That smile was radiant, so bright that Joey froze for a moment. When he looked closer, he realized that the once slightly baby-faced Ivy had slimmed down. At sixteen, Ivy had blossomed into a young woman—delicate, pure, and with just a hint of youthful innocence.

Panicked, he bolted like his life depended on it.

Everything he'd planned to do for the day got thrown out the window. Wandering aimlessly for a while, he eventually made his way home and, somehow, ended ...