17. Ivy
SEVENTEEN
Ivy
“Okay, okay, okay. You’re doing fine. You look great.”
It’s the fourth or fifth time I’ve said it to myself, and yet, I’m still pacing back and forth through the living room. Waiting for Xaden might actually kill me.
And what’s taking him so long anyway? He lives next door, for Christ’s sake.
I know it’s the nerves getting to me, but understanding isn’t making them go away. In fact, with each hour that’s passed since he called—which adds up to sixty-four hours, twelve minutes, and forty seconds—I’ve just gotten more and more anxious.
As evidenced by my obsessive time-keeping.
It’s still such a surprise that Xaden even called. We said exactly nothing to each other when he left to go get Daisy the following morning. I was convinced that we’d go right back to avoiding each other as much as we could while still working together.
I mean, I just wanted to give him space. There are a lot of complicated emotions to work through after… everything , and I didn’t want Xaden to feel like I was pushing him into anything.
Hell, he could have thought I regretted it. Which couldn’t be farther from the truth.
Because the actual truth is that it had been the best night of my life. Sex aside, Xaden was kind and attentive, and sex not aside, it was…mind-blowing, best of my life.
The fact that he called? Well, let’s just say that I’ve never been so happy to be wrong.
Still, I’ll admit that we had the two days and change to think about everything before our fateful date. A lot is going on for both of us and frankly, I needed to be sure I still wanted to say yes.
I did. I do , but I also know that there is quite a bit we’ll need to talk about if this gets serious. Namely, my position and my father.
Yeah, I’m looking real forward to that conversation.
It does seem like Xaden used the two days well too. He’s been chatty, way more than usual, and I’ve answered everything I can without revealing the nastiest of skeletons hanging in my closet.
I’ve also made sure to stock up on condoms, which was so stupidly embarrassing—particularly when the woman selling them to me was at least a million years old—and refill my prescription for birth control.
I was right at the tail end of the active pills before the week of the sugar ones when we did things last time, and I’m not looking to take any chances. I went straight to taking the new pack when I left the doctor’s office.
It’s totally fine to skip a period and keep using the pill, after all.
I shake my head, a thread of concern working through me because of that first night when we weren’t as careful. Still, I’m pretty damn sure it wasn’t the right time for me to get…yeah.
And now, I’m standing here checking my hair in the bathroom mirror, which I’ve wandered off to for the umpteenth time. Fantastic .
“You’re fine, Ivy. You look great.”
The words seem to be less effective the more I say them. Still, I do like this dress, and I managed to layer on some warm accessories without it looking bulky.
My deep blue dress hits right above the knee, so I pulled on a pair of thick tights to keep my legs warm, the sweater-like pattern going well with the dress’s cozy, plaid fabric.
And thankfully, my black peacoat looks great with the outfit, as does the chunky burnt orange scarf I have standing by next to the door.
With nothing else to do, my mind starts to wander, and unfortunately, it settles on Jasmine. It’s been a minute since I’ve checked on her.
My steps take me back to the living room in front of the door, and I’m still worrying about Jas.
“Well, no time like the present, yeah?”
Pulling out my phone from the small, leather purse I snagged out of a box I’ve yet to unpack, I text Jas a brief check-in.
Hey, Jas. How are you? Any messages from Dad? I hope you’re okay. Love you.
It doesn’t take long for me to see the little dots appear at the bottom of the screen, Jasmine typing up a response.
I’m fine, Ivy. Nothing from Dad. Stop worrying. He’s not going to find me all the way in Texas, not after witness protection.
Sighing, I roll my eyes. I’m aware that the odds are slim, but I still don’t like it. Jasmine is all the way out there by herself.
Yes, she’s in a dorm with her roommates, but I’m not there to keep an eye on her. Not for the first time, I wonder why I didn’t choose to move to Texas instead of Red Lodge.
And not for the first time, I remind myself that I was trying to lead my father away from people I cared about. Leading him to Jasmine is a big fucking no.
She says she’s fine, Ivy. Just be her normal sister for a change.
My thumbs are poised over the screen as I consider what to type. I’m not particularly good at keeping the worry at bay, so I go with the only other thing going on in my life that I’m sure Jasmine will have an opinion about.
So…I’m going on a date.
The typing comes up immediately at that, and I actually laugh when I see the response.
OMG! Are you serious? Is it with your hot neighbor, the one you’re nannying for?
It’s times like this that I regret telling her about Xaden just a bit, but a laugh gets the better of me, and I roll my eyes as I type up a response.
Yes. It’s him. Xaden. I’m actually really nervous! But excited.
Ivy! I’m so happy for you. Please give me all the juicy deetz. Pickings are slim around campus, and I need something to entertain me .
I shudder, laughing through the end of it. My sister can be such a horndog sometimes. But as I write another text, I can hear footsteps squeaking on the porch.
Jasmine, I’m not giving you details about my sex life. And he’s here, so we’ll chat later.
I’m pulling my scarf over my head when Xaden knocks, and I hurry up to the door and unlock it.
A bite of cold air rushes through, and I smile as I see Xaden standing there looking too damn good in a form-fitting knit sweater and impeccable black jeans.
“Hi,” he offers, his smile small but so very sweet.
“Hi.”
I’m all grins from head to toe as I bob up and down a little, and Xaden gestures outside.
“Shall we?”
Nodding, I step out onto the porch with him, struggling to pull my keys out with my phone still clutched in one hand. It takes that moment to ding, of course.
Turning it over to look at the message preview, I let out a tiny snort of laughter as I lock my door.
“What was that?”
I shake my head, still smiling broadly. “Nothing. Just texting with my sister. Let’s go.”
Xaden walks me down to his car as I tuck my phone away in my purse. The words of Jasmine’s message make me roll my eyes as I approach the passenger side.
There’s a sex life now?! DEETZ!
The restaurant is buzzing with a subtle warmth, the din of constant conversation filling the background as Xaden and I sip our drinks.
Our meal is long gone, though it was incredible—homemade Italian from the owner’s grandmother’s recipe—and as I listen to him speak, I’m enamored by everything that is Xaden.
“He’s such as ass sometimes, but I love the guy. That’s why I was out that night. Adam sort of forced me to go.”
I laugh. “It sounds like he was forcing you to have some fun. And I appreciate that you said yes even more. You saved me.”
With a scoff, Xaden takes a drink of his martini and then sets it down. “Hardly. It was just some creep. But I’m happy to help.”
“You did,” I say earnestly. “I was so freaked out. I don’t handle situations like that well.”
“And you shouldn’t have to. I apologize for my gender.”
I just laugh again. The night has been so wonderful. We’ve talked about everything and nothing, and connecting over our favorite books, talking about silly fantasy creatures, has been a blast.
I’m also so worked up over him I might actually combust.
My phone dings in my purse, and I offer a sympathetic smile as I reach for it. I left it on for emergencies with Jasmine, but she has got to stop asking for details about Xaden.
The number attached to the message isn’t Jasmine’s. Dammit .
I read over the text preview.
Come on, Vivi. I need some cash. Don’t keep your daddy hanging with nothing.
My stomach clenches, and I quickly delete the message and stuff my cell away.
“You alright?” Xaden’s brows are pinched together, and I do my best to shrug off the anxiety.
“Fine. Stupid spam.” I smile, honestly this time. “Thank you, Xaden. This has been…amazing."
“It has. Though, I suppose I should get you back. We both have a small human looking forward to seeing us tomorrow.”
With a giggle, I nod. “Yes, we do. And no one keeps Daisy waiting.”
After Xaden has driven us home, He parks the car in his driveway only to walk me across the lawn to my front door. Every moment during the drive was tension piled on more tension.
I’m boiling in this damn jacket and thick tights. It’s just so electric when we’re together. I’ve never felt the way I do about Xaden before.
And I need him close—now.
The air between us sizzles, and when we stand at my front door—both of us clearly waiting for something—I can’t stop myself from kissing Xaden.
He returns it in kind, his arms wrapping around me.
After a moment, Xaden pulls back just a hair, whispering, “I want this, Ivy. I want you .”