“Right, talk to you later.” So much for reaching out to him.
Ivy opened the desk drawer and took out a granola bar. She chewed it in two bites and drank water, and, for the next half hour, tried to convince herself that the conversation she had just overheard wasn’t real.
Even though it made her feel sick to her stomach, she finished the copy notes and sent them to the ad people.
Then she worked her way through phone calls and emails, and when she couldn’t write anything for the pitch, she was putting together for a supermodel rumoured to spend the winter in the city, she shut down her work laptop.
And called Quinn Walsh. His phone rang and rang.
Ivy pressed end on the call, feeling awful for bothering him. He had the most challenging time with Jordan’s death and wasn’t doing well. She barely saw him all summer.
She fired a quick text off to Logan Marrock.Hey Logan, please call me ASAPand stuck a piece of gum in her mouth, willing herself not to throw up.
CHAPTER SIX – IVY
“Rememberwhenwefirstcame here?” Gabe pulled her close to him.
She smiled, placing a hand on his freshly shaved face.
“Yeah, it was our third date. You told me you loved their shakes.”
“And you didn’t believe me.” His eyes twinkled.
“Would you if one of your buddies said the best milkshakes in the city are at the seafood place?”
“My buddies know where the best drinks in town are.”
Ivy laughed, threading her hands through his. This was her Gabe. Each time he had a job to go on, it relaxed him. He teased more, and Ivy loved this carefree side of him. “After you, Princess.” Gabe held the door for her, and they went into the seafood restaurant.
After the server seated them and took their drink orders, Gabe pulled her hand into his.
“I know me leaving is always hard on you.”
“It’s not that.”
“But you didn’t want me to stay in the military.”
“Not true. I wondered if you wanted to apply for another position.”
“Yeah, one that would have me at the base, not where the action was.” Gabe smiled at the server as she came around to take their orders.
“She’ll have the scallops-”
“Actually, I want to try the Moqucea.”
Gabe raised his eyebrow at her. “You always have the scallops.”
Ivy shrugged. “I want to try something new.”
“It’s one of my favourites.” The server smiled at her.
“Okay, I’ll have the scallops.” Gabe grinned.
The server smiled and left.
Her stomach still felt queasy. She didn’t think she could handle eating anything too heavy.
“Gabe, many medics go on to be physician’s assistants.” Ivy sighed, not wanting to rehash this again. She was only trying to express concern for his nightmares, for how wound up he was every time he came back home.
