Falling Into You: The Complete Naughty Tales Series

by Nicole Elliot

  “It was a year yesterday,” I said.

  “He broke up with you on your one-year anniversary?” Emilia asked, appalled. “What a cocksucker! What kind of man is running that foundation with your husband anyway?”

  “I liked that about him,” I admitted. “How he wanted so badly to give back to kids. And with the way he took care of Hayden while he was recuperating, I guess I just thought he was a natural nurturer.”

  “You two were good together,” Grace said. “But timing is everything. Maybe Zander wasn’t ready for the kind of commitment you were.”

  “Yeah, because if he was, you traveling to all of your fashion shows wouldn’t have been an issue for him. It wasn’t in the beginning. I don’t know why it suddenly is now,” Emilia said.

  “Well, it doesn't matter anymore,” I replied, appreciative of their efforts to defend me. “He’s gone and I need to get over that.”

  I met Zander through Grace. He worked with her husband at this beautiful foundation that specialized in wheelchairs for children as well as getting them the proper care they needed during recuperation after physical tragedies. The foundation was incredible and the way Zander cared? I was taken by him the instant Grace introduced us. And we really hit it off. He was a Doctor Who fan and so was I. He enjoyed Star Trek over Star Wars, and so did I. We ran together in the mornings and frequently had weekend dinners with Hayden and Grace.

  I really thought he was the one.

  Until he took me out for our one-year anniversary and broke up with me.

  “You never did tell us how that dinner went,” Emilia said.

  “Hey. Enough,” Grace cut in.

  “No, it’s fine,” I said. “I mean, it’s not fine what he did. But I called you guys once it happened and you came rushing over and stayed with me without a second thought.”

  “So, do you want to talk about it?” Grace asked.

  I sighed as I settled back into the couch.

  “Can we get some ice cream first?” I asked.

  “Don’t worry. I’ve got you covered. I brought a bottle of red wine and a very large tub of chocolate ice cream. I’ll get the glasses and spoons,” Emilia said.

  “Then I’ll grab the wine and the ice cream,” Grace said, following Emilia to the kitchen.

  “And I’ll wallow in self-pity until you guys get back,” I added, half jokingly.

  Emilia handed me a very full glass of wine and a spoon before Grace flopped down between us with the tub of ice cream. I reached over and dug in, taking the largest spoonful I could get before I plopped it into my wine. I stirred up the concoction and chugged it, watching as Grace and Emilia crinkled their noses at me.

  “You really are the weirdest person I know,” Emilia said.

  “I take it you want another glass?” Grace asked.

  “Yes,” I said breathlessly. “And don’t hold back on the wine.”

  “I didn’t think I did the first time,” she said with a grin.

  “So spill,” Emilia said, still searching for details. “You’ve got one full glass of wine in you on an empty stomach. What happened last night with you and Zander?”

  Grace handed me another glass of wine as I licked at another spoonful of ice cream.

  “I don’t know,” I sighed. “I mean, he came and picked me up. Took me out to this lovely restaurant. We sat in a corner booth and played footsies underneath the table. I had this present for him, you know? I went to a convention a few weeks back after one of my jobs and got him a Data poster and had it signed by Brent Spiner!”

  “I think that’s supposed to be impressive,” Emilia whispered to Grace.

  “That’s the actor who plays Data. Even I know that,” Grace replied.

  “I gave it to him, and that’s when he told me we needed to talk,” I said.

  “Shit. The four final words,” Emilia said.

  “Yeah. Right there in the middle of our anniversary dinner, he started in on a speech he’d obviously rehearsed.”

  “Which meant he’d been planning it for a while,” Grace said.

  “Yep. He said ‘with everything picking up at the foundation and you always traveling, we’ll barely be able to see one another.’”

  “So he blamed it on his work?” Grace asked.

  “What a dick,” Emilia said.

  “That wasn’t the only thing. We sat there for three hours talking about all of the horrible stuff in our relationship. The long distance whenever I’m away choreographing fashion shows. The traveling him and Hayden do for the foundation. How our schedules always conflict and how we rarely get to go out on dates. I didn’t even know the long distance bothered him! That’s why we kept pouring money into Skype and things like that.”

  “That’s how you guys did your dinner dates sometimes, right?” Emilia asked.

  “Yeah, and I thought that was romantic, you know? I’d get dressed up and we’d order the same kind of takeout. Then we’d sit and talk like we were actually on a date. You know, sitting in front of one another and everything. But apparently that bothered him. A lot.”

  “Then why didn’t he tell you?” Grace asked. “I’m sure Hayden would’ve helped coordinate his schedule to match yours so you two could’ve had more time together.”

  “Sounds like he was making an excuse to get out, if you ask me,” Emilia huffed.

  “That’s the feeling I got, honestly,” I said. “Which is fine. But just tell me that, you know? Don’t make up issues that aren’t really issues for you if you’re just not into the relationship any longer.”

  “So speaking of fashion shows, how did this last one go?” Grace asked, changing the subject.

  “Yeah. You just got back from France like, what, three weeks ago?” Emilia continued.

  “It went really well. My largest show to date. I got lots of pictures and videos for my portfolio, and I think that show alone will help me to score a lot of gigs to come. I’ve worked with many high-end designers, but not one that was as highly publicized as that show was. And it got rave reviews. Some of the fashion magazines even doted on the choreography of the show. A few journalists asked me for quotes and I did a side-by-side interview with the designer. It was incredible.”

  “Oh, shit. Our Ivy’s moving on up!” Emilia exclaimed.

  “Can we see the videos? Or the show? Are the clips anywhere?” Grace asked, excitedly.

  I took another long sip from my wine before I pulled my laptop onto my knees. I opened it up and we clicked through YouTube videos, watching everything from the runway show to the interview I did with the designer. I still couldn't believe it. Surreal didn’t even begin to describe how I was feeling. My heart ached at the loss of Zander because I really thought he was the one. The man I was meant to spend the rest of my life with. But watching these videos from France helped me to gain some perspective. One part of my life might’ve met an end, but another part of my life was only just beginning to take off.

  “Well, it’s a good thing you unloaded Zander’s dead weight, because I have a feeling you’re going to be traveling and meeting all sorts of hot men now,” Emilia said, elbowing me.

  “I have been getting a lot of calls actually. There are four shows taking place in L.A. that have already tried to rope me into choreographing things for them,” I said.

  “And with these pieces and these kinds of reviews, you can negotiate a decent payment for yourself,” Grace said.

  “Have you called any of them back?” Emilia asked.

  “Not yet. I had only just gotten back when they emailed and my ‘out of office’ response was still on. I figured after what happened with Zander last night, I could take a least the weekend before I started replying on Monday.”

  “That’s a good idea. Take the weekend and drown your sorrows in wine and ice cream, then get out there and make so much fucking money it’ll make him regret his choices,” Emilia encouraged while reaching to pour more wine.

  “If you want my personal opinion,” Grace said, “I’m kind of g
lad you’re not with him anymore.”

  “Why?” I asked, turning my head in shock.

  “Zander’s getting pretty wrapped up in the foundation. Which is wonderful, don’t get me wrong. But it’s growing at an exponential rate. Even Hayden’s having a hard time juggling his home life and his foundation life. We’ve had a few spats about it over the last couple of months, and it doesn’t show any signs of stopping. I’d rather you find a man who knows how to split his time wisely than settle for someone who only considers you an afterthought,” Grace said.

  “Is that what Hayden’s doing with you?” Emilia asked. “Because I’ll beat his ass.”

  “No, no. It’s nothing like that with us. But we’re married, so there’s a different level of commitment there. All I’m saying is, I know you’re hurt and you’re disappointed, but maybe Zander isn’t at a point in his life where he can juggle his job and a relationship. And you shouldn’t have to go down with that ship,” Grace said.

  “I know,” I said with a sigh. “But that doesn’t mean I won’t miss him.”

  The girls and I continued to talk and drink and eat ice cream until our stomachs hurt. But it did nothing to quell the heartache I felt. Zander was everything I could’ve wanted. Kind. Intelligent. Ambitious. A hell of a man in bed with a romantic streak that always took my breath away. He was the knight in shining armor every little girl was told about during their bedtime stories. He was strong and capable and had a vision for his life. The success of the foundation with a wife and children standing at his side. And I wanted all of that. I wanted my fashion career and a family and a home. Not some idiotic apartment I could hardly afford rent for during the month.

  My passion had always been fashion. Ever since I was a little girl. I’d always get caught trying on my mother’s clothes, and a few times I stole some of her pieces to alter them and make them something more. Something greater. Granted, she hated that. Me chopping up her clothes and restitching them into different pieces. It wasn’t until I participated in my first fashion show at sixteen for the community that I fell in love with the choreography. With the way a fashion show flowed and the rhythm it kept in order to keep things progressing forward.

  I turned it into a blossoming career, bypassing college in order to seek out my dreams.

  My parents weren’t happy about me skipping college, but they were supportive. The only catch was that I had to pave my way financially. My parents did everything they could for me when I was growing up, but we weren’t well off by any means. My father was a full-time elementary school teacher whose side-job during breaks was being a wedding photographer. And my mother? She kept odd jobs when she could, but she was also a very sick woman. She suffered with fibromyalgia spurred on by how difficult my birth was, so a part-time job here and there was all she could spare.

  It pulled in a bit of extra money. Just enough to keep our heads above water every month.

  So, I moved. I left my small town in Idaho and moved to New York City. I found myself a waitressing job during the week and, in my spare time, I choreographed local fashion shows and pageants for schools, the community, and the rich who had nothing better to do with their spare time. I took any job-- paid or not-- that came my way and I made sure to document everything. I threw all of my time and effort into those shows to try and build the portfolio I needed to bust into the community.

  And just before I turned twenty-one, I got my chance.

  The up-and-coming designer flew me out to Los Angeles to help with her first-ever publicized runway show. I stayed in this extended-stay motel for three weeks and spent over half my eventual pay just trying to eat and get around in the city. But it was the missing link I needed in my portfolio, and my career took off soon after that.

  Now, I was a twenty-four-year-old, highly lusted after, top of the line fashion choreographer.

  And all without a bit of higher education.

  “Earth to Ivy. You there?” Emilia asked, waving her hand wildly in front of my face.

  “Just let her think. She doesn’t have to be constantly engaged with us,” Grace said.

  “Well if she wants to put in her pizza order, she needs to come back to reality.”

  “Pizza?” I asked.

  “I knew that word would pull you out,” Emilia grinned. “What’s it gonna be?”

  “Bacon, ham, mushrooms, and hot sauce,” I said.

  “I’m not sure why I ask anymore,” Emilia said. “You don’t want to try anything different? You don’t want to put some olives on there or maybe try a different type of meat?”

  “Why change perfection?” I asked with a smile. “Thanks, Emilia.”

  “Yeah, yeah. You got milk in that fridge? You always need it after eating that pizza.”

  “I’ve got ice cream,” I said as I licked my spoon. “I’m good.”

  “So now that we’ve digested the fact that Zander’s an asshole, we need to find you a rebound guy,” Emilia changed the subject.

  “Zander isn’t an asshole,” Grace said. “He’s a good guy. Just… not good for Ivy.”

  “Still doesn’t change my statement,” Emilia shrugged. “Because you know the best way to get over one guy is to find another one to take your mind off him.”

  “I don’t think that’s how that statement goes,” I said. “But it doesn’t matter. I’ve got an immediate fashion show here in the city that I need to turn my sights on.”

  “Wait, I thought you had all those offers from L.A.?” Emilia asked.

  “Yes, I do. But those are for shows two and three months into the future. I’ve still got shows I’m booked solid for up until then right here in the city.”

  “Well look at you, Miss High Roller. Getting your name out there and shit. Bury yourself in work. It’s the best antidote to sorrow,” Grace said.

  “And the last thing I’m about to go looking for is another man. I threw a lot of energy into Zander,” I said. “If a man wants to throw his energy into me, then so be it. But I’m not going to be pursuing anyone anytime soon.”

  “I always thought it was weird that you took the first steps with Zander,” Emilia admitted. “You know, asking him out first and shit like that.”

  “This is the twenty-first century. Girls can ask guys out if they want to,” Grace said.

  “Well how is she supposed to know if a guy is really interested? I mean, she could’ve asked Zander out and he said ‘yes’ simply because of convenience.”

  “Thanks. I think,” I said.

  “I get what you’re saying, but Ivy making the first move doesn’t mean Zander wasn’t interested from the beginning,” Grace countered. “Some guys just aren’t as dominant as others.”

  “And that’s what Ivy needs,” Emilia said. “She’s strong and independent. She doesn’t need some weenie with a small peenie bitching her out for traveling and having an independent career that enables her to provide for herself. That man should’ve been falling on his knees and worshipping her.”

  “He did have a nice tongue, too,” I said with a grin.

  “Okay. That’s more detail than I need to know about my husband’s work buddy,” Grace said.

  “All I’m saying is-”

  “No, Emilia,” I interjected. “I’m not looking for another guy. I’m focusing on work, I’m healing from this stupid breakup, and then maybe I’ll find myself a nice man to spend my nights with. But until then? Work.”

  “You’re no fun,” Emilia said.

  “Tough titties,” I said with a grin.

  “You hit ‘order’ on that pizza app yet?” Grace asked.

  Emilia’s eyes widened before she continued to order our dinner for the night. I loved spending time with my girls. We hardly ever got to do this anymore. With Grace and her blossoming family along with Emilia and her crazy schedule, it was hard for us to coordinate girl’s weekends anymore. But no matter what, I knew I could count on them to be there for me during something like this.

  “Okay. Pizza’s ordered,” Emilia
said.

  “I’ve got movies if anyone wants to watch one,” Grace said, pointing to the collection.

  “Please don’t tell me it’s the Magic Mike series again,” I said. “I don’t think I can take anymore shirtless Channing Tatum.”

  “When the hell did any sane woman ever utter those words?” Grace asked.

  “Just now,” Emilia said with a grin. “And I have to hand it to Ivy, you’re alone in that Tatum boat.”

  “Fine. More for me,” Grace said. “But I figured you would poo-poo on that idea, so I brought the next best thing.”

  I watched as she pulled out all three Thor movies and I squealed.

  “Oh. Yes,” I said.

  “Mm. Mm. Mm. Chris Hemsworth with long hair? Yes please,” Emilia said, examining the covers.

  “But you know that’s not who Ivy will be eyeing all night,” Grace said with a smile.

  “Not my fault Loki’s hotter than his brother,” I said as I plucked the first Thor movie from her hand.

  “In your dreams,” Emilia said.

  “Oh trust me,” I said as I opened the DVD. “Loki’s always in my dreams.”

  Chapter Two

  Dean

  “Code blue, room 313. Code blue, room 313.”

  “Dr. Alexander, Code black, room 102. Dr. Alexander, code black. Room 102.”

  “Code orange! All emergency and on-duty personnel to the emergency doors. Code orange!”

  A fifteen-car pile-up in the middle of the city started slamming through the doors of the hospital. People clutching their stomachs and people with broken bones. Those who were unconscious and already throwing up from their concussions. I helped the nurses ready as many rolling gurneys as I could and quickly set up triage. I had a team of nurses scrubbing down operating rooms and readying them in case we needed them. I sent out a mass alert to all of the on-call doctors, telling them we needed their services if they could get to the hospital.

  Fifteen cars meant the potential for at least thirty victims.

  “Dr. Alexander!”

  “Yes, Mary?”

  “I have a kid over here not doing too well. He came in throwing up and with a fever, but now he’s on his second seizure.”