This night will be interesting to say the least, but I’m along for the ride, whatever she wants to do. Which is hopefully not drink too much more. But she does polish off another as she dances around. When she starts fanning herself, pulling at her T-shirt, I wish she’d just call it. “It’s so hot.”
I take her hand and walk her towards the back door. “Let’s get some air.”
“It’s a fucking sauna out here.” She tugs her shirt completely off, wearing only her sports bra and shorts. And she smiles when she sees me watching her.
Guiding her along the pool deck, I inform her, “We’re not fucking right now, Ivy. You can barely walk.”
“Why not? I don’t have to be upright, and you’re the one who told me to use you.”
I loop an arm around her lower back to support her and keep her from face-planting. “Yes, to deal, not to avoid. You numbing shit never helped.”
She pulls away but only takes one step before dropping down on a bench, her words bitter as she glares up at me. “Youdon’tget to decide howIdeal. Or better yet, you tell me your methods, Mr. Asshole. It wasn’t that long ago you were a complete dickhead and hated me. So how did you get over it?”
I didn’t. She just doesn’t realize it was myself I hated, not her.
Her fingers press against her temples as her eyes snap shut. “I’m going to be sick.” She leans forwards, before dropping on her knees in the grass and pukes.
There’s nothing I can do to fix this. So, I stay beside her, gather her hair as she vomits until there’s nothing left in her stomach. And even then, she lurches and swears she’s never drinking again.
67
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 definitelygoing 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.
