Ivy lifts her head up off of my chest, and her smile falls when she sees my serious expression.
She runs a finger down my jawline, then whispers, “Yeah.” before nodding and leaning in to kiss me.
I give her a light smack on the ass, making her giggle and roll off of me.
“It’s only a week,” I say, giving her a reassuring squeeze on her hip, then slipping out of bed to shower and get ready for the airport.
“It’ll be fine.” I hear her call out.
It’ll be fine.
————
It’s not fine.
I miss my girls so much it’s physically painful, and I’ve only been gone four days. When Ivy and Lilah dropped me off at the airport, I shocked the hell out of myself when my nose started to sting, and the lump in my throat formed. I hugged my daughter for what felt like minutes, until she finally got fed up and pushed away from me, promisingmethat it would be alright.
Then I broke our PDA rule for Lilah, and couldn’t stop myself from giving Ivy a deep kiss, then hugging her for nearly just as long as Lilah. I had this feeling when Leo and I were boarding our flight that something wasn’t right. Something felt a little…off. I chalked it up to me making excuses to stay behind, and brushed it off as best I could.
My parents have sent photos, and are living their best retired life, or their “Golden Era” as my mom likes to call it. They’ve sent countless photos to the family group chat. Mostly of sunsets with a finger in the corner, or pictures of the food they’ve been eating.
My favorite photo in particular was the one of my dad with the hula girls, where he looks wildly uncomfortable—stiff and awkward with his hands directly down by his sides. When you hold down on the screen for the live function of the photo, you can hear my mom coaxing him to “Perk up, Buck.”
Other than missing Ivy and Delilah terribly, the work has been great. I’m grateful that Ivy pushed me to come, and take full advantage of this opportunity. I’ve met several artists and clients, and booked quite a few future projects back in Canyon Creek. The same goes for Leo.
I’ve FaceTimed Ivy as much as I can, and have at least gotten to say goodnight to Lilah every night. Ivy sends me photos of them throughout the day, and I’ve saved every single one of them. From what I hear from Ivy, they’re doing well. They’ve been going to the park, and to visit Rose with Sophie.
When I caught a glimpse of Soph on FaceTime earlier, something seemed off with her, and I feel like an asshole for not really knowing what’s going on in her life right now. I should be checking in with her more now, especially with Beau being back in town.
As I shoot my sister a text to check in with her, I get an incoming text from Ivy. I finish sending the text to Sophie, then view the new message. It’s late, and I’ve already said goodnight to both her and Lilah, so I wonder what it’s about. I lift my hand behind my head on my pillow, and click on our thread.
Ivy:*new image*
I immediately flip my phone face down on my chest, like I’ve just received incriminating evidence against me, and not like I'm a fully grown man in his own hotel room.
Holy fucking shit.
I lift my phone back up, and scan every inch of Ivy’s exposed skin. It looks like she propped her phone up on my bedside table, and is kneeling on my bed, legs spread wide, with her hand gently grazing her lingerie-covered pussy. Her tits are pushed up in a matching black, but see-through bra, putting her piercings on full display.
She’s resting back on her heels, making her thighs look juicy as fuck, and her long wavy hair is draped over her shoulders. I audibly groan, and scrub a hand over the scruff on my jaw.
I guess I’ve taken too long to respond, because I get a new incoming text.
Ivy:Please tell me you’re awake and as horny as I am. Being in your bed without you is killing me.
Wes:I’m awake. Jesus Christ, Ivy. Warn a man. You’re going to give me an aneurysm.
I startle when my phone begins ringing, and I see it’s a FaceTime from Ivy. Is she really trying to have phone sex right now?
I amsoin.
36
Ivy
The phone rings, and I impatiently wait for Wesley to answer. A few beats pass, then the call finally connects, and I release the breath I didn’t know I was holding. I was nervous about sending that picture to him, but I’m so damn desperate for him, all reservations flew out the window. I want him. I miss him.
“Hi.” I smile, then make sure it's only my face that fills the screen.
