All Chapters of Between Two Moons: The Scent of a Stranger: Chapter 1 - Chapter 6

Ivy POVThree jobs. That is what it required to maintain a roof over my head and to ensure that my cupboard contained something other than expired ramen. Library shifts before class; filing paperwork nobody read at the campus office in the afternoons; and bartending, the loudest, sweatiest, and most chaotic of the three, at The Rusty Nail on a Friday night.Most nights blurred together, but tonight was worse than usual. Some local team had won their game, and half the bar had spilled in behind them, riding the high of the win like they'd scored the goals themselves. The noise was relentless, a steady roar that pressed in on my eardrums. I hadn't even caught which sport. Didn't matter. Drunk was drunk, and drunk tipped either generously or not at all, with nothing in between.Sweat prickled at my temples as I wove between tables, a tray of empties balanced on one hip, my other hand occupied with wiping down the sticky, battered bar. If I closed my eyes, I could almost imagine I was som

Ivy POVThere was no way I’d be able to pay that. Not now, maybe not ever. I stared at the number the owner had thrown out, no written bill, just a wild guess, zeros tacked on for emphasis while he ranted at me in front of everyone. My hands were shaking, and I hated that he could see it.Damn it. I’d had it handled. Three separate times, I’d kept my cool, gotten free, and made sure nobody else had to get involved. Now I was the one staring down a bill that looked like it could cover a semester of tuition and still leave enough leftover for rent and groceries. All because some guy with more muscle than sense thought smashing a table was a good way to defend my honor. Or his ego. Or whatever.I tried to hold onto the anger, but it kept slipping. Maybe it was just how tired I was. Or maybe it was because, for one wild second, I’d actually felt… safe, when he’d stepped in. Stupid.Bloody hell. He was gorgeous, too. I caught myself thinking it even as the owner kept shouting, the words sl

Ivy POV"Why did I agree to this?" I muttered, hugging my jacket tighter as I followed Milo through a set of double doors that led into a wall of freezing air. The cold hit me like a slap, seeping straight through denim and resolve. Goosebumps everywhere. I could already tell my fingers would go numb before this was over.The rink stretched out in front of me, all white ice and looming boards, and it hit differently than watching hockey on some bar TV with the sound muted. This was loud. This was violent, even before anyone had started playing. Every scrape of skate and echo of laughter ricocheted around the cavernous space, chipping away at any idea that this would be a chill morning."You said that about the smoothies too," Milo said cheerfully. "And the house. And, if I remember correctly, when you first saw the protein powder.""I stand by all of it." My voice was sharp, but my teeth were chattering. This place was a refrigerator with better lighting.A few of the guys were alread