She blushes again, pulling her shirt over her head. "You've seen enough naked-Ivy for one night."
"Impossible. There's no such thing as enough."
"You're insatiable."
"Only for you." I sit down next to her on the couch, now both of us semi-dressed. "So. What now?"
"What do you mean?"
"I mean it's—" I check my watch, "—eleven thirty on a Friday night. I should probably get to Granddad's house before he worries. But I don't want to leave you."
"You can stay," she says quickly. Then, more hesitantly: "If you want. I have a guest room. Or, um, my bed is big enough for two. If you wanted to… I mean, we just… But that doesn't mean you have to—"
I kiss her to stop the nervous rambling. "I would love to stay. In your bed, if that's okay. I want to fall asleep with you and wake up next to you."
"Okay." She smiles. "Good. That's good."
"But I should probably text Levi so grandpa and him don’t send out a search party."
I pull out my phone and find three missed texts from Levi:
*How's the reunion?*
*Saw Ivy yet?*
*Don't be a coward. Talk to the girl.*
I grin and type back: *Reunion was fine. I'm staying at Ivy's tonight. Don't wait up.*
His response is immediate: *FINALLY. About damn time. Don't screw this up.*
Then: *Wait. Staying at Ivy's? As in STAYING staying?*
I show Ivy the texts and she laughs. "Your grandfather is going to have questions."
"Let him. I'll tell him we finally got our heads out of our asses." I put my phone away. "Ready for bed?"
"Yeah." She stands up, then pauses. "Owen? Thank you. For tonight. For everything. For being exactly what I needed."
"Thank you for trusting me. For letting me be your first." I pull her close, resting my chin on top of her head. "And if I have anything to say about it, I'm going to be your last too."
"I'm counting on it," she murmurs against my chest.
We stay like that for a moment, just holding each other. Outside, I can hear rain starting again, a gentle patter against the windows. Inside, everything is warm and perfect.
Ivy takes my hand and leads me down the hallway to her bedroom. It's exactly what I expected: more books, soft lighting, a bed covered in a fluffy comforter that looks incredibly inviting.
We climb in together, and she curls against my side like she was made to fit there.
"This is nice," she says sleepily.
"Yeah." I kiss her forehead. "This is perfect."
Within minutes, her breathing evens out. She's asleep, safe and content in my arms. I lie there in the dark, listening to the rain, feeling her heartbeat against my ribs, and I think about the future.
About moving back to Blackwater Falls. About opening a practice here, becoming part of the community the way Levi has. About Sunday dinners with Ivy and Granddad Jim. About falling asleep like this every night.
About building the life I should have built fifteen years ago.
