“Yes.” My lips twitched. “Having your body all over me is such a hardship.”
She squeezed me as I lay onto my back. We were plastered together, our legs intertwined, and I couldn’t imagine a better moment in my life.
“Thanks for staying with me tonight.”
“I’m gonna make you drink water in a bit. I won’t be nice.”
“That’s okay. I’m just glad you’re here.” She snuggled deeper as she yawned. Her breathing deepened. She always used to pass out, and I was jealous. My mind wouldn’t shut the fuck up while Ivy’s was like a light switch. On and off with one second between.
“I’m so close to loving you,” she whispered, her voice groggy between awake and sleep. “Almost there. Still a little afraid.”
“That’s okay,” I said, kissing her forehead. I wasn’t sure if she heard me or meant to say anything in her almost-dream state, but her words replayed in my mind, this time taking root. It didn’t matter that she was a little drunk. The truth came out.
She was still a little afraid of me. Not in a physical way but to protect her heart. I fucking hated hearing that, but I wasn’t a quitter.
That meant I had more work to do, and fuck, I’d do it.
“Hi, yes this is Ivy.”
I woke to my girl’s voice too far away from me. Opening one eye, I found her on the other side of the room, pacing with her phone to her ear. It was barely eight am. Why was she up? She didn’t have class.
Yeah, I knew her class schedule. I memorized it by accident.
It’s not creepy. It’s romantic.
Only a creep would say that.
I shook the voices out and stretched, trying to decipher her mood. Her tone sounded professional. Formal too.
“Yes. Oh, absolutely. That would be wonderful. Thank you for the opportunity. Sure, yes, will do. Thank you.”
She ended the call and stared at me with wide eyes. “Oh my god! Callum!”
“What is it?” My pulse raced at every possibility.
She was interning at a new team…. She was leaving the school…okay, stop assuming the fucking worst.She’s so happy. Be happy for her!
“Callum! The internship coordinator for the Chicago Panthers is going to call me! To interview me! Oh my god!”
“Hell yes, baby.” I jumped from the bed and pulled her into my arms. “This is what you want, yeah?”
“Yes.” She sniffed. “I have to tell Esme! And Abe! And her brother!”
Mm, don’t love that list.
“Esme!” Ivy broke out of my embrace and squealed once she left the door. “I have an interview! Ah! For Chicago! It’s happening!”
“Girl!”
She and Esme danced in a circle, and any irritation lingering, unwarranted obviously, left.
This wasn’t about my own insecurities. This was about Ivy. She could get over my past, so I could get over the fact she also had other people in her life that celebrated with her. I snuck a shot of her and Esme, a smile on my lips. They were both so happy.
“Okay, tell me everything. When is it? Is it online or in person? When would it start? Is it AT route?”
“Two weeks, in person. Henry is meeting with him after our next home game for a more formal chat, but they ran into each other at a convention. I just… this is what I worked so hard for.”
Pride filled my chest. She worked her ass of for this, and damn, I was happy for her.
