5. Ivy
Ivy
D o I want to go to the party?
Yes, of course.
Am I disappointed my parents are out of town on a random Europe trip they didn’t tell me about?
That answer is also yes.
So I didn’t bring a date because, frankly, the only reason I was going to was to piss off my dad.
I even had a bird watcher lined up as my plus one.
I don’t care so much what people’s hobbies are, but I know my father won’t tolerate much, let alone a bird watcher.
My father is far from being at one with nature, which is why the guy would’ve been the perfect date.
I’m running late, but that’s probably no surprise to anyone.
I considered inviting a handful of dates all at the same time, just to see how that situation played out, but as I went through the app and came across the profile of the dickhead I went on a date with last week, I ended up removing the app from my phone entirely.
Maybe I’m turning a new leaf, you know? Maybe I plan to start fresh and not date and fuck so many people.
I try not to snort at that thought. I’m just going to catch them the old-fashioned way. I’ve been using dating apps for almost a year, and I’m honestly not a fan, even if it is easy to get dick from them.
I receive another text message from Hope as I approach the entrance to Lucy’s, I feel almost smug as I see the line of people who look irritated when I walk straight in.
“Good to see you, Ivy,” the bouncer says with a smile. I squeeze his shoulder.
“You too. Promise me it’ll be a fun night.” I laugh.
“Always when you’re around,” he jokes, and I stride inside like I own the place. Most bouncers know me because of my family. And because—let’s be real—I’m a good time. I’m trouble only in the number of hearts I break. But that doesn’t pay their salary.
My phone buzzes again, reminding me of the text from Hope, and I check it.
Hope: Where are you? You’re late.
I adjust my short, blonde hair, making sure it’s slicked back. I’m wearing a light pink dress that fits like a glove and stops just below my ass. I paired it with my favorite silver heels that sparkle under the fluorescent lights.
My soul purrs with satisfaction as soon as the music pours into my ears, and I sweep my gaze over the crowd. Tonight is going to be fun.
I look up to my left, where I see the designated spot for Dutton’s party.
It’s the usual section we claim when we’re here.
I head toward the familiar group, spotting Hope first. It seems like a sigh escapes her as she sees me walking up the stairs.
Bouncers guard both the top and bottom of the stairway.
The one at the top smirks and says, “No breaking hearts tonight?”
“Me? I would never,” I lie. I like going to these places; they make me feel comfortable, and I know no matter what happens, I’m safe. I’m a party girl through and through, but the reality is, I’m still a woman, so it never hurts to be extra safe.
Hope pulls me in straight away, holding a drink in her hand that barely looks touched.
“You’re late,” she grumbles, and I know it’s most likely because her social battery is already dying. Even around just family and friends, she flickers out quickly.
“Fashionably late, right?” I ask, waving a hand down my new dress.
She shakes her head, trying not to smile. “Always. Billie ran off with Ford ten minutes ago, leaving me here by myself.” Pretty sure they’re fucking in some dark nook somewhere, or maybe his car. They seem to do that a lot.
“I’m going to miss her when she moves out,” I say wistfully. We’ve already started packing her things. And although I don’t see her that much with her job, and now that she’s with Ford, it’ll be different having the apartment entirely to myself. “Want to move in yet?” I ask Hope with a nudge.
She rolls her eyes. “I won’t be a consolation prize. Besides, I told you I’m looking for my own apartment.”
Which translates to she’s also fucking her detective nonstop and most likely going to move in with him soon.
Everyone’s become a buzzkill. I’m happy for them, but I just don’t get it.
I thought I was a ho, but it turns out that when they’ve got someone specifically for them, they’re at it all the time.
I ponder the idea of having only one person, and the image in my mind becomes blurry.
I can’t imagine it or what that person would look like to keep me hooked for long enough.
“Where’s Posie?” I ask, glancing over her shoulder at the others seated around and spotting her straight away.
She gives me an eye roll. “With Dutton.”
“I should’ve expected that since we’re technically here for his birthday.” All I care about is that it’s an excuse to hang with my girls.
When she steps to the side, Dutton and Eli stand from the leather booth in the corner. I see multiple bottles on the table and lick my lips with anticipation. Posie and Jewel are in a deep discussion in the back of the booth the guys just got up from.
“Happy birthday,” I say to Dutton, who offers me one of his charismatic smiles.
They’ve always given me chills. Although he’s the older brother of one of my best friends, there’s always been something unsettling about Dutton.
I know he’ll never hurt me, but his cold demeanor beneath those smiles is terrifying.
For the life of me, I don’t know how Posie wore him down.
“Thank you. Now, I’m depending on you to get my wife very drunk tonight while my parents babysit,” he says, keeping that smile.
I angle my head, looking at Posie and Jewel, who each take a shot. “I don’t think she needs my help, but I can promise a good time nonetheless.” I salute him.
He joins Eli at the edge of the railing, overlooking the crowd. I hear him say to Eli, “I don’t even know half of these people. You put Hawke in charge, didn’t you?”
I smirk at that because although Dutton knows a lot of people, I imagine half of the business people he’s acquainted with have a pole up their asses. If they wanted a party, then Hawke is the person to go to.
Posie and Jewel finally spot us as we get closer to the booth.
“You came,” Posie cheers, pulling me into a hug while Jewel nods her head and pours me a drink.
Jewel is probably one of the deadliest women I have ever met.
She is fucking great with a gun, and that’s saying something, considering I know Anya Ivanov.
Jewel and Posie are the newest to the crew, and I like them both, but it still baffles me how they were able to leash their murderous men.
“Wouldn’t miss it,” I say and accept the drink Jewel offers me.
“Still no Billie?” Jewel asks, trying to hide her smirk.
Hope shakes her head.
“Fifty bucks says they’re in his car. That’s where I first caught Ford and Billie in their ‘trying to keep the relationship a secret’ phase.”
“I found them coming out of my pantry,” Jewel adds with a smirk, and we all laugh as we take a sip of our drinks. I sigh as I let the music take over my body, acting as a natural relaxant. I can’t wait to dance the night away.
That is, until a loud laugh booms from behind me, grating on my nerves. Hawke walks up the stairs with a woman. Of course, he has a woman with him. Does that man ever not have a woman with him?
I doubt it.
Instead of going to his usual booth farther back in the open room that looks over the rest of the club, he heads straight over to us.
“No fucking in front of my wife,” Eli growls as he walks past.
Hawke simply laughs as he throws an arm around the woman he’s with. I can’t hear his smart-ass reply as he scans the booth, but before he looks at anyone else, his gaze stops on me. I haven’t seen him since his assholery interrupted my date.
I straighten my back and offer him a smile, even though we both know it’s anything but friendly.
He always sees it as a game; I enjoy it just as much.
I don’t like it when he has one up on me.
His arrogant smile kicks up as if reading my thoughts, and his hand drops from the woman he’s with as he stops in front of me.
I maintain eye contact because I refuse to show any type of submission to this asshole. It’s the song and dance we play.
He might be intimidating to a lot of people, but he’s not to me, and I think that irks him the most. Not that he tries to intimidate women, but he’s used to them falling into submission in other ways.
“Lover,” he says to me in greeting, and I give him my best eye roll.
He takes the seat next to me, angling himself in my direction.
His whole body facing me makes it awkward for his date to try and sit beside him, so instead, she sits across from us and uncomfortably looks away from Jewel, who’s intimidating as all shit to anyone who doesn’t know her.
“Hawke,” I reply before looking away and shaking my head. This guy’s such an asshole.
“I’ve missed you,” he says, and I sigh, staring up at the ceiling and asking for strength to deal with this jackass tonight. Hope is observing us both carefully. But I realize the others are too.
“You can leave now.” I wave him off and then turn to the others again as if to pick up where we left off.
“Good luck, Hawke,” Jewel says with a smug expression as she stands, and I can’t help but replicate her look. I really like her. She saunters over to Eli, who makes room for her at his side.
“Want to explain why Hawke’s calling you lover?” Posie asks as she leans back as if enjoying the show.
I expel a sigh. Hawke’s shit-stirring doesn’t come as a surprise.
This fucker isn’t going to leave.
I roll my eyes. He’s had it as my name in his phone since we fucked years ago, but he’s most likely using it openly to rub in the fact he thinks he ruined my last date.
Which is far from the truth. I don’t really care if they find out about Hawke and me, but it always seemed easier to keep it between us.
We had sex to see if we were compatible in that way.
We are. That’s that. Check it off the list.