Page 29 of Playing for Keeps
CHAPTER NINE
Wyatt
It’s Saturday night, and I’m in the back of an Uber heading to Eden to meet up with everyone. I haven’t seen or spoken to Ivy since Wednesday, even though I’ve come close to messaging her more than once. The truth is, I can’t wait to see her.
When the car pulls up outside Eden, I take a deep breath and climb out. It’s ridiculous, but I feel like a high school kid again, completely gone for a girl who might not even see me that way.
“Hey!” a voice calls. “You going in or just standing there all night?”
I glance over my shoulder to see Nash and Paisley walking up Main Street toward me.
“Hey,” I say, meeting them halfway. “I just got here.”
“Perfect timing. First round’s on you.” Nash grins, clapping me on the back.
I laugh and pull him in for a quick hug before pressing a kiss to Paisley’s cheek. “You have impeccable timing.”
Paisley smirks. “Please. Like Seb ever lets either of you pay for a drink in Eden.”
“She’s not wrong,” Nash says. “Being related to the bar owner has its perks.”
We head toward Eden, and I roll up the sleeves of my shirt, trying to shake the nerves twisting in my gut. Nights like this are nothing new. We’ve done this countless times, but something about tonight feels different. And even if it shouldn’t, I know exactly why.
Ivy.
Inside, Nash and Paisley peel off toward the bar, but I hang back for a second, my eyes scanning the room.
Then I see her.
She’s standing with Ash, laughing at something, her head thrown back and her eyes sparkling. That laugh stirs something warm in my chest. And then I see the dress. Short, black lace that makes her curves look incredible. My eyes track lower to the heels, to those legs, and I swear under my breath. She looks stunning.
“Hey!” Ash calls out, spotting me and waving me over.
Ivy turns to see what caught her attention, her smile lighting up when our eyes meet. That familiar pull tightens in my chest, the one I’ve been trying to ignore since the charity auction. I smile back and make my way over.
“Hey,” I say, leaning in to kiss both of them on the cheek, saving Ivy for last and letting it linger just a second longer than I should. I can’t help it. She smells incredible, and stepping away feels like a small kind of torture.
“I’m heading to the bar,” Ivy says, her eyes flicking to mine. “I owe you a drink.”
I grin. “You don’t owe me anything.”
She shrugs. “I’m getting you one anyway, so you might as well tell me what you want.”
I chuckle. “A beer sounds good,” I tell her, knowing full well no one behind the bar is going to make her pay. “I’ll come and give you a hand.”
“I’ll go and find everyone,” Ash says. “Grab Tay and me another vodka, Ivy?”
She nods and makes her way to the bar. I fall in step behind her, doing my best to keep my eyes on anything but the way that dress clings to her hips, and I fail miserably.
When we reach the bar, it’s packed, so I stand behind Ivy, probably closer than I should. She turns slightly, peeking over her shoulder at me with a grin.
“I’ve been looking at some listings for you,” she says, leaning in so I can hear her over the noise.
I catch myself staring at the soft line of her neck before forcing my eyes back to her face. “You have?”
She nods, amusement flashing in her eyes. “You did ask me to be your realtor, remember?”
I smile, a little slower this time. “I remember. Did you find anything?”
