Foreplay: The Ivy Chronicles

by Sophie Jordan

  I snorted. “I walk around campus and chase toddlers at the daycare. Nothing more rigorous than that.”

  “You should run with me sometime.”

  Normally the suggestion would have made me laugh, but staring into his blue eyes I thought I might actually like to try it.

  Picking up another fry, I nodded. “Maybe I’ll try.”

  “You’ll get to love it. Your body will miss it when you skip a day.”

  The back door slammed open right then. I looked up, startled. There was a commotion that sounded like something hitting the wall. A man in a wheelchair rolled into sight. Reece tensed beside me.

  The man’s hair was long and looked decidedly unclean. He wore a black Pink Floyd T-shirt. Even in blue jeans, his legs looked thin from lack of use. His tattooed arms were muscular as they pushed at the wheels of his chair, propelling him forward.

  Reece rose to his feet beside me and made his way across the room. “Dad.”

  His father’s gaze snapped to him and the fierceness of his expression blossomed into outright rage. “There you are, you little fuck.”

  I jerked like I felt the slap of those words, even though they had been directed at Reece.

  Reece’s shoulders locked tight, revealing that he wasn’t totally unaffected, either.

  “Nice to see you, too, Dad. What are you doing here?”

  “Thought you could keep me cooped up in that house, huh? Didn’t think I could find a way here. Logan drove me over. He’s parking the car.”

  Reece sent me an unreadable look. Part of me knew I should leave, that he was probably embarrassed for me to witness this drama, but I couldn’t budge from my spot at the table.

  “If you wanted to come here, I would have brought you.”

  “Yeah. Right.” His father held up a crumpled flyer, brandishing it in the air. “What’s this, you little shit?”

  Was there a moment when he didn’t call his son an obscenity? Each word made me flinch and shrink inside myself. Just like when I was a little girl. I couldn’t escape it then. All I could do was clutch Purple Bear and shut my eyes and pretend I was somewhere else.

  “Looks like a flyer for our Tuesday promotion. Ten-cent wings.”

  “You’re giving away food. You’re going to run us out of business.”

  Reece’s sigh reached my ears. “It’s good marketing, Dad. We triple our Tuesday night customers. Alcohol sales more than make up for—”

  Mr. Mulvaney wadded up the flyer and threw it at his son. It bounced off Reece’s chest. “You talk to me before you make a decision like this, you little fuck!”

  Reece’s hands clenched into fists at his sides, but otherwise he made no move. Logan entered the room, his steps slowing as he took in the scene.

  “Logan mentioned you’re looking into expanding.” Logan’s eyes widened and he looked toward Reece apologetically. “How you gonna do that, huh, college boy? I’m not giving you the money.”

  “I’m not asking you for money.” Bright color flushed beneath Reece’s skin. “I’ve tripled profits at this bar in the last two years. If that doesn’t convince you that I can—”

  “You think you’re better than me, you bastard! Think you can do better with this place than I did—”

  “No, Dad.” Reece’s voice sounded suddenly weary. I wanted to rise and go to him, touch him, but I stayed put, knowing that I would only attract attention to myself, and Reece wouldn’t want that while he was having it out with his father. It was all so unpleasant . . . so ugly. It reminded me of everything I was running from. Everything I had vowed to leave behind.

  “That’s right. Just remember that. You don’t know shit. I’m not dead yet. I’m still here.” Mr. Mulvaney beat his chest with one knotted hand. “This is my place.” His barrel chest fell and rose with exerted breaths. Seemingly satisfied that he’d had his say, he glanced back at Logan. “I’m done. C’mon.” He rolled past Logan down the ramp.

  Logan approached his brother, rubbing the back of his neck. “Look, I’m sorry—”

  “It’s okay. Go on. He’ll be yelling for you.”

  Nodding, Logan followed after his dad.

  Slowly, Reece turned. He moved toward me, but instead of reclaiming his seat he remained standing, his fingers lightly brushing the table, his gaze avoiding mine. “I’ve got to get back to work.” His voice was carefully neutral.

  “Reece, I’m—”

  His eyes snapped to my face. “What? You’re what? Sorry?”

  Yeah. I was sorry for him. And I understood. I knew what it felt like when someone you loved betrayed you and stomped all over your heart.

  I shook my head. “Why do you blame yourself?” I nodded to where his dad had been moments ago.

  “Because if I had been home it wouldn’t have ever happened.”

  “It was an accident. You shouldn’t spend your life paying for it.”

  He snorted. “There’s no such thing as an accident, is there? Really? We all make choices. Everything that happens is a result of those choices.” His gaze flicked over me coldly. “Just like you made your choice. You’re going to be with this Hunter guy. I’m just a distraction until the real thing comes along for you.”

  His words flayed me. He made it sound so ugly. Like I was using him. I guessed technically I was, but I’d always been up front with him, and he had wanted to do this, too. I thought we were enjoying each other. At least that’s what I told myself. Besides, he was the one who initiated things that night he pulled me upstairs after him.

  “No,” I whispered, but I wasn’t sure what I was denying exactly. That Hunter was the end goal for me? He still was. He had to be. I’d spent the last seven years believing in that.

  It just felt wrong to label Reece a distraction. He was more than that to me. What, precisely, I didn’t know. But definitely more.

  The weary look came over him. He waved a hand toward the exit. “Why don’t you just go? You really don’t know about any of this. You don’t know me.”

  I sucked in a breath and resisted pointing out that I thought I was starting to know him. From the first moment I met him, when he pulled over and announced that he didn’t feel right leaving me alone on the side of the road, I’d had a good understanding of him. But I didn’t point that out to him. Because obviously he didn’t want me to know him. It was in every tense line of his lean body and the hard set to his jaw.

  “Okay,” I murmured. “Good-bye.” I pushed up from the table, leaving the half-eaten food behind. Skirting him, I fled the bar, convinced that this time I wouldn’t be back. This time he’d asked me to leave. He wanted me gone. It didn’t matter what I wanted.

  Chapter 23

  Hopping back into the car, I handed Hunter his soda and bag of chips as I settled in against the plush leather seat of his BMW. Definitely a luxurious way to travel home. More comfortable than my Corolla. Plus, I didn’t have to drive all by myself.

  “Bugles?” I questioned, shaking my head with a smile as he ripped into the bag. “Never took you for a Bugles kind of guy.”

  He grinned. “Don’t knock it till you’ve tried it.”

  “Oh, I have. I think I was seven when I last ate them.” When I lived with my mom we’d subsisted on a steady diet of vending machine fare.

  “Well, then you know the wonder that is the tiny Bugle.” He held aloft one tiny bugle-shaped chip as if it were the Holy Grail. “Go on. Try just one.”

  “I’m fine. Really.”

  “If you can resist, then surely you’ve never tasted one.”

  Giggling, I reached inside the bag, grabbed a few, and threw them into my mouth. Chewing the salty, cheese-powder-coated chips, I said, “There. Satisfied? I tasted and can still resist.”

  “You’re simply not human.”

  Shaking my head again, I unscrewed the cap on my water bottle and took a sip, washing away the taste of Bugles from my mouth.

  “Bet you didn’t know I liked jerky, too.”

  “No way. You? Wow. But they
don’t serve that at the country club,” I mocked.

  “I haven’t been to the country club since I don’t know when. Not really my scene anymore, you know?”

  No, I didn’t. I might have known Hunter all my life, but I didn’t really know what he did with his free time. Aside from studying to get into med school and devoting the last two years of his life to a demanding girlfriend.

  He looked both ways and pulled back out onto the two-lane highway, leaving the gas station behind. We were soon gliding along the curving road past gorgeous fall foliage. Soon the trees would be shrouded in white, but right now they were a stunning blend of gold, red, and yellow.

  We’d been driving two hours but it didn’t feel like it. It was fun and easy being with him. We went from regaling each other with childhood stories of Lila to discussing our classes and what we hoped to do with ourselves after college. Hunter was excited when I told him I was considering med school with my psychology degree. If I was going to help people with their problems, having a degree in medicine might make that easier.

  My phone buzzed from inside my bag. I dug around in it on the floorboard, expecting another text from Em moaning about having to spend the day shopping with her father’s new girlfriend, who was only five years older than herself.

  Only it wasn’t from Em.

  Reece: I’m sorry

  My thumb locked, poised over my phone. I hadn’t expected to hear from him again. Or even see him. Not unless I just bumped into him on the streets in a freak coincidence. But now he was here, reaching out to me, pulling me back in.

  Me: It’s ok

  Reece: I was a jerk. I shouldn’t have told you to go. I wanted you to stay

  A smile played on my mouth.

  Me: Understandable. Your dad just came down on you

  Reece: Well. Could have let you finish your food at least

  Me: You saved me from the stroke that was sure 2 follow that meal

  Reece: Wimp

  Me: I don’t run a half marathon every morning like you

  Reece: But you’ll run with me

  I paused again, thinking. He was asking if we were going to see each other again. Inhaling, I typed.

  Me: I thought we had seen the last of each other?

  Reece: Do you want to see the last of me?

  “Everything okay?”

  I jerked at Hunter’s question, startled. I had forgotten I was in the car with him. Forgotten he was even here. “Oh. Sorry. Didn’t mean to be rude.” I typed off a quick reply.

  Me: Gotta go. TTYS

  Exhaling, I forced a bright smile and returned my attention to Hunter, focusing on him and refusing to touch my phone again.

  Thanksgiving with Gram brought back a flood of memories. I was hugged so much and smiled so much my cheeks ached. All the residents of Chesterfield Retirement Village were family to me. The place was home, even if unorthodox.

  At eight o’clock Thanksgiving night, still stuffed from turkey, dressing, mashed potatoes, yams, and all the other goodies associated with the holiday, I borrowed Mrs. Lansky’s car from next door since she hardly used it anymore and headed over to Lila’s house.

  I didn’t even have a chance to push the doorbell before the door was yanked open and Lila locked me in a suffocating embrace with a happy squeal.

  Pulling back, she sized me up, assessing me from head to toe. “Damn, you look good! You highlighted your hair. I love it!”

  She pulled me into the impressive foyer with its vaulted ceiling. Linking arms with me, she led me into the kitchen, whispering into my ear even though no one was around to overhear. “Whatever you’re doing with Hunter, it’s working. He hasn’t stopped asking me when you’re getting here.”

  “Really,” I murmured, heat washing up my neck.

  “Uh-huh. He’s waiting in the kitchen.”

  Voices carried from that room, and I knew what I would find before I entered—Lila’s parents and grandparents intent over a Monopoly board. Hunter stood at the island, bent over a slice of pumpkin pie as he watched the proceedings.

  Everyone exclaimed when they saw me. Hunter straightened, his lips curving in that blinding smile of his as all the Montgomerys surrounded me and took turns lavishing me with hugs. After peppering me with questions about school and my grandmother and forcing me to accept a slice of pie, they returned to their game, and Lila, Hunter, and I headed upstairs for the game room to watch a movie.

  I blushed as Lila made a point to sit on the far side of the big, comfy couch, making sure I had to sit beside her brother. Not exactly subtle.

  After scrolling through movies to rent, we selected the new James Bond movie.

  “Want some Chex Mix?” Hunter asked after it started.

  I groaned, rubbing my stomach. “I can’t eat for another month.”

  “I’ll have some.” Lila pushed PAUSE as Hunter headed downstairs, then directed a hard stare at me.

  “All right, so what’s the plan?”

  I shook my head. “Plan?”

  “Yeah . . . you want me to fake a headache so you two can have some alone time?”

  I shook my head. “No, no. Don’t do that. I want to spend some time with you, too.”

  “We’re shopping tomorrow and doing lunch. We’ll have the whole day. This is the only time you two have before you head back on Sunday.”

  “It’s fine, really,” I hissed as I heard his returning steps thudding on the stairs.

  “Here he comes,” she whispered, giving me a knowing wink and settling back into the corner of the couch. She punched PLAY on the remote.

  I shook my head at her, hoping to convey that she shouldn’t invent some excuse to leave me alone with her brother.

  Thirty minutes later, she released an exaggerated sigh. “I’m really tired. Guess turkey really does make you sleepy, huh?” She unfolded her sleek dancer legs that she had tucked under her and rose gracefully to her feet. “I’m going to bed. Need my beauty sleep. Especially if we’re going to hit all those sales in the morning. I’ll pick up you up at seven, Pepper. Okay?”

  I glared at her as she waved good night.

  Hunter smiled easily at me. I forced a smile back, willing away my sudden discomfort. I turned my attention back to the movie, but didn’t really see anything. Just images flashing on the screen that I couldn’t process.

  His arm stretched along the back of the couch behind me. I felt it there, the fingers grazing softly at my shoulder. I noted the passing of minutes on the digital clock on the Blu-ray player. Ten minutes. He shifted on the couch. The graze of his fingers was a full-blown touch. Fifteen minutes. His fingers moved, stroking my shoulder in small circles.

  My stomach knotted with anxiety, torn between wanting him to make a move and wanting to flee. Was he waiting for an invitation? I couldn’t help thinking that Reece would have acted by now. I’d be under him. Or over him. We’d have half our clothes off and his hands would be everywhere. My pulse jackknifed against my throat, remembering how it was with him.

  Suddenly I found myself staring at Hunter, studying his profile. Even though his hand stroked my shoulder, he was watching the movie, following the characters through the action scenes. He must have sensed my stare. He turned. I held his gaze.

  “Pepper?” His voice fell softly, hesitant and inquiring.

  I closed the distance and kissed him. Pushed my lips against his own and serious-as-a-heart-attack kissed him, willing myself to forget Reece in the taste of him.

  He was motionless for a second before reacting. Before kissing me back. He was a good kisser. I recognized that at once. He knew what to do. With his lips. His tongue. His hand came up to hold my face like I was something precious and fragile. Even so, I didn’t feel it. The zing, the consuming ache filling every inch of me.

  Sensation didn’t slam through me like it did with Reece. Had. Like it had with him. I reminded myself of that. Had. It was over.

  Desperate, frustrated for something to be there between us, for me to feel somethi
ng—Oh, God, anything—with Hunter, I climbed up on my knees and straddled him, never breaking my mouth from his.

  He stilled, obviously startled, for half a second before his mouth resumed kissing. He was definitely into it now, groaning when I nipped at his lip, sucking it between my teeth. His hands skimmed down my back, his palms stroking up and down rhythmically.

  I tore my lips from his and kissed his jaw, his neck, sucking at the warm skin.

  His hand buried in the back of my hair. “God. Pepper. What are you doing to me?”

  His words sank inside my mind, forming into a very real question. What was I doing?

  The answer came back to me, clear and ugly, resounding like a bell in my ears. Using him. Searching for something, desperate to feel with him what I felt when I was with Reece.

  Only it wasn’t working. It wasn’t there. Not with him.

  I lifted my lips from his throat and stared down at him, stunned, horrified. He blinked, looking up at me, his deep brown eyes glassy with desire. “Pepper? Everything okay?”

  I shook my head, words stuck in my throat.

  “Hunter! Lila and Pepper!” Mrs. Montgomery called from the base of the stairs. “We’re putting up the desserts. Want any first?”

  Annoyance flashed across Hunter’s face at the interruption. “No thanks, Mom!” His gaze zeroed back on me. He brushed his thumb against my cheek. “Pepper?”

  “I—I need to go home.”

  “Now?”

  I nodded and climbed off him. “Yes. I gotta get up early to meet Lila.”

  He rose to his feet, one hand stretching out for me like he wanted to touch me but was unsure. “Are we okay?”

  I tucked a strand of hair behind my ear, avoiding his gaze. He actually sounded worried. “Yeah. We’re good.”

  “Is it that guy from Gino’s? Reece?”

  My gaze snapped back to him. “Why do you ask that?”

  “I saw how you were together.”

  “We’re not together,” I snapped, too quickly probably.

  “You’re more than friends. I could see that much.”

  “No,” I bit out. “We’re not.”