Page 36 of Raising Love
“Earth to Ivy,” Leo’s voice cut through my thoughts.
I turned to find him staring at me, an amused expression on his face.
“Where the hell did you go?” he asked with a laugh.
I chuckled, shaking my head. “I was just thinking about the baby.”
His brows furrowed slightly.
“His colic,” I clarified. “And whether the Simmons will?—”
“They’ve got it,” Leo interrupted with a snicker. “They have way more experience with babies than we do.”
“I know, but they’re older, and?—”
“They’ve got it,” he repeated, cutting me off again. Then, grinning mischievously, he reached over and took my head in his hands, giving it a playful shake. “Clear that head of yours. Empty it just this once.”
I shoved him away, emphasizing it with a glare, which only made him laugh harder.
“Tonight is about fun,” he said, his tone lighter as he settled back into his seat. “Reconnecting to baby-less Leo and Ivy. Let’s enjoy it. Let’s get it!”
The streets of Manhattan buzzed with energy as our driver pulled up near the venue’s private entrance. The vibrant lights of midtown seemed to reflect the excitement building inside me.
Perks of being friends with an NBA player meant we bypassed the lines and went straight to the standing area by the stage. It was prime real estate for the concert, and as soon as I stepped into the arena, the familiar thrill of the Back in the Day Bash washed over me.
The DJ was spinning 90s classics while the crowd eagerly awaited the acts. I could feel the pulse of anticipation in the air, but something was missing.
Kendra.
Her absence was glaring, and for a moment, the joy of the evening dimmed.
“Here,” Leo said, pulling me out of my thoughts.
He handed me a clear plastic cup filled with a bright orange-yellow drink, ice cubes floating on top.
“What is it?” I shouted over the music.
He leaned close, his breath warm against my ear. “Tequila sunrise.”
I couldn’t help but grin. “Why would you give me tequila when you know tequila and I don’t mix?”
“Because,” Leo said, raising his voice to be heard over the music, “you need to loosen up tonight. Get your mind right.” He brought the tequila sunrise closer to me with a knowing smirk. “Take it, toss it back, and let’s get live, Ivy League.”
I clicked my tongue, unable to stop the smile forming on my lips. As much as I hated that nickname when he first started teasing me with it, hearing it now softened my mood.
It didn’t take long for the combination of one tequila sunrise and two shots of tequila to melt away my reservations. Sad thoughts floated to the back of my mind, replaced by a warm buzz and a surge of uninhibited energy.
The arena pulsed with the bass of 90s R&B, and I let the music take over, swinging my hips and losing myself in the moment.
For the first time in what felt like forever, I was truly having fun again.
Leo and I danced like we had at every concert we attended over the years. When Kendra and Tyrell were with us, they’d always pair off. On nights like those, Leo was my default dance partner whenever I wasn’t dancing with a stranger. And he was good—great, even. For someone who towered over me, his rhythm was impressive, and he could always keep up with the beat.
Everything was perfect—until it wasn’t.
As the intermission began, the DJ spun Groove Theory’s “Tell Me,” and it hit me like a freight train.
The song was ours, Kendra’s and mine. We’d sing it together, off-key but full of joy, every time it played. It was a staple of this concert, a moment we always shared. Hearing it now brought those memories rushing back, too powerful to resist.
