“Ivy, c’mon, it’s my last night home. I don’t want to argue about this.”
“I’m not arguing. I am more worried about this one than any of the jobs you went on with Axis Management.”
Gabe took her chin in his hands and turned her face to his. “Stop worrying, Princess.”
He kissed her, his tongue pressing into her mouth, urging her to open for him.
Ivy closed her eyes. It would be so easy to give in to this, to have kinky fun before he went, but she couldn’t.
She pulled away from him. “Sorry, I think I have a headache coming on.”
“I’ll get you some water.” Gabe dropped a kiss on her forehead.
She looked out at the city’s lights, smiling as she remembered her mom standing at this window with her, with her hand on her hips, asking her where the grass was. Ivy shook her head at her mother and tried to explain how much she loved the city life, and as soon as she did, a horn blasted, and a car alarm went off.
“Yeah, I can see it’s peaceful.” She and her mom laughed.
“Here.” Gabe brought the tray over. “What are you thinking?”
“Just of my parents. I didn’t return my mom’s call yet.”
“Call her tomorrow. I’m going to double-check that I am all packed.”
He hugged her and nuzzled her. She exhaled, trying to disperse some of the tension in her body. Ivy reached up and ran a hand through his hair. She didn’t want to let him go.
“Gabe, stop for a moment. I overheard something at work.”
“Like what?”
Ivy pulled back from him, wringing her hands. “I heard the guy who is the investor of Ribbon of Aid say that the six guys going on this trip weren’t going to come back.”
Gabe blinked, his brows knitting together. “Ivy... that can’t be right. You must have misheard that.”
“I didn’t, Gabe.”
“Does that even sound real to you?” He raised his voice.
“No. I tried to keep it out of my mind all day, but I couldn’t.”
“You knew about this all day, and you’re just telling me now? Ivy, I think you’re grasping at straws.”
His words landed like a punch to her heart. He should know that she wasn’t given to being overdramatic. “I’m not. That’s what I heard.”
“This is unbelievable. Why would you say this to me? Look, Ivy, if they were sure guys wouldn’t return, they wouldn’t send us. They’re paying us decent money for this job.”
Ivy bit her lip, blinking back tears. “I... I don’t know what their reasons are for that, Gabe. But I heard what I heard.”
“No, you’re just making it up because you don’t want me to work. You don’t want me to provide.”
“That’s outrageous!” Now she was yelling. How could he think such an outlandish thing?
“No, it isn’t. You want to take care of us for your self-esteem.”
“You’re wrong.” Ivy stared at him, his hands in flinched, his nostrils flaring.
“I am? Then why is it every time I leave, you don’t want me to?”
“That’s not true! That’s a story you have concocted in your head.”
