The Heart System

Chapter 825: Chapter 825

At least she still didn’t know the full truth, that Nala, Tessa, and the others were all in a relationship with me. She currently thought Nala and Tessa were a thing. That was still not ideal, but it was better than her knowing everything. I was also quietly relieved it hadn’t been Delilah who texted. The one time I’d accidentally shown Ivy one of her mother’s nudes, I’d been terrified she’d recognize her. Thankfully that disaster had never happened. Man... I really was becoming a risk-taker.

"So," Ivy cleared her throat, sounding a bit more serious. "How many partners do you actually have?"

"Just you and Nala, you know?"

She snapped her fingers. "You used ’you know.’ You’re lying, Evan. You always say that when you’re lying, you idiot."

"I’m not," I said. "You and Nala."

"You sent me a photo of yourself fucking another chick, man." She put both hands on the table. "Don’t lie to me."

"That was a one-time thing."

"Am I a one-time thing?"

"You’re never a ’one-time thing,’ Ivy. You know that." I leaned forward a little. "You’re precious to me, even if you don’t realize it. All this time, from the moment I first met you, I pushed my real feelings aside. And now..."

"Don’t get all gloomy on me now, Mr. Marlowe." She held up a hand in front of my face. "Yes, yes. You jerked me off when we were in college, blah blah."

"That’s like the very, very, very, veeeery simplified version of my feelings, Ivy." I chuckled. "Fuck you, dude."

"Nuh-uh. Fuck you." She chuckled back.

"Welcome to Moneymoon." A waiter approached our table. "What would you like to order?"

We placed our orders, Frozen Mango for Ivy, black coffee for me, and the waiter gave a polite nod before heading back toward the counter.

Once he was gone, Ivy leaned back in her chair, arms loosely crossed, still watching me with that same slightly skeptical expression.

"Ivy," I said after a moment, keeping my voice low. "I really, really don’t want you to think that I’m..."

"I get it. I already told you." She cut me off, though not unkindly. "You’re in an open relationship with Nala. And you’re sleeping with other women. I get that."

"That’s what I’m trying to say." I leaned forward a little. "Don’t think of yourself as just ’another woman,’ okay? Please."

She raised an eyebrow. "Then what am I supposed to think of myself as?"

"I already told you." I gave a small shrug. "I enjoy your company, whether it’s just hanging out or... more than that. I get genuinely happy when I see you. So whatever you decide you want this to be, just... keep that in mind, alright?"

Ivy let out a quiet, exasperated breath and looked away for a second. "What a bother you are, man. I came here to relax."

"I know, I know." I held up a hand. "Just... keep it in mind. Yeah?"

She didn’t answer right away. The skepticism was still there in her eyes, mixed with something else I couldn’t quite read. And the truth was, I felt a little ashamed. She still believed Nala and I were simply in an open relationship. She had no idea what was actually going on in the penthouse, how many people were involved, how deep it all ran. Sooner or later I was going to have to tell her the full truth.

But for now...

The waiter returned and set a tall glass of frozen mango smoothie in front of Ivy and a plain black coffee in front of me. The rich, bitter smell of the coffee rose between us.

I wrapped my hands around the warm mug and took a slow sip.

For now, just black coffee.

⟁ ⟁ ⟁

After dropping Ivy off, I decided to stop by the sex shop. I wanted to see Layla and check how she was doing after our last date, if that could even be called a date. She was a strong woman, and for some reason, I liked that about her.

Plus, I still had a jacket to retrieve from her. She had refused to give it back to me because of... well, of reasons.

I entered the shop and immediately spotted Layla with her back turned toward me. She was standing on her toes, trying to reach one of the higher shelves.

There was a monstrous, rainbow-colored dildo that had tipped over, and she was struggling to put it back in place.

"I’ll be right with you, sir," she said without turning around. "Just give me a second."

I walked toward her instead and reached over her shoulder. I grabbed the oversized thing and placed it back where it belonged.

Well, fuck me. Not exactly the romantic moment I had imagined. You know, like seeing a girl struggling to reach a book on the top shelf and stepping in to help her. Something normal.

But no. It had to be a giant rainbow dildo.

"Oh, Evan," Layla said, turning around and putting a hand over her chest. "I didn’t expect you."

"I’m here for my jacket," I said with a smile. "And I also wanted to see you."

"Oh, great." She crossed her arms. "Well, your jacket is at my house. I didn’t bring it here."

"Hmm. When are you closing? I can drop you off."

"It’s only seven thirty. I can’t close yet," she said with an exhale. "But thanks for the offer."

"No problem." I glanced around the shop. "You really should hire another employee, Layla. You’re pregnant. You shouldn’t be working twenty-four seven at a sex shop."

"In my dreams, maybe." She chuckled before walking back toward the desk. "Thanks for dropping by, Evan. It gets kind of lonely here."

"I can imagine." I followed her over. "You want some help around here? Believe it or not, I used to work at a gas station. I know how this stuff works."

"Help?" She repeated.

Her eyes drifted toward the back of the shop, where several boxes were piled on top of each other.

"Eh."

"Come on, I’m a good worker." I tapped the wooden desk with my hand and straightened up. "What needs doing?"

"Those boxes need to go on that shelf," she said, pointing toward a long shelf along the wall. "Can you help me with them?"

"Sure." I looked at the shelf. "That one?"

"Yep."

"Alright. Let me know if I’m doing something wrong, yeah?"

I was already walking toward the boxes.

"Thank you."

"No problem. Just sit back and relax. I got this."

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