Ivy wrinkled her nose. It was adorable, which meant I’d clearly had too many beverages.
Steph continued. “Though I totally get you, chickie. I want my kids to wake up in their own beds at Christmas. There’s something kind of wonderful about that, right? It’s magical.”
Ivy nodded thoughtfully, and I detected a trace of moisture in her eyes.
“Ivy…,” I began.
“Holy hell.” Drew groaned. I looked over to see him waving his hand in the hair. “Your dog is ripping them over here.”
Chief lifted his head to look in Drew’s direction, then laid it back down, unimpressed by Drew’s dislike of the gas coming out of him.
Steph choked back her laughter, rocking back into the couch, until the smell reached us. “Ugh!” she groaned, burying her face into some cushions.
I laughed since I was practically immune to Chief’s nightly emissions, being around them as often as I was. They certainly didn’t smell great but were a regular occurrence as long as the hackberry trees lining our street were dropping their berries and he was gobbling them up.
I looked from Steph back to the phone and saw Ivy’s expression. She didn’t look like herself.
Ivy shook her head, almost to herself, looking toward her ceiling, then looked back at the phone. “It’s getting late, guys. I need to go. Thanks again for today. Talk soon.” She quickly hung up, and I sat looking at a black screen.
Fuck.
“Do you want to go to her?” Steph said with a concerned look on her face.
I debated it. Yeah, of course I wanted to go to her. But I had a feeling she was needing some alone time to sort out some shit in her head. And I needed to respect that.
I looked to Drew, then Steph. “Not sure. I think, from what I’ve gathered over the past few weeks, that Ivy would likely want to be alone right now.” I hesitated, not wanting her to feel like I was one more person who would abandon her. Hell, she’d probably make excuses for me too.
Steph scooted back into the corner of my couch. “I hear that. Maybe text her?”
Wise one, my sis. I set my beer down so I could thumb out a text. Steph began talking to Drew about the White Sox and whether he’d actually be up for a game this year if he truly was moving here. Drew stood and whistled to Chief, who followed him and Steph out of the den.
“Come on, stinky ass. Let’s get you outside,” Drew muttered at my dog. Chief didn’t care at all that Drew had insulted him but began to wag his ass in excitement when he heard that magical word,outside.
I sat with my phone in hand as I briefly debated what to say. Ultimately, I decided to keep it light.
Me:Babe, what’s with the mad dash to leave? Could you smell Chief through the phone? He means no harm.
My concern grew as the three dots didn’t immediately appear. Maybe Chief and I should take a late-night walk and just happen to head down by Ivy’s house. No, that was a bit stalker-like. Right? Right.
To stop myself from heading out into the night, I moved over to my own record collection, thumbing through to find something to listen to. With Ivy on my mind, I pulled out some Bob Dylan. Somehow, I think she’d be a fan.
Soon enough, the notes to “Hurricane”poured out of my speakers, quiet enough not to wake the parental units if they were already out, but loud enough to fill the room, cutting the silence. Moving back, I settled and glanced at my phone, relieved to see a text was waiting for me.
Ivy:I’m good, promise.
Me:Lies. I saw your face. Spill or I’m coming to check on you with my stinky-ass pup.
Ivy:Poor Chief, no respect.
I waited, wanting to give her a chance to share. A minute went by, nothing. Not even the dots.
Me:Babe…
Ivy:…
I felt a bit of relief, even without seeing a message. For a moment, I let the fact that I wanted her to confide in me, to share her concerns, wash over me. That hadn’t happened since, well, quite frankly, ever. Looking back, Rachel and I hadn’t had that. Was it because we were too young? Was I too self-centered? Or she was? Quickly, I dismissed that line of thinking. Now wasn’t the time.
Finally, her text came through.
