Page 36 of Sliding Into Love
“Yep!” Her voice was overly bright again. “Just spilled some wine is all.”
“Oh, okay.” His voice was shaky. “So, you were saying. About your dirty mouth?”
“Do you want to find out how dirty it is, Ethan?” The words sounded like cursive script, the syllables too close together. He realized she might be a bit tipsy.
“Believe me, sweetheart, there is nothing I’d like more than to find out more about your dirty mouth. But you’ve been drinking, and I don’t want you to regret this tomorrow. I don’t want you to regret anything you do with me. Even this…whatever this is.”
Ivy sighed. “Fine. You’re probably right.”
“I think you should get some sleep.”
“Good night, Ethan,” she mumbled.
He imagined her mouth curving into a sleepy smile.
“Good night, Ivy.” But she’d already disconnected.
He let his head fall back against the cheap hotel headboard and sat in silence for a while, contemplating the day.
Dr. Chadna meant well, but Ethan was still only a player if he could actually play and Marshall always made sure he did just that, despite how much he belittled his supposed star pitcher.
The only silver lining to this shitshow and his throbbing leg was her. Ivy. Her laugh and that mouth. Dirty or not, Ethan let his mind wander to what he wanted to do to that mouth. The way he'd run his thumb along her plush lips or how they'd look around his—
A beep at the door whipped him back to reality, but the rest of him missed the memo, and he scrambled to adjust the thin hotel comforter over his lap, nearly toppling over again. He knew his face was red and guilty, but he’d pretend it was just from pain.
Derek dropped a bag onto the nearby desk, giving him a once-over. "Is... everything all right? You look like I caught you with your hand,” Derek paused, making pointed eye contact, “in the cookie jar.”
Ethan breathed a sigh of relief. He hadn’t noticed.
"No. I mean—yeah. Don't worry about me, dude. I'm good." Ethan wasn't good, and it had little to do with his knee, but he had no intention of telling Derek anything about his conversation with Ivy and definitely not about the erection he was currently concealing, especially since the man’s sister had caused it.
Fuck. Ethan was a mess.
"If you say so. You just look, I dunno. More uptight than normal." Derek wasn't wrong. Ethan knew his face was pinched. The vein in his forehead likely more prevalent than normal.
"Just tired. I'm gonna sleep." With that, Ethan abruptly clicked off his bedside lamp, hoping Derek might take a hint and not ask him anything else. And now that he thought about it, Ethan was tired.
So fucking tired of all of it.
Was this really what he wanted? After years of working his body past its limits, did he truly wantmoreof the same? His entire career had been that way, always working through pain. But what else could he do? Because running back to his family with his tail tucked between his legs wasnotan option. So, he’d play through the pain, physical or otherwise.
Because heshouldkeep going the way he always had—alone.
Ivy awoke to a tiny, warm body snuggled up against hers, and a headache. She cracked one eyelid to peer at Janna, whose sleep-tangled hair tickled Ivy’s nose. Gently, she smoothed Janna’s hair down and tucked the little girl’s head under her chin. She didn’t go back to sleep, but she appreciated the comfort of another person beside her, even if it wasn’t quite what she’d dreamed of waking up to.
The doorbell rang, and Ivy groaned as her headache split her head in two. Dragging herself out of bed, she tucked the blanket over Janna and headed to see who the hell needed her at such an ungodly hour.
Bleary-eyed, she looked through the peephole to see a delivery driver in a bright yellow uniform, so she peeked out, hiding her faded Star Wars pajamas behind the door.
“Ivy Johnson?”
“That’s me,” she said hoarsely.
“Got a delivery for you from Ethan Ford.” The driver handed over a large box and a cardboard drink holder.
Ivy took the box and drinks inside, and when she opened the box, she nearly swooned. Fresh-baked pastries. The scent of flaky, buttery crust and rich chocolate made her mouth water. The drinks in the carrier were marked as one coffee and two hot chocolates. Ivy was seriously considering making Ethan a real marriage offer if he sent her breakfast when they weren’t even…anything.
Maybe he sent breakfast to a lot of girls, though.
