Ivy

by Willa Nash

This was why she came to Treason. Not for the music. Not for the crowd. Not for the dancing. She came for him. What would Ivy say if she knew Elora was fucking her older brother?

“Mike and Ikes. Those are one of my favorites.”

His lips brushed her forehead, then he was striding for the kitchen.

Yet she closed her eyes and let the flip of his pages lull her to sleep. And when she woke from her nap, Edwin was still in his chair.

Those broad shoulders obscured her view until he turned, holding two boxes of Mike and Ikes. “I’m feeling sentimental today.” He grinned and handed her a box before returning to his chair.

“Heads is a yes. Tails is a no.”

she went to the oven while Tate stood next to the counter, unbuttoning the cuffs of his shirt to roll them up his forearms.

One cookie barely made it to the cooling rack because she could barely keep the spatula steady under his devoted attention.

“You should wear togas every day.” “We’re very matchy.” Edwin met her at the bottom stair, taking the leafy ring from his head and putting it on hers. “The matching is intentional. That way everyone at the club knows who you belong to.”

“Are you asking me out on a date?” “Wasn’t asking.” Tate ducked lower, his lips skimming her neck. “Any other questions?”

“Trusting people is how you get your heart broken.” “You’ve got it wrong.” Edwin shook his head. “Trusting people is how you mend your broken heart.”

“No one in this world knows me like you do. Because I haven’t let them. Not even Mira. And though you might pretend to shut me out, Elora Maldonado, no one in this world knows you like I do.”

“You and me, we fit,” he said. “We fit so fucking perfectly it shouldn’t be real. Yeah, Mira and I were good. But even when we were at our best, nothing can compare to you and me.” He pressed his hand over her heart. “Two hearts.” “One beat,” she finished.

“That’s your question? Christ. I love you, Red,

“Josh is my ex.” She swallowed hard. “And my father’s lover.”