Page 48 of Sack

“Yeah. Wow is right. You should YouTube it, it’s pretty exciting to see.”

Ivy definitely would.

They watched for another hour before Ivy waved a white flag. Planting her feet on the floor, she sat up from her slouch and declared, “If you don’t feed me, I’m going to wither away and die.” It was dramatic, but she got her point across.

Colt got up. “I don’t have much in the way of food, but we can order something in or go out.”

“In.” For sure. The last thing she felt like doing was battling the Sunday brunch crowd.

She followed Colt into the kitchen where he opened a drawer and pulled out a stack of menus. He tossed them on the counter. “Take your pick.”

Ivy perused her options and settled on a place that delivered breakfast burritos. She also agreed to watch more football until their food arrived. “But after, I’m changing it to something I want to watch.”

“Deal.”

So they settled in with their burritos and Ivy introduced Colt to Groot. Gimli would have to wait for another day or more likely weekend since the Lord of the Rings trilogy was over nine hours long. Colt had stamina but probably not that kind.

After four-and-a-half hours and both Guardians of the Galaxy movies under their belt, Ivy declared it was time she went home. She had a laundry list of things to do to get ready for the week—which, as it happened, one of the items was laundry.

Ivy gathered her stuff, and Colt walked her to the door.

“We should do something special next weekend. It’s the last one I have free for a while.”

She turned in the doorway to face him. “Oh, I can’t. I have plans.”

“Plans?”

Why did he seem so surprised? “Comic-Con. I go every year with a group of friends.”

“And it’s next weekend?”

“Well, actually, I leave Wednesday and come home Sunday night.”

“Were you planning on telling me you were skipping town?”

“That’s a bit dramatic. It’s not like I’m a felon jumping bail. And I’m sure it would’ve come up at some point before I left.” She tilted her head, studying him. “Why are you upset about this?”

“I’m not upset, just surprised.”

Her jaw tensed. “I do have a life, you know.”

He held up a hand. “That’s not what I meant. I’m just surprised I’m hearing about it now. Going out of town for a week is a big deal.”

She shrugged. “I honestly didn’t think to mention it.”

“So it would seem.”

Irritated by the possessive boyfriend routine when he clearly wasnot, Ivy said, “I better go.” She spun on her toe and went down the walk to the driveway where her car was parked.

She’d just opened the driver’s door when she heard her name called. She looked toward the front door.

“I’ll call you tonight.”

She raised a hand in acknowledgment—proud of her restraint by not flipping him the bird—got in the car, and drove away.

Chapter Ten

Colt

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