I needed to come back to the sex comment later because I wanted to rush her house and volunteer to help out. However, circling back. Did Ivy partake? Seems like something I should know. It was legal in Illinois, and I couldn’t deny that I’d smoked once or twice, but it wasn’t typically my scene. I didn’t want to sit in judgment of someone else though. I debated how to communicate that in a text, but not come across as an ass.
Me:And does the mood strike?
Ivy texted back immediately. I had a feeling she was laughing at me. I’d take it.
Ivy:A mood for sex?
Ivy:Kidding, kidding. Ask what you want to ask, Jake. No, I don’t smoke, though I will say that I have been known to enjoy an edible, but that’s pretty rare too.
Ivy:As for the rest of Nana’s advice, my album is over. I’m going to pick another and then dance up a storm. Thanks for asking, I think it’s the perfect way to spend my evening.
Damn if I didn’t wish I was there. I felt a need to connect in some way. I needed to flip Dylan’s album to side two. Thinking of Ivy, I texted her first.
Me:Thoughts on Bob Dylan?
Ivy:All good thoughts. Why?
Me:Wishing I was with you. Figured we could listen to the same album. I’ve got Desire on here right now.
I immediately wished I could take the text back. It seemed vulnerable, but she’d put herself out there tonight too. I sat on it, but didn’t have to wait for long.
Ivy:Excellent. One, I have that one on vinyl. Two, I love the opening track. Off to play it and dance up a storm. Get your siblings and do the same. Thanks for everything today, Jake.
I read it over. Sounded like our conversation was done for the night, which was fine. As long as she was in a better place than she’d been earlier, that worked for me.
Me:You bet, babe. Go dance. The three of us are here if you need anything. I can be to your place in minutes if you decide you need company.
Ivy:Sounds good. Thanks.
I tossed my phone on the coffee table, then rose up to move to my record player. Instead of flipping to side two, I started it over so we were at the same spot as she would be. Yeah, I realize that said a lot about where I was with this woman.
Drew picked that moment to stroll back in the den.
“Dylan?” he said as he sank down into the couch a cushion away. Stretching out, his feet hit the coffee table.
I nodded. What more needed to be said?
“How’s Bookstore?” he asked.
“Better,” I replied. “She thinks we need to dance.”
“Pass, for now.”
We sat there, heads nodding, as Dylan told us the story of Hurricane. After a few minutes, Drew spoke. “Steph went up. She was checking in with Theo and then getting to bed. Plans on getting up to run, then hit the road by eight.”
I nodded. “You running with her?”
“Thought I would. You?”
I quickly thought of my schedule for the week. I realized I assumed that Ivy’s babysitter was back on for Monday. I made a quick mental note to text her in the morning to be certain. Other than that, I needed to meet with Pete to go over the planned specials, check that our scheduling was set with Finn, and talk to Sully about the current beer we were brewing. It should be ready in time for the Reds of Christmas.
Hell, that reminded me that Lou had bailed and Ivy and I were on for the finalization of the event and it was quickly approaching. I penciled in a longer text to Ivy.
“Yeah, a run would be great.”
Dylan continued to croon out the lyrics about the boxer who was the victim of systemic racism in our country. Wish it could be said that we were doing better as a country, but clearly, we still had work to do.
Turning to Drew, I broached the topic that had laid dormant all afternoon and evening. “Want to talk about it?”
