38. Get Angry

Ivy

I glare daggers at Ryder and then turn my attention back to Eve. "Hi, I'm Ivy!" I chirp.

Eve looks at me suspiciously. "Okay...hi. Do I know you?"

"You don't know us, but we know you," Ryder interjects.

Eve's eyes turn even more suspicious. Way to make us sound creepy, Ryder.

I clear my throat, trying to diffuse the tension. "We were just admiring the beautiful view here at the Swan lake and happened to notice you sitting here reading," I say with a friendly smile.

"From inside a bush?" Eve tilts her head.

Ryder steps forward, trying to be charming. "Well, we wanted to be discreet and not interrupt your peaceful reading time. But Ivy here couldn't contain her excitement at seeing someone as lovely as you." I resist the urge to facepalm. That was not helping our case.

"Okay, here's the deal. I was hoping we could be friends," I say.

Eve raises an eyebrow, still looking skeptical. "Friends? And why would you want to be friends with me?"

I sigh. "We have a friend who..."

"He is not