Chapter 67 Ivy
IVY
If the pressure in my head gets any worse, I think it’ll explode. I press my fingertips to my temples as I take in a deep breath.
“Here,” Luca says before I open my eyes and see him handing me a glass of water and a bottle of aspirin.
I grab both then take a few small, slow sips as the events of last night come back to me.
Unfortunately, since the main recall is vomiting, my abdominal muscles are still sore.
Though one thing that stands out was him holding my hair and a reassuring hand rubbing up and down my back. God, I’m so embarrassed.
“Sorry.” I take another swallow of water, praying all of it stays down. “I had a little too much to drink last night.”
“Don’t apologize.” He doesn’t seem upset or bothered but is still bossy as he instructs me. “Get dressed. We have somewhere to be.”
“Luca, my head is pounding.” I lie back down.
He pulls the covers off of me and guides me to sit up. “You’ll thank me later.”
“You obviously never drink enough for a hangover.” I groan as I stay on the side of the bed for a minute.
Once I’m certain I won’t puke again, I get out of bed and take an extra-long shower then get dressed.
I hardly remember getting home. I’m definitely going to uphold the promises I made to myself last night and never drink that much again.
I regret not asking where we were heading as he pulls up to the old gym. “Seriously? It’s like a hundred degrees outside and hotter in there.”
“You’ll survive. Plus, it’ll help for you to sweat all that out.”
“There’re other ways to sweat.”
He is out of the car and coming around to open the passenger door. Once I step out, he closes it behind me and says, “We’ll save that method for later.”
“Ugh.” As soon as he starts warming up, I lie down on the mat and stare at the tin roof that appears patched together and held up by rusted beams. “How’d you find this place?”
“I drove by a few years ago. When it was time to train for the Tomb fight, I started coming here regularly. This place is away from all the bullshit.”
“It is peaceful. Hot, but peaceful,” I chuckle.
“Join in when you’re ready,” he tells me before he drops onto the mat beside me and starts a set of push-ups. His lack of effort is so annoying.
I get off the floor and sit on his back as he continues moving up and down.
“I’ve joined the workout. Give me ten more, Montclair.” I straddle him as he does five more until he tilts to the side and grabs me. My back is against the mat as he shifts over me.
“I like you better under me.” He lowers, kissing me before pushing back up. “And this way you can stare into my whiskey eyes.”
My hands cover my face for a few seconds, remembering the cringy exchange. “Oh my God, I cannot.”
When he drops back down, his mouth brushes over mine as he says, “You’re my favorite vice too.”
When he comes down the next time, I wrap my arms around his neck and attempt to keep him on me. But he pushes up, bringing me off the floor with him. Once he lowers again, I release him and stay on the floor. “Are we not done working out yet? I’m exhausted.”
He does another three push-ups before he says, “Yes. All that exercising you’re doing seems extremely exhausting.”
“It is,” I laugh.
Luca gets to his feet then helps me up. “Let’s go before we kicked out for fucking on the mat. Because we’re about to be if you keep looking at me like that.”
“Hm. We just got here though.”
He slaps my ass. “Don’t pretend like you’re not thrilled we’re leaving.”
“Oh, I am,” I admit as we head to his car.