"I want some pasta." I grumble as Astryd and I walk into Blake's office.
"I can get you something from the kitchen if you're hungry." He offers not looking up from the papers on his desk.
"Nah I'll get something when I leave." I take a starburst from the his glass bowl before plopping down on his office couch, and Astryd lands down beside me.
"You working today?" He ask and I nod unwrapping the candy
"I'll be leaving early too because I have an early dental surgery on a Maine Coon tomorrow." I add.
"Fortunately today is a short night because I have some business to go over with the boss, so Astryd you'll be going on stage once tonight at twelve."
"Okay, sir." She saids smiling.
Blake lets out a exasperated sigh, ignoring her words, "And your favorites customer's here, paid for a private dance," He adds.
Her smiles brightens, "Jesse?" Blake nods at her question and she walks out the room.
I groan getting up from the couch, "I'mma go to the bar." I said pulling down the hem of my sage green body con dress.
I walk out the office adjusting the gold, dainty waist chain that was loosely sitting on hips, the accessory matched my golden hoop earrings and my gold pendant necklace.
"Hey, Sonny." I greet Tyson as I walk behind the bar.
"Hey, Ives." He said as he fixes a drink.
"How was your week?" I ask leaning against the counter taking an orange wedge.
"Good, went on this date, and I—"
I gasp, "You went on a date!? With who? When Where?"
He laughs at my excitement w blush coming to his cheeks, "Her name is Esmai, we went out on Thursday to this nice Italian restaurant."
"And?" I ask intrigued.
"And I like her, a lot. She's intelligent, beautiful, really into Greek mythology, and some more stuff but I'm not gonna get into that." He smiles.
"Aww, you're blushing." I exclaimed tugging his arm.
"Stop." He grumbles.
"What's wrong with Ty? Why's his face red?" Astryd ask sitting down at the bar stool.
"Sonny went on a date!"
She gasp a smile springing to her lips, "Really!? Who was she?"
Tyson groans, "You guys act as if I never been with a girl."
I shake my head, "It's not that. We just think it's adorable." I coo pinching his cheeks.
He swats my hand away, "Thanks."
The rest of the night I worked for another four hours before leaving around twelve, and since I was trying to hurry and get to bed Tyson gave Astryd a ride to her place.
Now I was driving down the road on a rainy night talking to my sister in the phone.
"Abuela said she wants you to visit." I say looking ahead through the wet windshield and it's wipers.
"I'll visit during spring break, but you know I have to bring the bodyguard with me." She replies.
"Bodyguard?" I ask confused.
"Hey, Ivy." I hear August, her boyfriend, mutter lowly.
"Isn't his school like two hours away?" I asked, confused on how he's in my little sisters dorm.
"Yeah, but he insists on dropping by every other weekday, and he stays the weekend. I told him to stop because he's acting like gas grows on trees." She explains.
"I didn't see her for a week yesterday." August voices with displeasure.
"A week?" My brows furrowed as I take a turn down a street.
Delani sighs, "It was just a day. He's exaggerating."
"Felt like week." I hear him grumble.
"His concept of time is different from ours, must come with the delusion." She mutters.
"Two for one type deal." I add in.
"Can't forget the separation anxiety." She adds chuckling.
I hear August exclaim, "Don't start double teaming."
"Sorry, baby." I hear lightly laugh as she apologizes before asking, "How's California?"
I nod my head even though she couldn't see me, "It's been good, just got from the club, but there's this one dude who just irks me."
"What he do?"
"He's rude, annoying, sore ass loser, and whenever I walk by him he stay tripping me." I complain.
She hums, "Mhm, sounds like a third grader who has a crush."
"Now you and Astryd getting on my nerves." I groan, turning my steering wheel, taking a left.
"Wha— Augs, stop it. You're giving me a toothache." She giggles.
"Did you just giggle?"
"Yeah, it's this weird thing August makes me do from time to time." She complains as if giggling was a burden.
"One of my greatest accomplishments." I hear him in the background.
Commotion can be heard from the other line before Delani's voice jumps back in, "Uh, Ives Imma have to call you later."
I don't even reply as I hang up the phone muttering, "Nasty."
I play music on my radio as I continue my drive for five minutes before I see a car pulled over with it's hazard lights on and a silhouette standing outside in the rain.
As I get closer the figure becomes more familiar and I have to squint my eyes trying recognize who it was through the rain.
I sigh before stopping next to figure rolling down my window, "You need a ride, Carver?" I ask out of the kindness of my heart.
He turns towards me at the sound of my voice and the displeasure on his voice speaks volume, "No. I got it."
"Okay." I drive off.
I turn my radio back on driving to the end of the road and taking a left, singing to the songs, I do this action two more times before I'm back where Carter car was parked.
I let my window down, "Get in the car."
He turns to me, "I said—"
"Bruh, I don't care what you said. Get in the car." I roll my eyes unlocking the car.
He looks as if he was debating his options before running a hand down his face and turning to his car.
I huff at stubbornness, but then he gets something from his car then getting into mine.
He was soaking wet. His usually neatly comb hair was free covering his eyebrows exposing his small wave pattern, the white button up was drenched and see through sticking onto his body outlining the ridges of his abs and chest.
I look away before he could notice me admiring him in this different state.
"You gonna call someone to get your car?" I ask driving off.
"They'll get it in the morning."
"That's if someone doesn't steal it first." I note.
"A tire blew out." He saids, no interest in conversation.
I just nod turning on the heater to warn him up a bit, and the radio to fill this void of silence.
Driving I was wondering how long for him to realize I don't have his address as I drive to one of my favorite places to get me some pasta.
"Are you serious?" He scoffs.
"Deadly." I said handing the employee my money.
"I'm freezing my ass off and you're ordering food?" He exclaims.
"Ain't nobody tell you to stand out in the rain and you didn't give me your address, so please shut up." I say kindly.
"You didn't ask." He glares at me.
"Wow." I drawl out.
"What?" He ask.
"I didn't think you were this level of stupid, but you proved me wrong." I shake my head grabbing my food thanking the employee before driving off. "I thought it was universally known to tell people giving you a ride your destination." I voice.
"Well I was too distracted being cold and drenched."
"Well you can stay distracted while I eat." I said parking the car in the restaurants parking lot.
"Are you fucking serious?"
"No I'm kidding," I said pulling out some fries from my bag, "and watch your tone."
"Don't tell me what to do."
I know fries aren't the healthiest but there's very little salt and I got a small.
I was gonna start the car when I saw a small blob moving next to the dumpster. I gasp opening the car door.
"What're you doing!?" Carter looks at me with wide eyes.
"Wait here." I said grabbing my coat from the backseat.
"You expect me to sit and wait like a dog?" He said outrageously.
I shake my head with a nice smile, "No, I would never leave a dog in the car." I scoff.
Before rushing to side of the dumpster and my heart clenches when I see the shivering puppy curled on the pavement.
I slowly use my coat to pick the puppy up before rushing to my car.
"What the hell is that?" Carter brows furrowed with his eyes trained on the still puppy in my arms.
"We need to get to the clinic." I said ignoring his question and starting the car.
•••••••
"You go change and get out those wet clothes. I think we got some extra scrubs in the back." I said to Carter as I rush to on of the checkup rooms.
I grab my stethoscope from my purse, putting the plugs in my ears and placing the other end over the puppy's heart.
Come on.
I let out a breath of relief when I hear a thumb echo through my ears and then again, "You scared me, little man." I mutter.
A few moments later I hear the sounds of footsteps walk into the room. I look up and a feeling of nervousness formed in my stomach.
His hair was now damp, his hair fanning over his forehead, and he was shirtless with scrub bottoms on. My eyes follow a drop of water that drips from his locks to his bare chest following the ridges of his abs.
Taking a deep breath I turn my attention away from the man that was making me feel as if he would trigger my arrhythmia.
"Spider-Man? Really?" He raises an eyebrow.
I glance down at my stethoscope, "Is there any other option?" I swaddle the shivering puppy in a blanket.
"Plenty." He nods.
"Like?" I ask.
"Transformers, Deadpool, and others I can think of right now." He said.
I hum, "Each to their own." I walk from behind the checkup table and towards him offering him the swaddle pup, " Can you hold him real quick?"
I got too hot in the zip up jacket I found in my backseat. Removing the jacket I set aside going over to my purse grabbing my claw clip and lazily put my curls up.
He hesitates before carefully taking the small animal from my arms and into his, "Do you rescue strays often?"
Then I catch his eyes watching me, following my movements, it felt as if he could see through my sage dress with the way he's so focused on my body.
I ignore it.
"When I get the chance, but never got two strays in one night. Tonight's the first." I smirk my eyes catching his.
A small smile blooms to my lips when he glares at me.
Carter's POV
I glare at her.
I've been doing it so long whenever I'm with her it seems like it's all I know how to do, and when I catch myself admiring her subconsciously I loathe her even more.
She seems so unfazed by everything I throw her way, it annoys me. I want her to be discouraged to the point she can't look me in the eye and insult, talk back to me, or order me to do something.
I hate how she does it like it's a second nature, like I'm irrelevant. I know I'm not and I know she knows I'm not.
I catch her staring at me, even if it only last a few seconds, but I see her.
The small animal in my arm shuffles in the blanket cocoon she made for the small, brown and white French bulldog.
I glance at her from across the room, dressed in that skin tight, green dress with matching beads sitting on her hips and her long loose curls pinned up.
Her thick thighs were half exposed below the hem of her dress and her figure was prominent with that dress. What was she doing late out in a dress so enticing?
Closing my eyes I found myself wishing she was ugly, hideous, it would make resenting her more easier.
She walks out the room before coming back with my clothes neatly folded and she sets them in the chair next to me.
Standing in front of me, she checks on the puppy and she smiles, "He's warmed up. Let's go so I can take you home." She said taking the puppy and grabbing her purse leaving me in the room.
If she didn't have that dog I would've tripped her.
I grab my clothes, and i throw on my now dry shirt; though the pants and jacket were still damp. I get into her car and she looks at me expectingly.
I give her my address and she sends me a knowing look, "See it wasn't that hard." She mutters.
"Shut up."
When she pulls up to my house she raises her eyebrows at the large property set on six thousand acres.
She stops outside the gate, "What's the code?"
I didn't want to give it to her but I had no fucking choice, "zero, five, twenty-four, eight, nine."
"That's your birthday?" She asked pressing in the pin and the keypad buzzes as the gates roll open and she drives through.
"Yes." I confirm.
"You're thirty-three?" She asked.
"Yes." I answer. How old is she?
"We're six years apart." She notes aloud. Twenty-seven.
"I did not ask." I state and she scoffs as she parks in front of my house.
I try open the door but it was lock. I turn to he glaring, once again, "Open the damn door, Ivy."
She raises an eyebrow, "No. Say thank you, and I'll let you out."
There she go demanding shit.
"Ivy." I clench my jaw gritting through my teeth.
"Carver." She raises an eyebrow.
I did not have to listen to her. I will not. Why should I? She holds no power over me and she is insane if she thinks otherwise.
IFive minutes passed I haven't said anything and she hasn't made any move to unlock the door. This was stupid and childish.
"Thank you." I murmur lowly.
"I'm sorry, what? Could you speak up?" She feign confusion, and I run my tongue along the inside of my cheek in annoyance.
"Thank you." I say a little louder as if pained me because it did.
"For?" She teases leaning against the console.
I can smell a whiff of her perfume, since she's a foot away from me. I didn't like how good she smelt. She smelt so good.
"You are pushing your limit." I tell her, and she laughs unlocking the door.
I grab my stuff slamming the door close as I exit the car and she honks the horn soon as I was at my front door.
"Slam my door again and I'll turn this mansion into ash, Carver!" She yells.
I ignore her walking into my house and I lock the front door behind me. I throw my stuff on the counter and a small box falls from between my pants and suit jacket.
Picking up the box I open it to find a small baby sunflower.
She's taunting me.
I walk to the trash can and get ready to throw away the yellow flower when I see writing inside the box.
Plant the damn flower, and don't throw it away. It's my favorite. You need some positivity anyways.
-Ivy.
Why would she give me a flower? Doesn't matter I don't need it. I hover the flower over the trash can.
But I shouldn't take out my distaste for her out of the flower. Sighing I begrudgingly close the trash can and grab a glass cup.
I fill it with water. I'll leave it here until I can by a pot and some soil tomorrow.
••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
<3🌧️🌙🐾🌻