Page 79 of Sack

“No, you wouldn’t count.”

He smiled, thinking back on the conversation they had about her singing. “Because we’re having sex?”

“Exactly. It would need to be a stranger. Family and bedfellows don’t count. But I think we’re getting ahead of ourselves. I don’t even know if I’m any good yet.”

“Never hurts to dream.”

There was a wistful quality to her voice when she said, “No, I guess it doesn’t.”

“So, you’ll take the class.”

“I’ll sign up tomorrow.”

“Good girl.”

“I better let you get some sleep. Talk to you tomorrow?”

“If I don’t die first.”

She chuckled before saying, “Goodnight.”

“Night.”

Colt clicked off then made sure his alarm was set before placing his phone on the nightstand. Taking the ice pack off his shoulder, he tossed it on the floor and slid under the covers. The image of Ivy sitting in front of an easel filled his head. He was asleep in less than a minute, a smile tipping his lips.

Ivy

Ivy threw open the door to The Parting Glass and rushed in on a gust of frigid air. Not because she was late but because she was frozen from her mad dash from the car. Her weather app had said it was forty-five, whichwasunseasonably cold for the first day of November. Added to that, the wind chill made it feel colder. And she did not like the cold. Anything below fifty and she needed a parka, gloves, and snow boots. Unfortunately, she only wore a sweater under a fleece-lined hoodie, jeans, and sneakers.

She hiked herself onto a barstool and slapped the wood in front of her. “Bartender, I need a hot cocoa, STAT.”

Laughing, Emerson raised her head and Ivy gave her a big grin. They’d been hanging out together every Sunday, and Ivy appreciated their friendship. She didn’t have many, and the ones she did have were spread around the country, so only saw them in person once a year for the Con. It was nice having someone in the flesh to talk with. Especially as her time with Colt has been so sparse.

Thinking of Colt, she glanced at the TV. The pregame show was still playing. She checked the time on her phone. Ten minutes until kickoff. After watching for two months, Ivy wouldn’t call herself an expert in all things football, but she could follow the game like a seasoned pro and knew most of the terms—even now knowinggoing deepwas not a euphemism for anything sexual but was, in fact, when a receiver ran far down the field to catch a long pass. Which was a shame, really, because now when Colt said going deep, she visualized a man running instead of him thrusting above her—fantasy ruined.

“One hot chocolate with extra marshmallows.” Emerson plonked a mug down in front of her.

Ivy cupped it between her hands and brought it to her face to breathe in the rich aroma. “You’re a lifesaver.”

“Well, I wouldn’t go that far, but I am happy I’m able to warm you up a little. The heater should do the rest.”

Ivy did notice it was toasty, but she attributed that to all the bodies filling the seats. Business was jamming. “You going to be able to enjoy the game?”

Emerson nodded. “Matt should be here any minute. He’ll take over the bar for me.”

Matt was the new bartender Emerson hired about three weeks before to help lessen her load. And with how busy the place has been, she could well afford the added help. He also made it possible for Emerson to attend home games and was a huge help so she could watch away games in relative peace, like today when the Phantoms played Minnesota.

“How’s he working out?” Ivy took a tentative sip of her cocoa and finding it still too hot, blew on it.

“Good. Nowhe’sthe real lifesaver. Those fourteen-hour days were killing me.”

“I bet. And now you have more time for Oz. Wink-wink-nudge-nudge.”

Emerson’s expression turned disgruntled. “Between both of our schedules, there’s hardly any time to see each other outside of this place.”

“I know the feeling. At least Oz makes the effort to come and see you. I hardly ever see Colt.”

“It’ll get better once the season ends.”

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