.

"Miss Swan?"

Still, the curiosity is killing me. I'll try reaching out at lunch. If it works, at least I won't feel so far away from her.

"Miss Swan."

And Ivy…

"Miss Swan!"

Someone yelled out making me snap out of my thoughts. Around me, the classroom erupted in stifled giggles. Standing at the front, my Spanish teacher, Mrs. Goff, was staring at me with a stern expression, arms crossed.

"Welcome back to Earth, Miss Swan," she said, her tone dripping with sarcasm. "I hope whatever you were thinking of what about was in Spanish so at least you were doing something that had to do with my class."

I opened my mouth to reply, but she held up a hand to stop me.

"I know you've been out for a week," she continued, "but that doesn't mean you get to zone out in my class. Now, I want you to say… 'I'm sorry, Mrs. Goff. I promise to pay attention in Spanish class.' All in Spanish"

The way my classmates were looking at me made it painfully clear they assumed I couldn't pull it off. Some were even giving me pitying glances as if they were already bracing for the secondhand embarrassment. Jessica, of course, looked like she'd just hit the jackpot of gossip. I could already imagine the headlines: "Bella Swan makes a fool of herself in Spanish class, daydreaming about Edward Cullen." Or something equally ridiculous.

Unfortunately for her—and everyone else in the room—I knew just enough Spanish to make it through. So, without missing a beat, I looked up at Mrs. Goff and calmly recited the phrase.

"Lo siento señora Goff. Prometo prestar atención en la clase de español."

Everyone looked surprised—even Mrs. Goff—before her stern expression broke into a wide grin, her eyes lighting up with unexpected excitement.

"¡Perfecta!" she exclaimed, her voice warm and approving. "Looks like someone's been paying attention, after all. Good job, Miss Swan."

I couldn't help but feel a little smug as I settled back in my seat, the stifled giggles from my classmates fading into awkward silence. Jessica's hopeful expression melted into a mix of confusion and frustration. Mrs. Goff walked back to the board, but not before giving me one last encouraging nod. "Maybe now you'll stick around and be present for the rest of the lesson?"

I nodded, offering a small but confident smile. "Of course, señora Goff." The rest of the lesson passed without incident, aside from Jessica shooting me suspicious glances, no doubt trying to figure out how I knew that much Spanish. I could already picture her bombarding me with questions as soon as class ended—like a wolf pouncing on a deer.

Hopefully, the Cullens wouldn't mind one more person at their table today.

The bell rang, and I bolted out of my seat, eager to escape the classroom. As soon as I entered the cafeteria, my eyes immediately locked on the Cullens' table. Thankfully, they were all already there. I noticed Emmett and Rose exchanging confused, protective glances when I burst through the doors. Rose looked like she was about to get up and come to me, but I beat her to it, quickly making my way over to them.

My eyes darted toward the door, scanning for any sign that Jessica had followed me. When I didn't see her, I let out a quiet breath, though my shoulders stayed tense.

Across the room, Angela sat at our usual table, her expression tinged with confusion. She caught my eye briefly, and I could almost see the questions swirling in her mind—was she wondering why I wasn't sitting with them? Or was it why I had rushed to the Cullens as though my life depended on it? Probably the latter.

A pang of guilt tightened in my chest. Angela was a truly good friend—kind, understanding, and effortless to be around. She never pried or indulged in gossip, qualities I admired more than I probably ever told her. She deserved an explanation, something better than being left confused and in the dark about why I'd suddenly bolted.

But with Jessica likely moments away, I didn't have the time to give her that. So I caught Angela's gaze and mouthed, "I'll tell you later." Her expression softened, and she gave a small, understanding nod, though I could still see the flicker of curiosity lingering in her eyes.

It wasn't much, but it would have to do—for now.

My heart jumped when I felt a hand on my shoulder, but it was just Rose, her concerned expression softening as she looked at me.

"Hey, little bird. What's going on?" she asked gently.

I shook my head and let out a small sigh. "Sorry, it's nothing. It's just that Jessica has been bugging me with questions all day, and I thought she was about to ambush me for answers about what happened in Spanish class."

Rose's expression hardened immediately, her protective instincts kicking in. "What? What happened in Spanish class? Did she do something to you?"

I shook my head quickly. "No, nothing like that…" I hesitated, then explained what had happened.

When I finished, Emmett chimed in, grinning. "¿Tú hablas español?"

Without even thinking, I responded automatically, "Puedo hablar lo suficientemente bien por desenvolverse y entender lo suficiente para mantener una conversación."

Emmett let out an impressed whistle, leaning back in his seat. "Look at you, Miss Multilingual."

Rose, however, wasn't distracted. She had already locked onto Jessica, who had just entered the cafeteria, and immediately zeroed in on me. Rose's glare was sharp enough to make Jessica falter and quickly pretend she was looking at something else. I watched as the realization dawned on Angela's face.

I groaned, rubbing my temples. "Maybe Faye's having a better day than I am," I muttered, wishing for a moment of peace.

Faye POV

This is so boring. Charlie left for work a while ago, muttering something about being called in earlier than unexpected. Before he left, he told me to behave and set out a bowl of wet dog food—which, unsurprisingly, is still sitting untouched. There's no way I'm eating that, no matter how much Ivy begs. It's almost afternoon anyway, so Robyn should be back soon, and we can grab something decent to eat at the mall.

Please, Faye? Just one bite? It probably doesn't even taste that bad, Ivy pleaded, her tail wagging hopefully.

Ivy, no. I'm not eating dog food , I said firmly, letting out an exasperated huff as I rolled onto my back, trying to get comfortable. Besides, don't you want to try mall food instead? I promise it'll taste a lot better.

Hearing that, Ivy's ears perked up, her excitement practically radiating off her. Wait—you're telling me the mall has food? I thought it only gave haircuts and clothes. What kind of food?!

I let out another huff, rolling onto my side and closing my eyes, letting my thoughts linger on it a little longer. I don't know exactly. In the future, there's something called a food court.

Ivy tilted her head, giving me a puzzled look. A food court?

It's this part of the mall where they have a bunch of food places all in one area. They usually have all kinds of food—burgers, pizza, Chinese, sandwiches. You name it. But… I paused thinking about it a bit more, we're in 2005, so I don't know if it's quite the same yet.

Ivy let out a dramatic whine like a dog denied a treat. So, what you're saying is… there might not be a food court? she groaned making me snicker in amusement. I don't know. I'm sure we can ask Rose or Emmett when they get here.

"Testing… Testing. Faye? Ivy? Can you guys hear me?"

Ivy and I perked hearing Robyn's voice.

Robyn?

Is that you, Robyn? Hi!

"Oh, I guess it does work long distances. How is it going over there?"

It's-

It's boring and Faye flat-out refuses to even touch the dog food Charlie left for us. I keep telling her it won't be that bad but-

And I keep telling you I'm not trying it. Besides I told you that we can eat at the mall or find someplace around the mall to eat.

Ivy let out a huff in annoyance.

Robyn chuckled softly. "Still on the dog food debate, huh? Ivy, let it go. Mall food sounds way better, trust me."

I'm just saying, Ivy muttered, her tone half-defeated. What if the food court doesn't exist yet? Or what if the food is boring? What if we're stuck with… She trailed off dramatically. Plain sandwiches!

I couldn't help but snicker at her exaggerated concern. Ivy could be so over the top sometimes. Are you seriously worried about sandwiches?

Yes! she exclaimed as if the mere idea was horrifying. Well, sandwiches are fine, but they don't sound like mall food material! I want excitement! Adventure! Maybe… nachos! I saw them in your thoughts and they looked delicious!

Robyn's voice came through again, laughing. "Nachos? Ivy, I'm pretty sure they have a food court, but just to be sure, I'll double-check with Alice, Rose, or Emmett since they've been there before." There was a brief pause. "Okay, Alice says there is a food court, but she doesn't know exactly what they have because you know… vampires. Anyway, I just wanted to check-in. My next class is starting soon. Are you two gonna hold up okay until I get back?"

Ivy immediately perked up. No! We'll die of boredom! Come save us, Robyn. Please?

I rolled my eyes but couldn't suppress a small smile. We'll be fine, Robyn. Ivy's just being dramatic—as usual. But we'll feel a lot better once we're all together.

"Good. I'll see you guys soon," Robyn said, her voice warm. "I've got one more class after this, then I'm heading home. Try not to drive each other crazy until then, okay?"

As Robyn's voice faded from the mind-link, Ivy's excitement was directed to me, her excitement practically bubbling over. Okay, let's plan what we're going to eat! What if they have pizza? Or ice cream? Or—ooh!—pretzels! What do you think, Faye?

I sighed, shaking my head with amusement. Ivy, calm down. Let's just wait and see what they have when we get there. But, not wanting to dampen her enthusiasm, I added, I guess it wouldn't hurt to think about the possibilities while we wait. It's not like we have anything better to do, anyway.

And that's exactly what we did, passing the time by debating food options and imagining what the mall might have to offer. That is until the sound of something pulling into the driveway broke our focus. It wasn't the familiar rumble of a car or truck engine—this sounded a bit different. It kind of sounded like a motorcycle.

Ivy's ears perked up immediately, her head tilting in curiosity. What is that?

I frowned, equally puzzled. I don't know… but it's not Charlie.

Hey, ask Robyn if she is expecting someone.

Hey, Robyn? I focused on sending my thoughts to her. Were you expecting someone, or did you catch a ride with someone on your way home?

"Uh, no? I'm not expecting anyone, and I'm still at school. I'm in my last class, but it's almost over. Why? Is someone there? Is it Charlie?"

No, pretty sure it's not Charlie—unless he suddenly bought a motorcycle in the last couple of hours.

"A motorcycle? It's probably Jacob—he's the only one I know with a bike. I'll be home soon. I was planning to head back, change, and then text Emmett and Rosalie when we're ready."

Okay…

Before I could say more, the doorbell rang. My instincts kicked in, and I barreled down the stairs, doing my best impression of a guard dog. I barked at the door for good measure.

From the other side, I heard Jacob mutter, "What the heck? Is that a dog? Since when do they have a dog?" There was a brief pause before I heard the creak of him sitting down. "Whatever. Bella should be home soon. I'll wait."

Five minutes later, the sound of another car pulling into the driveway caught my attention. This time, I knew it was Robyn—the way Jacob shot to his feet and his heart skipped a beat gave it away.

"Hey, Bells!" Jacob called out, his voice bright and eager.

Oh, poor kid. He has no idea he doesn't stand a chance, does he? Ivy's tone was a mix of amused pity as if she felt a little bad for him but couldn't help being entertained by the situation.

Ivy, be nice. I think this might be his first puppy love… no pun intended.

Ivy snickered, her laughter cutting off as the sound of the door opening reached us.

What should we do? Pretend to be a good guard dog and bark at him again, or act nervous and back off a bit?

Ivy let out an exasperated huff. I'm not running away from this unshifted pup. This is our territory, and I have standards. Let's bark at him.

I silently agreed. The moment the door swung open, I unleashed a flurry of sharp barks. Jacob froze, clearly startled, just as Robyn appeared. She scooped me up, stroking my fur to pretend she was calming me down.

"Hey, Moxie. Calm down, girl. It's okay, it's just a friend of mine."

Jacob blinked, his wide eyes darting between Robyn and me. "Moxie?" he asked, his voice tinged with confusion. "Since when do you have a dog?"

Robyn smiled, her hand still gently stroking my fur as I settled into her arms, doing my best to play the role of a loyal and harmless stray. "Oh, I found her wandering in the woods a little while ago. I couldn't just leave her. After some convincing, Dad said I could keep her."

Jacob raised an eyebrow, giving me a skeptical once-over. "Huh. I didn't think you were the type to take in strays, Bells. What's her deal?"

Robyn shrugged, her tone casual as she adjusted her grip on me. "She's a little rough around the edges, but she's sweet once you get to know her. And she's great company."

"Well, she's, uh, definitely got some spirit," he said cautiously.

Robyn smirked, her tone light. "Don't take it personally—she just likes to make sure I'm safe."

Jacob's gaze lingered on me, and I felt a flicker of unease. I resisted the strangest urge to glare back at him in wolfish defiance, instead tilting my head and letting my tongue loll out like a good dog. Jacob scratched the back of his neck, a hint of a smile tugging at his lips.

Jacob chuckled, his posture relaxing slightly. "I can respect that. As long as she doesn't take a chunk out of my leg, I think we'll get along."

"Don't worry," Robyn replied smoothly, her eyes glinting with amusement. "She only bites when she has a reason to."

The subtle emphasis in her words made me want to grin, but I kept my composure. Instead, I leaned into her arms, looking every bit the content and harmless pet. Jacob didn't seem to notice the shift, though his gaze lingered on Robyn a bit too long for my liking. Ivy let out a growl in my head also not liking his stare.

"So," Robyn began, shifting the conversation, "what brings you here, Jacob? I wasn't expecting company."

Jacob rubbed the back of his neck again, his awkwardness suddenly more apparent. "Oh, uh… I just thought I'd stop by. You weren't around much last week, and I wanted to check in. See how you were doing."

Robyn's expression softened slightly, though I caught the flicker of discomfort in her eyes. "That's really kind of you. I've been okay, just a little under the weather last week."

Jacob's face lit up with concern. "You were sick? Are you better now?"

"Yeah," Robyn said with a reassuring smile. "I just needed some rest. It wasn't anything serious."

Jacob nodded, but he still looked like he wanted to press further. Before he could, I gave a low, soft growl, enough to snap him out of his train of thought. His eyes flicked to me, startled, and Robyn quickly stroked my fur as if calming me down again.

"She's just protective like I said," Robyn explained, her voice light but firm. "Don't worry, she's harmless. Actually, there's something I wanted to talk to you about. Do you want to head up to my room?"

Jacob's face lit up with enthusiasm, nodding eagerly before practically bounding up the stairs.

Ivy snorted, clearly entertained, as Robyn trailed after him with us cradled securely in her arms.

And that's how we ended up—Jacob and Robyn sitting on the bed, while I perched in the dog bed nearby, keeping a watchful eye to ensure Jacob didn't make her uncomfortable.

Jacob leaned forward, his expression eager. "So, what did you want to talk about?"

Robyn drew in a deep breath, steadying herself. "I wanted to tell you that I broke up with my boyfriend… and that I've realized something."

Jacob's eyes widened slightly, curiosity flickering across his face. Before he could ask anything, Robyn blurted out, "I'm a lesbian."

Jacob stared at her, momentarily stunned, but before he could respond, Robyn pressed on, her voice steady. "I'm sorry. I know you have a crush on me, and I didn't want to hurt you. I just… I didn't want you to keep hoping for something that's never going to happen."

Dang, not pulling any punches, huh, sis? I was wondering why you asked him to come up here.

"No, I'm not. I wanted to tell him so he could move on from the crush. Even though I'm not the original Bella, he's still a good friend that I grew up with, and he deserves to know."

Hmm, now that I think about it, Robyn did watch this kid grow up. She probably even remembers when he was still running around in diapers.

At that, Ivy let out a snicker, clearly unable to contain her amusement. Most likely imagining it. I forced myself to tune back into the moment, my gaze snapping to Jacob. He was staring at Robyn, his expression unreadable, his lips pressed into a thin line. It was impossible to tell what he was thinking, and that uncertainty only made my muscles tense.

Ivy and I shared a wordless thought, a silent agreement passing between us like a spark. A low, mental growl rumbled in both of our minds, primal and protective. I swear if he does anything to hurt her…

Jacob needed to tread carefully. I wouldn't let anyone, not even him, make her feel less than who she was.

Ivy's presence burned bright in my mind, her emotions surging alongside mine. Relax, she muttered, though her tone was anything but calm. If he says anything stupid, I'll make him regret it.

Her words brought the barest hint of a smirk to my lips, but I didn't relax. My eyes remained locked on Jacob, watching for even the smallest flicker of disrespect. If he so much as looked at her the wrong way, he'd regret it.

Jacob stared for a bit longer then he let out a long exhale, his shoulders relaxing. "Oh," he said simply.

"Oh?" Robyn echoed, tilting her head.

Jacob gave her a sheepish smile, running a hand through his hair. "Wow," he said, his voice light but still carrying a hint of awkwardness. He scratched the back of his neck, glancing away briefly before meeting her gaze again. "You don't hold back, do you? I mean…" He hesitated, then shrugged. "I guess I should've seen it coming. You never seemed interested in talking about guys or boyfriends. Looking back, it all kind of makes sense now."

He paused, his brow furrowing slightly as he worked through his thoughts. "I won't lie—it's a little disappointing. You know, finding out I didn't even have a shot. But…" He let out a soft sigh, the corner of his mouth twitching into a faint grin. "I get it. It's not like it's something you can control."

His grin widened, a touch of humor creeping into his tone. "And honestly… weirdly enough, I think I'm already over it. Like, I don't even feel like I have a crush on you anymore."

Robyn bit her lip nervously. "I just… thought it was better to be honest," she said quietly, before arching an eyebrow. "Oh yeah? What, did the magic just wear off that fast, huh?"

Jacob chuckled, the sound genuine and light, easing the tension between them. "Maybe. Or maybe it's because I know now, with absolute certainty, that I really, really don't stand a chance."

Robyn couldn't help but laugh, the tight knot of anxiety in her chest slowly unraveling. "Well, I'm glad you're taking it so well."

Jacob flashed a lopsided grin. "Yeah, and hey, at least now we can talk about the girls we might like in the future without it being awkward."

Robyn nodded, a look of relief softening her features as she began to relax.

Hmm… I wonder why he doesn't have a crush on her anymore. Do humans usually get over crushes or puppy love that quickly?

I thought about it for a moment. No, not typically. It must have something to do with the original timeline. In the movie, Jacob was obsessed with Bella because of the imprint on Renesmee. Without her being born, I guess he just doesn't feel the same way.

I studied him carefully, my gaze steady and unflinching as I tried to gauge if he was really telling the truth about his crush fading. He must have felt my eyes on him because, after a moment, he turned to face me, confidently locking his gaze directly with mine.

Something sparked in me—a strange, primal urge to hold my ground. My first impulse was to glare, to challenge him, as if his stare had awakened something deep and primal within me. It wasn't anger exactly, but it was sharp, intense, and impossible to ignore.

As our eyes stayed locked, a subtle shift rippled through me—Ivy's presence growing stronger, more insistent, like a second heartbeat in my chest. Jacob must have sensed it too because his confidence wavered.

A flicker of unease crossed his face before he broke the connection, glancing away so quickly it felt like a retreat. His brow furrowed, his movements sharp and uneasy, like he was trying to piece together something he didn't fully understand. His shoulders stiffened, a weak attempt to mask the discomfort etched into his expression, but his quick, darting glance betrayed him completely.

Robyn placed a hand on Jacob's shoulder, causing him to snap his head toward her. She glanced between him and me, her expression a mix of confusion and concern. "Everything okay? You looked like you were a million miles away."

Jacob blinked, as if shaking himself free from whatever had gripped him, and managed a smile. "Yeah, I'm fine," he said, his voice light but not entirely convincing. "I was just thinking about something and ended up spacing out."

He glanced back at me, and I met his gaze with a soft, wide-eyed expression—a puppy look that seemed to catch him off guard. His shoulders relaxed slightly, though his brow furrowed in confusion. At least he didn't seem tense anymore.

Still, I couldn't shake my own confusion. What was that instinct I'd felt earlier? Now that I thought about it, he'd been fine holding my stare—until Ivy's presence started to press more insistently. I closed my eyes, focusing on seeing Ivy.

Hmm, I wonder what that was about? Ivy, do you know what just happened? Why he reacted like that? He seemed fine until your presence started growing stronger.

The response was instant. Ivy stiffened. Her shoulders locked, her tail giving a sharp flick, and for a second, I thought I heard the faintest hum of nervous energy coming from her. I—I don't know, she stammered finally, her voice pitched higher than usual, a little too forced to sound casual. Maybe he, uh, ate a bad sandwich or something. She gave a weak, unconvincing shrug as if she could just brush the whole thing off.

But the way she shifted uneasily, refusing to meet my gaze, and the subtle way her ears pinned back betrayed her. She was hiding something. Whatever it was, it mattered enough for her to try—badly—to deflect me.

I guess we are both bad at lying….

But, that's weird… Ivy never lied to me before…

Ivy…

Her tail flicked again, but before I could press her further, "Welp." Jacob's voice broke the tension like a sharp breeze cutting through heavy fog. He pushed himself up from the bed with a casual stretch, the crack of his knuckles punctuating the quiet. "I think it's about time I head home."

Jacob turned to Robyn, his easygoing demeanor in place, though I noticed he avoided looking directly at us. "Your dad's not back yet?" he asked his tone light but edged with concern. "Are you sure you'll be okay here by yourself?"

Robyn nodded quickly, offering a small smile. "Yeah, I'll be fine. I've got Moxie to keep me company, and I won't be alone for long. I'm meeting up with some friends later—heading to the mall."

He nodded and grinned. "Alright, if you're sure," he said, ruffling her hair with a teasing affection that made her swat him away, scowling like a sibling would. He chuckled, sauntering toward the door with Robyn trailing behind him. "Just don't forget to lock up, okay?"

"Got it," she said, rolling her eyes.

Once they left, I noticed that Ivy still hadn't said a word. I focused on her again, my expression firm. Ivy, I said softly but pointedly. What aren't you telling me?

Ivy's tail stilled, her blue eyes widening, guilt flashing across her face for just a split second before she swallowed hard. Faye, I—I can't, she whispered, her voice small, stripped of its usual playfulness or charm. Not yet.

Her shoulders slumped slightly, her earlier nervousness giving way to guilt. I felt my chest tighten.

What do you mean, not yet? I asked probing a bit more.

She looked away again, her ears still pinned back against her head, and I realized then—whatever Ivy wasn't telling me wasn't small. It wasn't trivial. It was something big enough to rattle her, and now, it was starting to rattle me.

I let out a slow breath, forcing the tension out with it. Ivy might have been hiding something, but I knew one thing for certain: she'd never do anything to hurt me.

It's okay, Ives, I said softly, my voice steady despite the unease curling in my gut. Whenever you're ready to tell me… I'll be here. No matter what it is.

For a moment, she didn't move. Then, slowly, Ivy glanced at me, guilt still pooling in her expression and the flicker of uncertainty in her eyes. But there was something else there, too—relief, fragile and cautious, like she wasn't sure she deserved it.

She hesitated, her tail flicking in that tiny, apologetic way I'd come to recognize, before whispering, You promise?

The quiet plea in her voice hit me harder than I expected. Ivy was never uncertain—she was the one who teased, who laughed too loudly, who filled every room with light. Seeing her like this, so small and unsure, made my chest ache.

I nodded, letting my words settle between us like a promise carved in stone. Yeah, I promise, Ives. I know you. I trust you.

Her ears twitched slightly, the sharp edges of her nervous energy beginning to soften. Her shoulders relaxed just a little, like a weight had lifted, even if it was only for now. Thanks, Faye, she murmured, her voice quieter than usual, raw but sincere. I just need some time.

You've got all the time you need, I assured her, offering a small, steady smile. You're stuck with me, remember? We're a family. That means… I trailed off, tilting my head slightly, hoping she'd pick up the rest.

Her lips curled into a small, wolfish smile—a welcoming sight that made the knot in my chest loosen. We're in this together, she finished, her voice stronger this time, more certain.

I grinned, nodding firmly. Yep. We're in this together. One day, one step at a time—whatever it takes. But right now… I added, letting my tone lighten, the only thing we need to worry about is what's waiting for us at that food court.

Ivy blinked, caught off guard, before letting out a genuine laugh—a short, sharp bark of sound that made me grin wider. That's so true! I can't believe I forgot about that!

Shaking my head, I chuckled. I don't know about you, but I'm torn between cheese fries, teriyaki chicken, or a burger. Big decisions.

Ivy rolled her eyes with mock exasperation, though the warmth in her smile softened it. The room felt lighter now, as though the heaviness from earlier had melted away. Well, I'm still holding out for nachos—or literally anything with bacon. Bacon makes everything better.

I tilted my head thoughtfully, considering. What about a combo? A bacon burger. That way we both win—bacon for you, burger for me.

Her ears perked up, and her tail swished in excitement. Wait, they have that?! YES! I need a bacon burger! That sounds amazing!

Just then, Robyn pushed the door open, stepping into the room with her phone in hand. "I just finished texting Rose and Emmett," she said, glancing up. "They'll be here shortly." She paused, taking in our tail wagging like mad. Her brow furrowed her expression somewhere between confused and amused. "Uh… did I interrupt something?"

I shrugged casually, shooting her a smile. Nope. Just important food discussions. We've officially decided on bacon burgers.

Ivy chimed in, still buzzing with excitement. The best food decision, honestly.

Robyn stared at us for a beat, then sighed, shaking her head with a small grin. "Of course you did. I leave for two minutes and you're already planning lunch like it's a national event."

Hey, I said, smirking. Lunch and bacon burgers are serious business.

Robyn rolled her eyes, but the smile stayed as she muttered, "You two are something else." At that, Ivy and I burst out laughing making Robyn shake her head before joining in.

For a moment, it felt like nothing else mattered, the weight of earlier tension dissolving into the warmth of shared laughter. But even as the room lightened, I couldn't shake the thought lingering at the back of my mind. I should tell Robyn that Ivy was holding something back, that something deeper was brewing beneath her easy smile. But I wouldn't .

Telling Robyn would betray Ivy's trust, and that was a line I refused to cross. Ivy needed time—time to gather her thoughts, time to find the words, time to come to us when she was ready. I owed her that patience. And besides, telling Robyn now would only stress her out, piling unnecessary worry on her shoulders when Ivy wasn't ready to share.

No, this was something we'd have to wait for, one day at a time. Step by step, just like I'd promised Ivy.

Honestly, I'm shocked I didn't get caught in that lie—I'm terrible at lying. Maybe it's because I'm in dog form? It could be because of Ivy's excitement.

"You two are ridiculous," Robyn said at last, rolling her eyes with a grin, and snapping me out of my thoughts.

Ivy flashed a mischievous smile, her tail giving a playful flick. It's part of our charm.

Robyn shook her head, a soft laugh escaping despite herself. "You keep telling yourself that." But the amused glint in her eyes betrayed her fondness like she wouldn't have us any other way.

Yeah, one day at a time—that was enough.


End notes:

Hi there! I hope you enjoyed this chapter. Just a quick note—I don't actually speak Spanish (I only remember a little bit from beginning Spanish class), so I used Google Translate for the phrases I wanted to use mixed with the knowledge I knew from that class.

Here are the translations:

"Lo siento señora Goff. Prometo prestar atención en la clase de español." = "I'm sorry, Mrs. Goff. I promise to pay attention in Spanish class."

"¿Tú hablas español?" = "You speak Spanish?"

"Puedo hablar lo suficientemente bien por desenvolverse y entender lo suficiente para mantener una conversación." = "I can speak well enough to get by and understand enough to hold a conversation."

Thank you!