Page 25 of Trust Fall
“What, no coffee?” Cleo joked over her shoulder, as she got up and made her way over to the truck.
Ivy let out a sigh of relief at how their easy banter had picked up in person, right where they’d left off in their messages. She had worried that she would have been as bashful in person as she had been when Cleo had come into the shop over the last couple of weeks.
Ivy continued removing lids from the food containers as she waited on Cleo returning with their drinks. As far as her first-ever first date was going, she felt like she was off to a pretty good start.
Chapter 23
Cleo
“Ican’t believe you thought garlic mushrooms cooked last night would fair well by lunchtime today... they’re so... pungent!” Cleo got out between gasps of breath through her laughter.
“In my defense,” Ivy reached up and wiped a tear from her eye with the back of her hand, “I was trying to come up with some veggie options as I didn’t know if you were vegetarian or veganor anything because I forgot to ask, so wanted to make sure you had more available to you than carrot sticks, fruit and crackers if you were.”
“Well, I’m glad we got the lid back on it as quickly as we did, but I don’t hold out much hope for you being able to save the container to use again for anything else. I’d say the smell is really in there to stay.” Cleo laughed.
She couldn’t remember the last time she’d laughed this hard, or this often, since she was a kid. As anxious as she had been about going on this date, her first since... well, she just couldn’t get over howeasyit was to spend time with Ivy.
“OK then, Miss Food Police, did the rest of my offerings meet your date standards?” Ivy raised an eyebrow and slightly quirked her head to the side, as she smirked at her.
“Solid eight out of ten,” Cleo replied, desperately holding back a snigger.
“Only eight? What did I lose two points for?” Ivy placed her fists on her hips and scowled in the cutest attempt at being fake angry Cleo had ever seen.
“Well, you forgot drinks so that dropped you a point, and then the mushrooms were undoubtedly the other. In fact,” Cleo paused as she tried desperately to force a blank expression on her face, “I should deduct an extra one for the mushrooms, because they truly were a questionable choice.”
Ivy narrowed her eyes, but the twitch at the side of her mouth told Cleo everything she needed to know. The pair burst out laughing and reached for a drink of their water to help give them time to recover.
“I always think it’s cringy when I see this in movies, and people ask about work on a first date like it’s what defines the person, but I’ve known Lana for three years and I genuinely have no idea what either of you do.” Ivy said.
Cleo thought the statement odd for a few reasons, but she couldn’t help but ask the main one that caught her attention most. “Wait, what do you mean when you see it in movies? Surely you mean on dates you’ve been on too?”
The blush that flashed on Ivy’s neck and cheeks almost immediately added to Cleo’s confusion.
“Well,” Ivy looked down, suddenly deeply fascinated by the contents of the container in her hand, and began slowly, “the reason I said in movies, is because, you see, I’ve never actually been on a date before.”
Cleo couldn’t help but smile softly at the honesty and vulnerability in Ivy’s unexpected answer. “Never?” She asked as gently as possible, not wanting to put pressure on Ivy to expand on her answer but just needing confirmation that she’d heard her correctly.
Ivy seemed to give her answer great consideration for a while, and just as Cleo was about to change topic and answer her question about what Cleo did for work, Ivy took a quick and deliberate breath and let it out slowly before answering, still looking down at the food.
“I didn’t have the best experience coming out, and I just found it easier to,” Cleo could see Ivy deciding what word to use until she finally continued, “compartmentalize my life, somewhat. Which, for me, meant keeping my emotions and sex completely separate. Or rather, honestly, not dealing with emotions at all.” Ivy exhaled in a nervous laugh. “If I didn’t know the person, they couldn’t hurt me.” She sat the container back down on the blanket. “It probably wasn’t the healthiest way to go through life, but that part’s long behind me now.” She shyly raised her head and looked at Cleo. “So, here I am, with you, on my very first, first date.”
“Wow,” Cleo whispered. She wasn’t sure what she was expecting, but Ivy’s honest response most certainly was not it. “Ifwe’re being honest here, which I feel like we are, this is my first date in a long enough time that it essentially counts as my first one too. So at least we’re in good company.” Cleo said, looking at Ivy with as much warmth as she possibly could, in the hope it would reassure her that Cleo wasn’t in any way judging her for whatever was in her past.
With a blush, Ivy smiled as she replied, “Greatcompany.”
“Absolutely,” Cleo replied, laying her hand gently beside Ivy’s and hooking her pinkie over hers. “In answer to your actual question though, I’m an architect, and Lana is my assistant and best friend. Not in that order.” Ivy laughed and Cleo could see her shoulders visibly relax now that the subject had moved on.
“Oh wow! I knew you must have been something office related given the power suits I see you in every day, but...” Ivy’s hand flew up to cover her mouth as her eyes nearly popped out her head in shock.
“Every day?” Cleo smirked, “I’ve been in your shop only a couple of times and once was dressed like this with Sophie.”
“Oh my God you’re going to think I’m such a stalker or a giant nerd.” By this stage, Ivy’s entire face was lobster red and currently buried in both of her hands.
“Well, only a non-stalker would own up to such a thing, so go on, spill.” Cleo was enjoying watching Ivy squirm, the woman was adorable when she was flustered.
“So,maybeI’ve noticed you a few times when you walked by the shop window. That’s all.”
“Just a few times?” Cleo really was enjoying this too much, she needed to put her date out of her misery. Soon, but not yet.
