Page 34 of Trust Fall
Ivy felt the flush creep up her neck as she bit her lip to delay responding to Toni. She knew that however she answered, Toni was going to burst over it. Ivy couldn’t blame her. She knewthat Toni was almost as emotionally invested in Ivy’s pining over Cleo as Ivy was herself.
“We then messaged again on Monday and Tuesday evenings, then we went out again last night.” Ivy couldn’t have stopped the enormous grin from spreading across her face even if she wanted to. And she found that she absolutely did not want to. She’d never gushed about someone before. She’d never felt the urge or the need to share anything in the way she wanted to shout about Cleo from the rooftops already. And they’d only been on two dates so far. She knew she was being ridiculous, but today, she didn’t care.
“Damn, I will say it again, this time with feeling: spill!” Toni demanded and sat back, waiting for all the gossip Ivy was willing to share.
“She’s, oh Toni, she’s amazing!” Ivy heard the sigh escape her lips followed by the chuckle that came from Toni’s side of the desk. Ignoring, she continued, “We went for a picnic at the park on Sunday. Before we knew it, four hours had passed and not a single awkward silence along the way. As we were leaving the area we’d sat at for so long, she reached out to hold my hand, and before we left the park, she leaned in and left the softest of any kiss I’ve ever experienced on my cheek.” Without even noticing that she’d done it, her hand had reached up and was touching the area of her cheek with her fingertips.
“Wow, Ivy, nowthatis some romantic movie stuff right there.” Toni said in wonder.
Ivy smiled and nodded, then continued. “Then last night, I took her to that secret book shop wine bar that I had found out about. The one that Gabby had mentioned?” Ivy watched as Toni nodded, recognizing the place she was talking about. “She didn’t know about it, but she reads every night instead of watching TV because she works with computers all day, and I wanted to take her somewhere nice, but different. We had the best night,and she’s by far the absolute best kisser I’ve ever... yeah, it was the best night.” Ivy grinned bashfully as she wanted to keep gushing, but the memories of last night were making her giddy. She let out a little giggle despite trying to hold it in, causing her to lift one of her hands over her eyes in embarrassment, before dropping it a moment later to see the look on Toni’s face.
“Well, well, well.” Toni folded her hands in her lap, looking like the cat who got the cream. “I take it that you would say the last three years was worth the wait then?” she raised an eyebrow at Ivy.
“And then some,” Ivy said softly. “She’s incredible, Toni. You know I’ve never had a relationship before, or even a proper date, but this? This just feels so, natural, so,right. I know it’s early and I’m desperately trying to keep myself under control and not let my feelings run away with themselves.” Ivy paused.
“But...?” Toni asked, softly.
"But Ireallylike her,” Ivy said, a distant look in her eye as she thought back to the past couple of weeks and the amount of time she’d spent messaging Cleo and being on the two dates with her.
Toni sat and watched Ivy as she spoke, Ivy could feel her eyes taking in not just the words she said, but the way she said them. “Ivy, it doesn’t matter how early it is, when things are right, they sometimes just are. It’srareto find that. So, you better not screw it up.”
“I don’t plan to,” Ivy said.
“Just remember, don’t put too much pressure on yourself or overthink everything. You know how you like to send yourself into a tailspin over nothing, so imagine how impossible you’d be for me to deal with over something like this,” Toni said with a smirk and a wink. Ivy laughed, relieved by the knowledge her friend had of her way of coping. “You’ve waited long enough for her, enjoy yourself.”
“Thanks Toni,” Ivy said.
“Now then, when are you seeing her again?” Toni asked with a smirk, knowing Ivy needed to lighten the mood, and she was grateful her friend knew her so well.
“I’m working all weekend, but she said whatever night next week suits around my hours she’ll make it work to see me. Those were heractualwords, Toni.” Ivy felt herself let out a gentle sigh again.
“Good grief, where can I get the male equivalent of her?!” Toni said with a laugh.
“I’m not sure, sorry,” Ivy trailed off. “Feels like the universe wouldn’t make just one, though.”
Toni smiled at her knowingly and didn’t push any further. “I’m glad it’s working out for you, Ivy, and that she’s not a monster up close. That would have been a very sad waste of the past three years if she was.” Toni winked and stood up. “Now then, better get ready to start in,” she checked her watch, “ten minutes. My Boss is a real stickler about being on time.” She chuckled as she left the office.
Ivy rolled her eyes at the reference. Then she found herself smiling at the thought of the past week with Cleo again. Toni was right; Ivy had been so relieved that Cleo had turned out to not just be as lovely as she’d hoped over the past three years, but she was way beyond anything Ivy could have ever imagined.
Chapter 31
Cleo
“Jade, I swear, if you don’t cut it out, I’ll not onlytellthem about your tattoos, but I’ll also drown your top with a glass of water, so you have to take it off andshowthem just how many you have!” Cleo warned her sister under her breath while setting the table, as their mom left the kitchen to go through and get Rob from his chair.
“Ok, ok, I’ll ease up,” Jade said, hands raised in the air. “But you know stopping is an impossibility when this is so new!” She grabbed a napkin and whipped it toward Cleo, who caught it in her hand before it landed against her thigh.
“You child!” Cleo said in exasperation. “Fine, I’ll give you tonight, and that’sit!”
“Deal!” Jade grinned before continuing. Loudly. “So, how was last night? Did she appreciate the work I put into choosing your outfit for your SECOND DATE?”
Cleo narrowed her eyes and groaned at her sister. Because not only had she just announced that she’d helped choose Cleo’s outfit loud enough for the entire street to hear, but it also meant her mom now knew about the second date too.
“What?!” Cleo heard Fiona shout from the hall on her way back to the kitchen with Rob reluctantly trailing behind her. “You’ve been out with hertwicesince you were last here?!” The grin on Fiona’s face was enormous. The woman looked pleased, relieved, excited, and slightly crazed all at once.
“Yes Mom,” she sighed slightly while narrowing her gaze at Jade even further before turning back to Fiona. “We went out again last night.”
“Oh love, I’m so happy for you! Where did you go?”
