Chapter Thirty-Three
Ask what I m doing New Years, New Year s Eve...
Beau
As much as I want to go back inside, I know Ivy rarely gets this sort of time with her family. If I go back in the house, I ll only want to hog her for myself. Maybe find a discreet bell that we can stand beneath the rest of the day.
Ivy s parents, brother, and his new wife have already mentioned leaving first thing in the morning. What guts me is that Ivy s still planning on heading out too. I overheard her mentioning the Tennessee trip to her Mom before I stepped out to talk to Crystal.
My feet trek a path toward the little neighborhood park a block over. The sun is nearly gone, but I have no trouble seeing thanks to all the Christmas lights reflecting off the snow.
Tomorrow the house is going to feel so empty without Ivy and Hamish. Soon as I wake up I ll make a call to Carson. Tell him I m done with baseball. See if he can keep me on at his flooring company until I figure out my next steps with Ivy.
If she still wants to do travel nursing until she s thirty, I ll wait. I ll wait as long as it takes. Maybe I can even figure out a way to travel with her.
Or maybe I just need to stay quiet. Not push for anything yet. Wait a few years before I try pursuing Ivy again. I don t know. I just don t know anymore.
When I reach the middle of the park, I brush snow off a swing and take a seat. The rusty chains groan and creak beneath my weight as I push myself back and forth. I think it s safe to say this seat was never intended for a grown man s rear. I m about to get up when I hear a voice behind me.
Should we try doing the underdog?
Sneaky girl. I twist around to find Ivy tromping through the snow toward the playground.
Her pink-tinged cheeks and soft smile make my heart leap higher than any swing possibly could. I face forward as she circles around the swing set until she s standing right in front of me. What are you doing here? I ask.
Following you. She reaches for the chains next to my shoulders and steps in between my knees. Figure I better get the hang of it.
I tilt my head to the side. What s that mean?
It means I don t want to set you up with the girl next door. She s great. She s beautiful. She s sweet. But she s not for you. I m for you, Beau. Fall in love with me.
I reach for the sides of Ivy s coat that are still hanging open.
Like maybe she was in such a rush to get to me, she didn t even bother zipping it closed.
I tug the bottom edges together and trail the zipper all the way up to her chest, then gently tug on the zipper so that she s standing even closer to me. Done.
Really? Her hands drop to my shoulders. I saw you two talking and hugging. I thought maybe you liked her.
We were smiling and hugging because I gave her my buddy Carson s phone number.
What can I say? You ve inspired me. I figured I d give my hand a try at this whole matchmaking thing.
She was just saying thank you. C mon, Ivy, you should know by now I m already head over heels for you. That s never going to change.
I feel the same way. Which is why I want you to keep playing baseball. We can figure things out. That is, if you want to figure things out.
With you? Absolutely. But are you sure? I don t have to keep playing. We can come up with a new plan.
Her hands move to my neck. Good night! Her fingers are freezing.
She obviously didn t have time to throw on her mittens either.
That little gesture warms me as much as her next words.
If everything had gone according to plan, I would ve missed out on so much this Christmas.
I would ve missed out on your family. My family.
That Christmas Eve service. I would ve missed out on you.
The only plan I want to make here on out is to keep my eyes open for whatever God has planned for the both of us.
I don t even have to tug Ivy down on my lap. She s already there. Pressing her lips against mine. Finally. A real kiss. One we can take our time enjoying.
And we do. Ivy s clearly in no more rush than I am to move on from everything I ve been craving since September. Her lips. Her jaw. Her cheek. Her lips again.
I ll get back to that jaw and cheek again in a moment. Right now her soft lips taste way too good to move on. I may stay here until New Year s. Hope Ivy s okay with that.
Ivy murmurs and mews like she s more than okay with that.
Unfortunately the swing is not okay with that.
If it was already groaning about my rear, probably should ve guessed it wouldn t be happy supporting two rears. The chain breaks, slamming Ivy and me to the snowy ground.
Oomph. Ivy gasps with a little laugh. Did we just destroy public property?
Right now I m more concerned about private property, I say with an exaggerated groan.
Her eyes crinkle with laughter as she leans over on top of me. Aww, are you hurt? Need me to find you a neck brace?
Hey. Didn t I tell you before? Don t underestimate what my lips can do even with my neck immobilized.
Yeah? Ivy leans closer. Show me what they can do.
More than happy to oblige, I roll her over so her back is pressed against the snow and now I m leaning over her, meshing our lips together.
Making out in the snow with Ivy West on Christmas Day. What matchmaker could ve planned anything better than this?