Page 91 of Ink Me Three Times
"Hey, Ivy," he drawls as he reaches us. “Good to see you.”
I try to mask the flutter of nerves, but Olivia’s watching the exchange with the kind of interest that makes me want to disappear under the bar. She sips her drink nonchalantly, but the gleam in her eyes tells me she’s all too aware of what’s going on between Mitchell and me.
"Hey, Mitchell," I say, trying to sound casual, but my voice betrays me, coming out quieter than I intended. “I’m just out with Olivia, my friend.”
Mitchell gives her a small, crooked smile, the kind that’s more enigmatic than anything else. “Mind if I join you?”
Olivia doesn’t even wait for me to respond before she gives him a wide grin. “Oh, please do,” she says with a teasing glint in her eyes. “I have alotof questions.”
Mitchell’s smile deepens, clearly sensing the tension. He’s either oblivious or deliberately choosing not to acknowledge it. I can’t decide which one makes my heart race more.
I force a smile, trying to calm the surge of emotion running through me. “It’s not like there’s a lot of options for seating.”
“Well, youdohave the best seats in the house,” he says, his gaze flickering between me and Olivia, clearly intrigued by her energy. He takes a seat next to me, leaning back casually, as if we’ve known each other forever.
Olivia leans in, not missing a beat. "So, Mitchell," she says, a sly smile tugging at the corner of her lips. "What’s your story? How long have you been in Coyote Glen?”
Mitchell chuckles, his expression almost wry. “I’ve never been anywhere else.”
“I see. And you have the tattoo shop, right?”
I glug more of my drink.
This is going to be a long night…
The night’s cold slaps me as we step out of The Hollow God knows how many hours later, and I instantly regret not bringing a jacket.
I pull my arms tight around myself, my fingers digging into the soft fabric of my sweater like it’s a life raft.
The air smells like pine and damp earth, like it’s trying to remind me I’m still in the middle of nowhere.
Olivia, on the other hand, is practically skipping, her usual energy ramped up to an impossible level.
“So,Mitchell,” she says, drawing the word out like it’s some kind of forbidden fruit. “I have to admit, he’s my favorite for you.”
I let out a groan, turning away from her as I begin walking down the dark path. “Do you think that might be because you were drinking while talking to him?”
“Maybe.” She shrugs. “But I like hisalphadominant side. Nothing like your ex. I think he could be good for you.”
I try to hold it together, but I can feel my cheeks burning. I think it’s the wordalphathat does it, like she’s just pointed out something I’ve been trying to ignore.
“You make it sound like it’s straightforward. Don’t forget, it’s not.”
“I know, and don’t get me wrong, Timothy is very sweet and I love Freddie’s fun loving energy, but if it were up to me, Mitchell’s the one I would pick for you.”
I groan with frustration. “But what if he isn’t? What if I make the wrong choice and mess it all up?”
Olivia sighs, her hands tucked into her coat pockets, her voice soft. “There’s no such thing as a perfect choice, Ivy. You’re always going to second guess yourself, but you can’t sit in limbo forever. You’re smart, you’ll figure it out. Just stop pretending like you’re not scared. It's okay to be scared, but you can’t let that control everything.”
I stop walking for a second, letting her words sink in. Scared. I’m terrified, actually. Terrified of what will happen if I pick one and lose the others. Terrified of how this will affect my brother, my life, my heart.
I keep walking, my voice barely above a whisper. “I just don’t want Jesse to find out. He’ll flip. He’ll never understand.”
“Jesse’s not the problem here,” she says, and when I look at her, her expression is firm. “You can’t live your life in fear of what other people think. Not him, not anyone. This isyourlife, Ivy. You have to figure out what you want, what makesyouhappy. That’s all that matters.”
I roll my eyes, the weight of everything pressing down on me like a physical burden. “If only it were that straightforward. If only I knew just what to do…”
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
