Page 56 of The Holiday Honeymoon Switch
Ivy takes another bite and ruminates as she chews. “The ‘you only live once’ thing—I guess that’s why I make time, every year, for what I love to do.”
“Your art.”
Ivy nods.
“But you don’t feel you could make time for it more?”
“I just don’t see a future in it.”
“You mean, financially?”
“I guess so. Like I said, I’ve always craved stability, and art…it’s never stable.”
“Has meeting Ollie made you feel differently about that?”
Ivy freezes with her wineglass halfway to her mouth. “What do you mean?”
Larry holds Ivy’s gaze. “You know what I mean. The chemistry between you two is palpable. My hair gets frizzy justbeing near you. I sent you off camping together, but you clearly haven’t gotten it on yet. What’s wrong with you?”
Ivy can’t help but laugh. “Trust me, I want to, okay? But I always promise myself that these art trips are for art only. It’s important to me. And…” She hesitates. Should she be talking to Larry this way about Oliver, her best friend? But Ivy feels a sense of trust, so she continues.
“When I first met him at the hotel bar, I thought he was just some fun-for-now guy. But he’s not—he’s talented, and serious about his work. Plus, he’s kind, and smart, and…I like him a lot.”
“Why do I feel like you think this is a problem, that Ollie is a better guy than you thought he was? You two, you’re like”—she claps her hands together, then clasps them as if in prayer—“kismet.”
The fact that Oliver’s best friend is saying this fills Ivy with a warm buzz, but she still tries to fight it. “I don’t know about that…”
“I sent you out into the wilderness together, the chemistry zinging between you like you’re a pair of science lab beakers, and you…what? Just kiss?”
“How did you know?”
Larry laughs. “He told me, of course. We tell each other everything. Hope that’s okay.”
“Yeah, of course. I tell my best friend everything, too—although I haven’t told her about Oliver yet.”
“What are you so afraid of?”
Ivy tries to explain it. “I have no problem getting physical with the men I meet. I think sexcanjust be for fun—and I’ve had a lot of fun over the years, always on my own terms. But with Oliver…” She trails off, thoughtful again.
“It wouldn’t just be for fun, necessarily.”
“Right.”
“And that’s a problem because?”
“Well, because I only have a week or so left with him. Plus, my art. I wanted to focus on other things. All this—” She waves her hand in a circle, trying to encompass the little table, the beach, the ocean, the sky. “It has an end point.”
“In my experience, life is what you make of it. You can do anything you want, Ivy.You’rein charge. You can have love, and sex, and art. You can have it all.” She lifts her glass. “And by the way, Ivy, I promise: Everything you just said is sacred, I will not repeat it to Ollie. You have my word. I’ll stop pushing my views onto you and let you enjoy the time you have here. More enchilada?”
“Yes,please.” She smiles. “I can see why he’s best friends with you, Larry. You’re kind of amazing.”
She winks as she serves Ivy more food. “I know,” she says lightly.
Larry’s phonebings, and she picks it up, reads the text, and smiles. “That’s Shira, telling me how excited she is to see me tomorrow.”
“I’m looking forward to meeting her.”
“I’ve told her all about you. She’s keen to meet you, too. We’re going to have so much fun. On Christmas Eve, there’s a lu‘au down at the beach by the hotel. Everyone goes. You have to come, obviously. Amazing food, dancing, you’ll love it.”
