Page 40 of The Riley Effect

“Oh, that’s why she’s acting like that,” Her response is neither shocked nor sad, but rather soft and happy.

Deciding it best to leave that topic of conversation alone, I hold up all the dog’s leashes, and ask Ivy, “Want to join us? I’m headed to the baseball field to play fetch.”

There is a smile trying to tug at Ivy’s lips, but she suppresses it the moment it threatens to show. “I’m almost done with getting the dogs ready. Why don’t you head outside and I’ll meet you there.”

Ivy’s sitting on the bench behind the shelter when I finally get all the dogs prepped for their afternoon walk but she isn’t sitting there scrolling on her phone, she is taking in the mountains that surround campus. I see her shoulders are pinching up before they relax in a rhythm that seems very soothing. I take a moment and follow the rhythm of her shoulders with my own. Our peaceful moment in the mountains ends abruptly when Sabastian, a five-pound chihuahua, lets out a yip that is ear-piercing enough to wake the dead.

We walk in silence to the baseball field. I watch the sway of her round hips whilst trying to enjoy the cool fall breeze because, in a few weeks, I wouldn’t be shocked if these fields were covered in snow.

I am shocked at how being in Ivy’s presence makes me nervous. She’s beautiful–not like an Instagram model beautiful– but she has a natural beauty that is mesmerizing. I love spending time with her, but everyone keeps acting like she is some delicate flower that freezes during the first frost of the year. I guess I saw a little of it at the bar last weekend, but I thought it was an alcohol-fueled moment at the time. The only Ivy I’ve seen has been assertive and sure of herself. It’s one of the reasons I wanted to see where things could go with us. I’m used to girls fawning all over me. There has never really been a chase, but I’m learning things are a lot better if you have to put in the effort to earn them.

“A penny for your thoughts?”

I decide it’s time one of us tries to have this conversation.

“I know we’ve both been swamped the past couple of days, but I think we should talk about last weekend.”

This is usually part of the “relationship” where I tell the girl I’m too busy and then move on to the next casual hookup.

I open the gate by the home dugout and bend down to let the dogs off their leashes. I love watching the dogs from the shelter enjoy their freedom. The leaves fly up like smoke would in a cartoon, showing how happy they are to have free space to roam. It’s like giving them a little bit of freedom completely changes their personalities.

“Yeah, we probably should.”

The request comes out confident but her body tells a different story. She tucks her hands into the front pockets of her jeans and looks at her right boot, which she is using to push theinfield dirt around. She takes a deep breath before looking up at me through her dark eyelashes.

“I think… I mean I have had a lot of fun these past few weeks, but I think we should keep things going the way they are. I don’t really have time for more,” She pauses to take a deep breath before she continues. “You’re free to hook up with whoever you want. I know I had a little freak out last weekend, but that happens sometimes when I drink.”

That wasn’t what I was expecting or what I want. This is the first time a woman has ever said she wants to keep the relationship casual when I want something more.

Then I remember my conversations with Indy and Jill. I realize that last weekend was a big step for Ivy, and maybe taking it slow is how I show I’m serious about wanting more with her. I know pushing her into something is really just pushing her away.

“That’s fine, but Ivy, I still want to spend time with you. You’re not going to push me into another girl’s arms and get rid of me,” I make sure she looks me in the eyes before I continue. “This conversation isn’t a relationship ending. It’s the start of one because you’re worth waiting for Ivy. I really like spending time with you, and I know you like spending time with me. Whenever you’re ready to make this official, I’ll be here waiting for you.”

Her body relaxes and she tries to hide her smile, but I’m happy when she can’t hold it at bay any longer. I match it.

I laid it all out. She knows exactly how I feel. Now it’s time to be patient because slow and steady wins the race.

When I get home, the boys are in the living room huddledaround some video game. I want to tell them about the conversation that I had with Ivy today and ask their opinions on if I went about it the right way. I take my usual spot in the corner of the sectional and try to figure out how to have this conversation around the game of Madden NFL that Marcus and Aaron are playing on the Xbox.

“Hey, guys, can I ask you a question?”

The only response I get is a bunch of unintelligible grunts.

“I need some advice on something Ivy said to me today.” That has Aaron pausing the game and facing me. Byron gets up from the kitchen table, where he is working on something for his marketing class, and makes his way to the armchair we have placed next to the couch.

“So when I got to the shelter today, I didn’t think Ivy was going to be there, but I guess she needed a break from her school work and showed up to work at the shelter,” I run my clammy hands down my pants before I continue. “When we were out walking the dogs, she brought up whatever has been going on between us over the last few weeks, and she said she wants to keep hanging out, but I am free to hook up with other girls. She doesn’t really want me to hook up with other girls, right?”

There is a moment of silence before my teammates start laughing, and I instantly regret asking the question.

“No girl actually means shit like that when they say it. Trust me, I’ve fallen for that trick before.” Aaron tells me.

“Then you can’t…” I try to interject to save some self-preservation.

“When I was seventeen,” he adds.

Behind the glare, I’m shooting in Aaron’s direction. I am secretly happy I asked. I don’t want to be with anyone else, but I’ve never really paid attention when my friends have vented about their girlfriends in the past. It’s like the women want to assign us a quick test to make sure we aren’t going to break theirhearts. I’ve always been good at taking tests, but when it comes to Ivy I want to make sure I ace it.

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