Chapter 22
By the 4th round on the couch, Ivy had to stop him to get some rest. The man seemed to be some kind of machine and not having sex in so long means she just can’t keep up. So after trying to tell him to cease all sexual movements, within minutes she’s drifting off. Eli grins wickedly having exhausted his mate for now. Standing up on his tired legs, he hoists her petite body into his arms and takes to the stairs. It’s only at the top of the stairs that Eli realises he has no idea, behind which of the closed doors lies Ivy’s bedroom.
“2nd door to the right,” mumbles Ivy saving him from having to look through them all. He follows her instructions and lays her down onto the single bed. It’ll be cramped, he thinks, but it’s a lot better than the couch and besides, his mate doesn’t take up much room.
“You know, sex on the couch isn’t exactly what I had in mind for our special first time,” he mutters settling down beside her. Ivy doesn’t bother to open her eyes whilst responding with, “oh yeah? Then what were you expecting Romeo?”
“Well...after your bath, I wanted to walk with you in the park, grab some lunch as well. And then we’d go out for dinner in the evening at ‘The Picasso’ restaurant and when we’d get home, I thought I could lay out some rose petals on the bed and floor. And the whole room would only be lit up by vanilla candles,” explains Eli, because that is exactly what he’d had in mind until...well until there was that spanner in the works. He’d had to cancel the booking and the roses but the candles were all stored in his closet.
“Candles? Roses? Oh...wow, Eli that’s...incredibly sweet but that’s not me. I like simple, usually home-cooked food. And the candles? They would worry me. I’d be too nervous keeping an eye on them, making sure no invisible force pushes curtains or something onto them...Although, making love on a bed of petals would be cool. Except it’d be such a drag to clean it all up the next day,” mutters Ivy thwarting Eli’s entire idea.
Eli blinks in surprise, he’d never thought about it like that. Huh, he’d just wanted to make it romantic, not make it...specifically romantic, something he realises he just have thought about. Thank God, it hadn’t worked out.
“Do you always have to be so...practical?” grumbles Eli causing Ivy to laugh in response.
“Don’t feel bad! It was a sweet thought nonetheless,” Ivy tries to console him. To which he just grumbles a ‘yeah’ at.
Laughing lightly she kisses his cheek and settles her head against his chest.
“Now get some sleep. I expect star performance in a few hours,” she smirks against his skin. His chest rumbles in laughter as he wraps an arm around her shoulders and succumbs to sleep.
****
“E-Eli...okay, no more...At least not until I get some food. I feel like I’m going to faint,” pants Ivy gasping for breath as she flops against the mattress. Eli sits up the devious smirk still on his features.
“Yes, baby,” he smiles happily.
“So...how come you’re so flexible?” he asks trying to act nonchalant as he grabs a piece of hot bacon from the large plate. Ivy glances up at him smirking as she reaches for the knives and forks.
“Gymnastics. And then after, I just got into the routine of stretching after shifts at the diner. I never thought it’d come in handy though,” she shrugs placing the food onto the table.
“Oh yeah, it’s handy,” comes a quiet mutter causing Ivy to just laugh and shake her head. Eli pulls her by the waist onto his lap and plants kisses at her neck, her short hair tickling his nose.
They both dig into the large plate of food, famished from the night leading into day’s activities.
Eli and Ivy easily chat through brunch and placing down the empty coffee cup, Eli decides it’s time to give her insight into mating.
“Ivy...” he sings.
“Yes?” she chirps with a weary raise of her eyebrow.
“I wanted...I wanted to ask you for your permission to...”
“To...?” she repeats feeling confused. Is this about the diner?
“Well...to...basically...bite you,” he mumbles, knowing how strange that must sound to a human.
“Bite me? Eli...honey, I think it’s too late to be asking permission for that,” giggles Ivy referring to the hundreds of hickies he’s left all over her body.
Eli allows himself to chuckle a little as his lips take a mind of their own and lay a few more kisses at the soft skin of her lean throat. They just can’t seem to be able to cope with being lonesome for more than a few minutes.
“Ivy...I’m serious baby,’’ he mumbles back.
Ivy shuffles in his lap and twists around to full face him with her attention. His however seems to be elsewhere as her straddling either side of his hips has a certain part of him awakening yet again in desperation.
Eli tries to ignore his rising anatomy and instead tries to figure out how he can explain it without raising panic in his mate, who must be on the receiving end of the whole ordeal and while it will be pleasurable for him, the same cannot be said for Ivy.
“Okay...so you want to ‘bite me’? And why, pray tell, do you want to do that?” questions Ivy her arms slumped over his shoulders and back resting against the dining table.
“Well...it’s a werewolf thing,” shrugs Eli.
“Oh..really? Biting is a werewolf thing? I heard it’s more of a vampire thing?”muses Ivy trying desperately to hold in the chuckles by biting her lip.
“I’m not sure about vampires but during mating is the only time our canines can elongate and our wolf form mixes with our human form. What primarily happens is when we make love I can at any point in that allow my wolf form to collaborate with my human form and allow my teeth to change or I can suppress it.”
“Right...And you basically bite me with your sharp teeth while fucking me,” dryly states Ivy.
“Um...yeah, you’ve kind of summed it up there but I can only do that once and it only happens with my mate. Also it’s a lot more than that, Tinks. You see, the bite will...unite us in a whole different way-”
“Woah! Woah! Stop right there. This is starting to sound a whole lot like religious kind of bullshit and I do not do that. So whatever this ‘whole level’ thing is...I don’t want any part of it-”
“Ivy, no, wait! That’s not what I’m saying. I promise you’ll still be the same person after. It’s just that with the mark our love will only be stronger. I will only have eyes for you and you for me. And we will always find each other some way or other. Also with the mark, when...when our time comes to...leave this world, we do it together. Our fates join stronger. I don’t know how it works but it just...does. Now, it doesn’t matter if you believe that or not because that is what happens.
However...it is a huge commitment Ivy and...I don’t want to make that choice for you. I want you to want it too. Because you know, you will be shackled to me for the rest of your life, come rain or shine,” he smiles at the end, as always trying to make light of a grave issue.
“It will be torturous but I suppose for the good of the werewolf/human female race, I will have to endure it,” she teases back, the idea of a deeper bond between them thrilling her slightly. Her heart flutters lighter at the idea that they will be together for...well for their forever.
“Seriously, Tinks? You really want to be with me? You won’t leave me? Because if you do, you won’t be able to love another guy quite the same ever again and I don’t mean that in a big-headed kind of way, because it’s true,” he rambles making her sigh and shake her head.
“First you try talk me into it, now you try talk me out of it?” she mutters.
“No, no, I’m not trying to talk you into anything. That’s the point. I want you to be aware of the consequences both good and bad before you decide this,” Eli says defending himself.
“Okay, so...what do you want?” The question although she asks in an unwavering tone, is something that does ring alarm bells of her heart in her. What if he doesn’t want the same thing as she does? What if he doesn’t want to be ‘shackled to her’? What if he’s doing this again, for the sake of this whole ‘mate’ business?
“I want you. I want to be your last boyfriend, your last husband, your last everything. I don’t want anyone else like I want you, and I want the same from you. I want...I want things from you that scare me a little but in a good way.”
“Like what?” she whispers.
“Like marriage and kids and grandkids and...all the other kind of stuff that used to make me run for the hills,” he confesses.
Ivy ponders his words for a moment, the thought of marriage and kids being one she could imagine. Before Eli, it was never something she could happily dream of, but now the idea excites her, it makes her jittery and happy both at the same time.
“Believe it or not, I want that too. And I want it only with you. So I’ve got a few more questions about the whole biting thing.”
“Shoot.”
“Will it leave a mark? Does it hurt? Do you have to do it every time we have sex then?”
“It’s only a one-time thing, I swear. Um...yes it does hurt but it’ll only be for a moment and I promise I will make it up to you any way you want after! And it leaves a mark but only a slight scar, it’ll hardly be recognisable. To anyone other than a werewolf it’ll just look like any other scar but the enzymes injected in there will be life-long and it’ll be a warning sign for those wolves telling them that you’re not...available....But look, if you don’t want to this, it’s okay.”
“And if I do?” she challenges.
“Then...that’s amazing,” he grins back.
“Good...then it’s settled. Now, bite me so we can spend the rest of our lives together,” Ivy declares.
Eli gives mocking grin and teases her with, “Oh God; is it too late to back out now?”
“Much too late,” she snips back with a playful glare.
Ivy waits for the retort but his retort is not in words but rather in his actions. He grasps her sides and hoists her up onto a cleared space of the dining table. As Ivy squeaks in surprise, Eli takes the opportunity to whip off the only piece of clothing on her, which just so happens to be his t-shirt. Dropping that onto the floor, he drops his boxers and now naked, he settles himself at her entrance.
“Okay...last chance, Tinks” he sings, “ if you don’t want to be marked, now would be the last chance to say so.”
Ivy gives a groan at his questioning, a fleeting thought passing through her asking whether he’ll be like this at their wedding. Taking a leaf out of his own book, she uses her actions to convey her words, especially seeing as he won’t listen to her words. Her legs coil tighter around his hips and using her heels she uses all her force to jolt his hips into her, thus connecting them once again. Both release a moan of pleasure and as Eli’s eyes open to focus on her, Ivy smirks at him.
“Does that answer your question?” she rhetorically asks in a breathless tone. One of his hand grips at the back of her neck while his other hand grasps her thigh firmly.
“You realise you’ve just sold yourself to the devil?” he whispers back his voice seeming to drop an octave as his hips beat an easy rhythm.
Ivy digs her fingers into his shoulders as her breath hitches at the thumping pace. She can hear the table creaking under them, she can hear the sound of their bodies clashing, and she can hear her own soft moans but none of that seems to register in her mind. Instead her focus is on the almost sinful flames of pleasure pulsing through her and the feel of two sharp points grazing at her neck. She realises with a start that he wasn’t kidding when he said he basically grows fangs.
“And what a handsome devil he is,” whispers Ivy to Eli’s earlier question. The statement is just about squeezed in causing Eli to emit a soft rumble of chuckles before his teeth clench into the flesh of her throat.
Ivy forces her jaw shut and tries to withhold the scream of stabbing pain. Seconds later and as quick as the sharp agony had come it has just as quickly faded into a light throbbing. It’s only when he withdraws she feels another jolt before the pain disappears almost completely. The two pin-pricks ooze forth two drops of crimson blood which Eli quickly swipes away with a nearby napkin. Resting his forehead against hers he hikes her legs higher and gently urges her to lie flat onto the table.
“That’s it?” questions Ivy, “there are no other rituals? No human sacrifice?”
“Nope. That’s all there is to it....Of course, if you’re willing to offer yourself as my human sacrifice, I would be more than satisfied,” grins Eli.
“I’m pretty sure I’ve just signed up for that and I didn’t exactly offer as such for the honoured role,” teases back Ivy her arms swinging to the side wildly and a loud moan escaping her lips when Eli decides to pay her back for the remark in the form of a strong, deep lunge. Seconds later the moan is accompanied by the sound of plates smashing and cutlery clattering onto the tiled floor.
Eli can’t help but laugh boisterously as Ivy’s cheeks turn rosy with embarrassment.
“Want me to stop so we can clean that up?” he offers with the laughter dying down but the grin is still present.
“Stop now and you will be living in celibacy for a month,” she threatens, eyes fluttering close as she feels herself on the brink of yet another orgasm. Since last night, she’s lost count of the number of glimpses of heaven she’s had. It’s hard to believe that before him, she could count on one hand the number of times she’s had sex and of that it only requires one finger to show the amount of orgasms she’s had. Now, her whole body seems to constantly be throbbing and aching for the pleasure. Her lower reigns sore from the strenuous exercise and sudden use of muscles she’d never even known to be there before. But it’s something that Ivy doesn’t want to stop. It feels too damned good and she wants this one day. Just one day where she doesn’t have to worry, she doesn’t have responsibility or despair. No, just for today, Ivy wants to be with the man she loves, making love and just relaxing.
“ ‘A month’?” echoes Eli, “You can’t last a month...”
“Want to test that out?” retorts Ivy with a raise of her eyebrows. Eli regards her for a moment, trying to assess whether she’s serious or not. Ivy knows his answer though when his lips crash onto hers and he takes her for another ride of her life.
As morning sneaks up, Ivy blinks into consciousness. Her mind immediately flashing scenes of the day before, as her body aches and whines, vouching for all the hours of love making she’s been through. Still she wouldn’t change it for the world. It had been a glorious day. But that was yesterday. And yesterday is gone. Today...Today, mentally groans Ivy, she has things to do. She has work. She has to talk to her mother. She has to make last wishes come true and she has to check through their bank books, because it is unbelievable that all that money from Eli could have just so easily slipped into their accounts without Ivy knowing. Her mother must have another account she hasn’t told Ivy about, and she must have been slowly leaking small amounts of cash into their joint account so Ivy wouldn’t notice.
Before Ivy can ponder more about the hows and whys, a blond haired thick forearm drops onto her waist and its owner emits a soft snore. Sliding out of his hold, she pads into the bathroom and begins her morning routine.
It’s 8 o’clock when Eli strolls down in his crumpled boxers into the kitchen and to the smell of toast. Taking a seat opposite his mate he digs into the still warm food and thanks her for the cooked meal.
“So what are we doing today?” he chirps cheerfully. Truth is he wouldn’t mind another day like yesterday but judging by the fact Ivy’s already up and ready, it’s a wish that’s in vain.
“I need to go speak to mom first and then I’ve got work,” replies Ivy.
“Okay,” he nods, “I can take you to the hospital if you want. I need to go see my lawyers anyway.”
“Why? Is there something wrong with the club?”
“Oh no, it’s for the diner. I think it’s time I return it to its rightful owners,” he grins.
“Eli...you don’t have to do that. In fact, please don’t. It doesn’t feel right that you bought it from mom for such a high price and you’re just going to hand it over without wanting a cent,” mutters Ivy unsettled by his generosity. She’s not one to owe or be owed favours and she doesn’t particularly like this one, even if the person is Eli.
“Don’t be silly. It’s fine. I wasn’t going to do anything to it anyway. I want you to have it. Consider it a gift,” he insists.
“No. No, I’ll pay you back. I want to. I won’t let you just give it to me for free,” she retorts just as insistent and stubborn as him.
Eli just sighs and shakes his head. The woman has far too much pride.
“Fine...We’ll talk about this later,” he replies, allowing her victory to this battle.
“Thank-you and a ride to the hospital would be great,” nods Ivy in satisfaction.
“Do you want me to come inside or shall I wait in the car?” he asks.
“No...you can come up,” she replies, exiting the car and her mind focusing on what she’s going to say to her mother.
As they reach Dawn’s bedside, Ivy can see her mother looks worse than ever and as sad as it is for her to admit it, her mother probably doesn’t have long left. Still a weak smile is forced upon her weary features, seeing the arrival of her daughter and her daughter’s boyfriend.
“Ivy, Eli, this is a surprise...” rasps Dawn as she tries to push herself up into a sitting position. Ivy mutters her greetings and helps her mother. Eli too gives a grin in response and pulls up two chairs.
As Ivy takes a seat in one, she gives her mother a less than impressed look, which Dawn knows is her daughter’s scolding gaze.
“Eli told me about the diner,” states Ivy watching with a hardened heart as the guilt clouds her mother’s eyes.
“Oh...I suppose it was only a matter of time,” she mutters.
“Yeah, I’ll say...Were you ever going to tell me mom? Or were you just going to leave me in the dark as per usual? Hmm? What if it hadn’t been Eli? What then?” hysterically questions Ivy, her mind reeling of an alternative situation where she’d probably have found herself homeless and jobless as some rich tycoon would have seized their tiny diner and turned into some kind of 5 star hotel or something.
“Ivy...please, don’t be so dramatic. Everything’s fine. When I saw Eli’s your boyfriend, I knew that even if I couldn’t tell you, he would. Besides what does it matter now?” retorts her mother.
“See that’s your problem mom! Youdon’t take responsibility when things are tough, you just-you hand them over to someone else!-”
“Ivy-”
“No mom, you don’t get it, do you? You only think of your grief and your pain and your..Your everything. Like when dad died, you walked around like a zombie for months, trying to find your rhythm, your pattern, your routine and you just left...you left everything up to me. I was just a kid mom, one’s who’s dad just died and I couldn’t-I didn’t even have time to miss him properly. One day was all I got. His funeral. And after that day, I had to rush home after school and do shifts at the diner. I even skipped classes to work shifts, because you hadn’t sorted anyone out for them and those classes I missed, I had to stay up nights on end to catch up, to keep on top. But you didn’t know any of that did you? I never told you, I couldn’t tell you because...because you were finally okay for a bit. And then...the cancer came and...”Ivy breaks off and she drops her face into her palms and takes a few deep breaths, trying to keep down the tears and memories. From a tender age, Ivy had learnt that life....life is hard. But she’d always believed that there’d be a light at the end of the tunnel. That if you fight hard enough, if you bite strong enough, if you bear with the pain long enough, there’ll be a reward. She’s not sure what but she’s been chasing it since her father’s death and no matter what she’ll continue struggling until she gets her reward.
Eli’s as stunned as Dawn but he has no idea how he can help her with her past. All he knows is, it’s made her the strong woman she is and for that he’s proud of her. His hand rests on her back and he softly rubs that spot in hopes of providing some comfort for her.
“Sorry...I’m sorry mom. That was...way uncalled for. Let’s forget about all that, I shouldn’t have-I didn’t mean it. I know you do your best, I’m sorry-”
“Ivy, look at me,” softly calls Dawn as she timidly places her hand over Ivy’s, “I had no idea you dealt with so much. You would never say a word to me. You’d just...you’d just endure it. All of it. That’s something you got off your father by the way...And I’m sorry. I’m sorry for neglecting you like that in the past. I really am. And you’re right I was only thinking of my pain then but...but not with the diner, Ivy. That was for you.”
“Me? What do you mean, mom?”
“Honey...when, you got your college acceptance-”
“Oh mom! No! Tell me you didn’t sell it to pay for college!” cries Ivy with horror. She had said...she had said before that if they couldn’t afford it, Ivy wouldn’t go. But her mom had insisted they had enough. Ivy had been too happy about it then to grill her mom about costs.
“That was your dream. And your father wouldn’t have wanted for you to miss out on your dream. He would have done everything he could to make it come true, even if it meant sacrificing his dream.”
“Oh God...Mom,” sighs Ivy shaking her head, then taking a deep breath in she slowly exhales, before shrugging.
“Let’s..let’s forget about that. I mean, I can see why you’d do something like that, even if I wish you’d have talked to me about it first. But anyway...how are you feeling?” asks Ivy with a soft smile.
“There have been better days,” replies Dawn and then as the smile drops her eyes glaze with sadness.
“Honey, I don’t think I can fight much longer,” she whispers causing Ivy’s heart to crack and shatter.
“You will mom. You will. Just-”
“There’s nothing you can do, baby. And there’s nothing more I want from you. You’ve done so much for me and I want you to know I love you. I will always love you, Ivy, no matter what and I want you to be happy, okay?”
Ivy can only nod due to the large lump lodged in her throat.
“Alright...I’ll see you tomorrow, okay, sweetheart?”
Ivy nods again and places a gentle kiss at her mother’s cheek before rising from her chair. She slips her hand into Eli’s and turns to leave when her mother calls them back.
“Actually, Ivy, can I speak to Eli for a minute alone?”
Ivy gives a hallow nod and grasps the car keys Eli hands her.
“Finally alone at last, Dawn,” teases Eli softly as he takes Ivy’s seat next to her mother.
“Oh Eli...You are...You’re one of a kind. Listen, you need to promise me you’ll take care of her.”
“Dawn, I will always be there for her. I will always love her, I swear. Even when she’s being stubborn or particularly difficult, I will care for her.”
“Good because you are the kind of person she needs in her life, because I honestly think, she’s forgot what it’s like to have fun. You remind her that there’s more to life than just work.”
“Well, she’s..she’s good for me too. She keeps me...grounded you know and she challenges me,” shrugs Eli. What he really means is that she doesn’t put up with his crap, but saying that to Ivy’s mother seems a tad disrespectful.
“You both love each other, don’t you?”
Eli nods to that.
“Then make me this last promise-”
“Dawn, if it’s to do with Ivy, you don’t have to worry. I will keep her as happy as I possibly can.”
“Thank you. But I want you to promise me that you’ll marry her, someday, and once you’re married...promise me, you’ll never get a divorce.”
As if their connection could ever end with a divorce or breakup anyway.
“Done,” states Eli with a confident smile, knowing that that’s probably the easiest promise he’s ever made in his whole life. Besides that, it was exactly what he was planning on doing in the near future anyway.
“Thank you, sweetheart. You’ve made me a very happy woman.”
“I get that a lot,” smirks Eli and once witnessing Dawn’s raise of her eyebrow he adds, “or at least I used to. Now it’s only Ivy of course.”
A few whispers of chuckles part Dawn’s lips before she weakly adds, “just go you little rascal.”
Eli smiles broadly as he stands up. Then giving the woman a wave of his two fingers in a quick salute he bids her farewell and races to his car.
Ivy’s so lost in her own world that she only realises Eli’s back when the driver door clicks shut.
“So your mom and I had a nice chat abo-”Eli’s voice trails off as he shuffles to the side and realises his mate’s crying. To say he’s shocked would be an understatement. Ivy’s not much of a crier and to see her sit there wordlessly with head bowed down and tears flowing endlessly down her cheeks, is heart breaking for him.
“Tinks..Ivy...What is it?” he asks gently his hand hesitantly folding over hers.
“You heard her, Eli. She’s dying...She will...die,” quietly whispers Ivy staring at Eli’s hand over hers.
“How long has she got, Ivy? A year? A few months-”
“Days!...Hours!...I have to do something, Eli! You have to help me. Please! I am begging you, help me!” cries Ivy hysterically gazing up with her haunting hazy green eyes.
Eli closes his eyes momentarily whilst letting out a breath of air. Oh God...she’s gone into panic mode. Slowly easing her from her seat and onto his lap he gives her a long soothing edge before pulling away.
“Ivy, I can’t cure cancer,” he sincerely whispers to her, brushing back the locks of blonde hair handing at her forehead which has outgrown her hairstyle.
“I know but...but-can’t you do something? Can you not...bite her? Can you not turn her into a...werewolf?” begs Ivy.
“It won’t...it’s complicated. Regular werewolves can’t turn humans into werewolves. But as a Carter...my family-I...have the potential to...create a werewolf from biting them in wolf form but...”
“But what? You have to try...please, Eli, for me!”
“You don’t understand, Ivy...with your mother...it would kill her. Forgetting that there’s only a very slim chance I’ll be able to bite and release. The chance of a...a healthy, fit, male surviving is estimated to be less than 5%. The chance of survival for your mother...it’s near 0, sweetheart. And even if she does survive that, she may have to deal with the sickness of cancer her whole werewolf life. Of course, it won’t kill her but everything...associated with it; the fatigue, the weakness, the hair loss; she may have to live with that. Do you honestly want that for her? Is it not better to allow her to have her peace and...rest? Besides, I can’t- I won’t kill your mother, Ivy. I’m sorry...I can’t do that to her or...you,” explains Eli.
Sure he’s killed in wolf form, but they’ve always been animals and those animals were for food, not just for mindless murder.
Ivy gazes at him a second longer before breaking down into more tears as she snuggles her body into Eli’s for comfort.
They sit like that until Eli’s legs start cramping and Ivy’s tears stop flowing.
As Ivy slides into the passenger seat and buckles her seatbelt, Eli guns the engine.
“So...what did my mom want talk to you about?” she asks wiping the wetness of her cheeks with the back of her hand.
“Well, see I confessed my undying love to Dawn and...and she said that I should give you a chance. I protested, naturally! But, alas! My love for her is not only my strength but also my weakness and she made me promise to care for you instead. Of course, it won’t be the same but she assures me that you’re a worthy replacement,” teases Eli dramatically trying to act sincere. His tone and words have the desired effect and Ivy bursts into laughter.
“Eli, you’re unbelievable,” mutters Ivy still giggling.
“Thanks baby. But um, repeat that again to me tonight...in bed, okay?” smirks Eli which causes Ivy to gasp in disbelief at the request.
“Eli!” she calls in outrage as she tries to contain the chuckles.
“Hey! Where are we going? I’ve got work!” cries Ivy as they drive past the diner.
“Not today, you haven’t. Arrange somebody to cover your shift, you need today off,” replies Eli demanding rather than asking.
“Eli, I’m fine. Really, I’m good to work today,” she softly whines knowing that he’s only trying to look out for her and as sweet as that is, it’s not necessary.
“Since when did you start lying to me? You’re not fine at all. You can allow yourself today off. In fact, take the rest of this week off. Put it under holiday or something. I bet you have all your holiday’s left, right?” retorts Eli pressing the matter further.
Ivy rolls her eyes and mutters, “well..I don’t need holidays.”
“Ivy,” calls Eli warningly causing her to sigh and throw her arms up in exasperation.
“Really, Eli, it’s not necessary.”
“Yes it is. It’s necessary to me. I care about your welfare, both emotional and physical therefore, you are taking this day off Ivy and we can go do something fun or talk or something. But you’re not working today.”
“...Really?”
“Really. In fact, as your boss I demand you take the day off,” teases Eli knowing that she’s relenting.
“ ‘As my boss’, huh?! Wow, I thought you didn’t want anything to do with the diner,” calls Ivy astonished.
“Well I didn’t want to play that card but...desperate times call for desperate measures. Besides, I still don’t want anything to do with the diner. You on the other-hand...are a different matter altogether.”
“Okay, okay, fine! If I can sort someone out to cover my shift then I’ll take the day off, otherwise I’m going in.”
“That’s good enough for me,” he whistles, pausing the car outside of her house so she can hop out. Promising to meet her later when he can change into some new clothes, Eli drives back to his own apartment.