Page 9 of Ajax

Stacy gapes, and Ivy moves closer.

“You’re so rude,” Stacy says.

“You’re the rude one. If you had a problem with him, you could have been nicer about it. But no, you’re just being a bitch. You need to leave.”

Stacy huffs, but Ivy’s right on the money. I know my scars intimidate people, but I don’t need to be told they’re there.

She’s been done wrong by my friends, but she won’t even give me the chance to apologise.

One thing’s for sure—this date is a bust.

“Where’s your manager?” Her nostrils flare as her gaze flicks between me and Ivy. Am I supposed to come to her rescue? Fucked if I know.

Ivy points at the bar where Mitchell’s smirk sums this whole situation up. “He’s right there.”

“If Ivy says you’re out, you’re out.” Mitchell doesn’t hesitate.

Stacy glares at me. “I’m your date. Are you going to let them throw me out?”

I shrug. “Seems to me that you don’t want to be here.”

She stands up, her chair scraping across the wooden floor as she pushes it out.

I grimace.

“I’ve never been so insulted in all my life.”

“Hang around,” says Ivy. “I’m sure I can come up with more.”

Stacy glances at me, turns, and then storms out the door into the carpark.

Ivy dusts her hands together.

“Well, aren’t you a little firecracker?”

She tilts her head, her cheeks dimpling as she smiles. “I think today has to be the most you’ve ever spoken to me.”

“I’m a man of few words.”

Ivy’s smile widens. “I’m a woman of too many. I’m sorry if you actually wanted her here, but she was so rude.”

I shrug. “It was a mess from the start. I didn’t really want tobeon a date.”

Her brows draw together. “You don’t seem the type to do what you don’t want to. Why were you here?”

“Digby and Cookie set it up. I couldn’t contact her to tell her not to come.”

Ivy shakes her head. “Those two are dangerous together.”

I snort. “Tell me about it.”

She chews her bottom lip.

Why couldn’t they set me up with Ivy? She’s gorgeous, and she’s never recoiled or treated me badly. This is the longest conversation I’ve had with her, but it’s comfortable and that doesn’t come easy to me.

“I’ll get back to work. Wave me over if you need anything else,” she says softly.

I nod. Part of me wants to get out of here—the scene that just happened is humiliating. But at the same time, I can’t just tuck tail and run. At least it’s reasonably quiet in here with just a handful of locals.

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