I frowned. “What?”
“Do you not like her or something? Because it’s really hard not to like Ivy.”
“No. I mean yes, she’s fine. Why?”
“Fine?”
I shrugged, trying my best to play it cool. “Did she say something?”
My mind instantly went to Friday night out on the porch.
“When Lincoln called, I was just finishing up breakfast with her. I asked if she wanted to come with us today. She seemed interested at first, but then said she was busy.” Sophie gave me a pointed look. “And when I called her on that blatant lie, she said she didn’t want to make you… uncomfortable.”
Her eyebrows rose higher with every word.
She mimicked the stupid air quotes she does. “She said she didn’t want to ‘step on your toes.’”
I told Sophie that Ivy was right. It was best we kept things professional. I explained that I never said we couldn’t see each other outside of her job, but it was probably a good call on her part to set boundaries. That earned me an eye roll from my nosey sister.
Sunday was thankfully a lot less eventful. We went and got ice cream in town and had an easy movie night at home where we watchedEncantoandHow to Train Your Dragon.
Shocker.
The second Lilah’s eyes opened this morning, she yelled, “It’s Monday! Iby’s coming!”
Now, I’m just finishing cleaning up after breakfast, when I spot Ivy’s car rolling up through the front window. I hurry to wrap the extra egg and bacon burrito I made in a paper towel, and stick it in the microwave for safe keeping.
I wipe my hands off on a dish towel, and dust crumbs off my shirt that aren’t there. I straighten my shirt, then run both my hands through my hair, trying to smooth it back, cursing my nervous habit.
“She’s here, she’s here, she’s here!” Lilah shouts, jumping up and down, waiting in the entryway for Ivy to walk through the door.
We’re both waiting with bated breath when we eventually hear a light tap on the door, followed by the creak of it slowly swinging open. Ivy hesitantly pops her head inside, like the short weekend away made her feel unsure about coming in without knocking. I should get her a key.
“Hi,” she says shyly.
“Iby!”
Lilah charges Ivy, slamming into her legs and hugging her like they’ve been apart for years.
Ivy kneels down on the floor and wraps Lilah up in a hug, rocking their bodies back and forth dramatically and shaking her a bit, making Lilah squeal in delight.
“Hello, my girl. How was your weekend?” Ivy asks, gently holding Lilah by her upper arms and looking her in the eye.
She’s giving her the brightest smile, completely engrossed in whatever she’s about to say. I love how sincere Ivy is. She doesn’t do the fake, high-pitched, kid voice with Lilah. She talks to her, and treats her like a person, which I appreciate. It’s something I didn’t realize mattered to me until now.
“Oh my gosh. So good! I went down a water slide!” Lilah replies, practically vibrating with excitement.
“No way! You’re so brave for doing that.” Ivy nods like they’re both in on the fact Lilah is, without question, super brave.
“Iamso brave,” Lilah replies as if she had no idea. It makes me feel guilty as hell. I need to be better at that—telling her things like this. Sarah would’ve been amazing at it.
“What didyoudo?” Lilah asks Ivy.
Ivy stands and gives me a polite wave, which I return with a slight nod. She turns to take off her sandals at the door, and there's something so intimate about seeing her bare feet being on my floors.
Finally giving me a full view of her, I take Ivy in. Jesus. Her small, but curved frame ispouredinto a pair of jeans that mold to her ass perfectly. The folds beneath her ass are impossible to ignore, and her tight lavender colored shirt leaves nothing to the imagination.
The sight has my mouth watering.
