Chapter 27
27
Once Alexander leaves to go to his office, I take a deep breath.
I pace a little, feeling like I just re-entered reality after taking an impromptu trip to an alternate universe for the weekend.
I change into some yoga clothes because I’ve been wearing this outfit for two days.
Then I vaguely check my messages. I’ve missed five calls from Cleo, but she’s going to have to wait. And so are the seven thousand DMs I have on Instagram because I haven’t posted since that picture by the pool in the Hamptons. That must have been Saturday morning and now it’s Monday.
Usually I post at least ten times a day.
I glance at a few of them.
Did something happen to you? R u alive??
Where u at?
We miss you!! Your content is my favorite thing on IG
Girl, ur gonna lose followers if u dont post more. This is bullsh!t
Give us deets! Where in the Hamptons r u? I’m in the Hamptons! Tag ur location? Msg me? I’m such a huuuuge fan!!!!! Ilysm
U should post more
Ur hot will u go out with me
And so on.
I don’t know any of these people. And suddenly having my life on display to millions of strangers feels weirdly invasive in a way it hasn’t before. Maybe because I haven’t had the luxury to worry about that until now.
I toss my phone onto the table and go out onto the balcony, staring down at my view of the street.
Holy fuck. I own this building.
Did I dream him?
What the hell just happened?
I miss him so much. I feel like I’m missing not just my right arm but…my haven.
With the sudden absence of his huge presence, the craziness of how much has changed fully hits me.
I’m not a virgin anymore. I had sex a lot with a guy I just met. I fucked a total stranger and it was the most beautiful thing that’s ever happened to me. I have a bank account with an insane amount of money in it. There’s a very real possibility I could be pregnant.
It’s that last one that wakes me up.
I promised myself I would do something about it. Today. When I googled it a few days ago, I remember reading that the morning after pill is most effective up to 72 hours after the fact.
The first fact happened on Friday night.
Which means it’s been 72 hours almost exactly.
You don’t want to take it. You never did. You’ve put it off and if you don’t take it now it’ll be too late.
There’s another bank account. With a blank space.
Tears pool in my eyes.
I’ll take care of you. I’ll take care of you both. I want you, Jones. I’m all in. I’m in love with you, Ivy Laine.
Is it even possible to fall in love this fast?
I go get my phone and I google it again.
I start reading: “It’s really quite simple. No morning-after pill works during or after ovulation since they’re designed to delay it. If you’ve already ovulated, the emergency contraceptive pills will have no effect.”
To be honest, I’ve never really spent a lot of time thinking about ovulation before. When you’ve never had sex it’s not something that tends to show up on your radar very often. But my period is due any day. Any minute.
Which means I ovulated a few weeks ago.
A pill wouldn’t work anyway.
I let the tears stream down my face.
They’re not tears of sadness. Or even of fear.
I’m crying because I’m happy.
I want it. And I want him. Of course I do. He’s gorgeous and rough and rock-hard and loyal to the people in his life. He’s grumpy and gruff. And his baby won’t ever have to feel like I’ve felt my whole life.
He’s already proven it.
I’m the guy who stays.
I sit there on my—my—balcony for a while, just crying like an unhinged crazy person. Like a girl who’s fallen in love so hard it hurts, with a guy she’s known for a total of one weekend. Like a hopeful dreamer who wants to move in with him because being with him feels like being wrapped up in a love bubble of orgasms and laughter and sweaty, throbbing, dirty-talking alpha man connective bliss.
Who cares if my family was dysfunctional as fuck. We can do better. We already are.
Come on, Ive. It’s not rocket science. This is a no-brainer. You’re in love with him. Take a chance.
I’m surprised when the door of the apartment opens, banging loudly.
Josh walks in. Followed by a stormy-looking Alexander.
For some reason, it’s jarring seeing the two of them together. My fantasy and my reality, side by side.
I swipe at my tears, trying to look normal and steady, my default mode for whenever my brother is around. “Hi, Josh. How was Florida?”
“It was good, Ive. How was your weekend? Seems like it might have been even more eventful than mine.” He kisses my cheek. “You’ve got a visitor.”
I can’t help it. I’m crying again because my life has just taken a pretty fucking gargantuan shift and all of it makes me happier than I’ve ever, ever been.
It’s scary, the leap I’m about to take. But I want what’s on the other side of it so badly I feel like I’d kill or die for it.
Alexander’s expression is layered. It’s stern, with a lot of crazy volatility going on behind his eyes. It’s concerned because I’m crying. But most of all, it’s relieved.
He’s really, really happy to see me. As happy as I am to see him.
I run and jump into his arms and he envelops me in a bear hug, holding me like I’m the most precious cargo. He wipes my tears. “Why are you crying, Jones?” Then: “Made any major decisions this afternoon without me?”
“Yes.”
The yearning in his eyes and the devastation at the thought of losing something we might not even have is…I don’t know. It’s enough to make me love him in a way that three days shouldn’t really allow. I’m as sure as a person can be sure of anything that this man might just be the love of my life.
Which is a probably a good thing, considering what we might be about to do. “I decided that we’re going to be filling in the blank space if we need to.”
Alexander’s eyes get very blue. His smile is hot and connective and heartbreakingly genuine. He kisses me.
My arms and legs are wrapped around him and we get a little carried away.
Until Josh exhales a laugh. “Um. Excuse me? Could someone please tell me what the hell is going on here?”
Shit. I forgot about Josh.
We break the kiss, both staring over at my brother.
“Ivy’s moving in with me,” Alexander tells him.
“What?” Josh squawks. “When did this?—”
“Next time you steal money, I won’t be bailing you out,” Alexander says, and I’m almost surprised at the way Josh quiets and stands up straight. Alexander is clearly very used to dealing with younger brothers.
“I was going to give half of it to Ivy, obviously.” Josh is defiant. “We deserve that money.”
“I agree.” Alexander says, in his CEO’s voice. “Which is why you’re keeping it. Ivy doesn’t need any of it. She has her own money. You should both know I met with your father earlier this afternoon.”
“What?” Josh and I gasp in unison.
“I told him you’re keeping the ten million. On several conditions. One, you won’t do it again. Ever. Two, you’ll learn how to invest it properly, which I’ll teach you how to do. And three, you’ll come work for me. Anyone who can syphon that much money out of the Bahamas needs to learn how to use their skills to make money, not commit further felonies. My brother will try to poach you, but we can deal with that later. You might be able to work for both our companies eventually. We’ll work around your Columbia schedule and typically, when we hire students, we pay the tuition bills. You’ll be responsible for your own room and board. Where are you planning on living?”
Alexander is so no-nonsense Josh is stunned into silence for a few seconds. No huffing. No attitude. Just a measuring glare that almost looks like respect. “Uh, one of the guys I went to Florida with has an extra bedroom in his apartment and they want me to move in. It’s right across from campus. I was going to head over there now to take a look at it.”
“Good,” Alexander says. “You can pay for it. I’ll pay for everything else. We can talk about the contractual details when you come into the office tomorrow. Actually, make it Wednesday. I’m going to be busy with Ivy tomorrow. Do we have a deal?”
Josh doesn’t even hesitate. He shakes Alexander’s hand—somehow, as Alexander is still holding me like I weigh nothing. “We have a deal.”
“Good. It’s settled, then.”
Josh looks at me with real feeling in his golden eyes, so similar to mine. “You okay, Ive?” I think it might be the first time he’s ever asked me that question.
I nod. “Love you, Josh.”
“Love you too.” To Alexander, he says, “I’d say treat her right but it looks like you’re already doing that.”
“You have my word.”
Josh nods. “Okay, then.” His grin lights up his whole face. “Holy shit.” He crooks a thumb toward the door. “I guess I’m going to go check out my new digs now and leave you guys to it.”
“Okay. Bye, Josh.”
“Later, kids. Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.” Then he slams the door behind him.
“Wow,” I comment, about the existential curveball that’s made my life almost unrecognizable over a single weekend. It’s going to take a while to adjust.
Alexander is carrying me into my bedroom, kicking the door closed behind us. “You won’t need this apartment anymore, but I want you to keep it just like it is. So you have your own space if you need it. You can come here and relax and do yoga and whatever you need to do to get inspired and write your next record. Fuck, this little yoga outfit should be illegal, Jones. From now on, these are for me and me only, not fucking Instagram. Are we agreed?”
I guess that’s fair. And a weird relief in some ways. “Okay.”
“I’ll be installing a doorman and security. You’ll have your own driver, of course. And I’ll help you invest the income you’ll be making from the other apartments.”
I kiss his perfect mouth. “Okay.”
“I missed you today,” he murmurs, laying me on the bed and peeling off my clothes, kissing his way down my stomach. “I know it’s fast. We’ll figure it out. We’ll just go with it and see where it takes us. Don’t leave me.”
“You’re too well-hung to walk away from,” I smile, repeating the words he said to me at some point during our whirlwind love affair.
“Damn straight.”
My laughter turns to moans because I’m already coming.