Ivy's Twisted Vine Redux by Latrivia Nelson (books to read for beginners .TXT) 📕

“I see,” Rachel said sitting up disappointed.

“I just don’t’ have my shit together right now. And that’s no reason to drag you down with me.” He stood up over the couch and looked over at the door. This is embarrassing, he thought inwardly. What in the hell was wrong with me? Rachel is prime cut and I am about to leave hungry. Alas, Ivy has completely stolen his mojo. “I’m really sorry about all of this,” Nicola said looking back at her.

“Yeah,” Rachel said unable to look at him. “I’m sure you are.” She straightened her clothes up and sat up on the couch. “Look, you’re a very nice guy, Nicola. I hope that it works out for you two.”

“Somehow, I just don’t think that it will,” Nicola said breathing heavily. He leaned over on the couch and kissed her forehead. Then quietly, he escorted himself to the front door and exited.

Chapter Thirty-Four: Exposed

Chapter 34

EXPOSED

“Ivy, I can’t believe that you all got caught up again,” Trina said with herhand over her mouth in total disbelief.

It was the night before the wedding and Ivy sat in her hotel bed talking with Trina. The bachelorette party had been a huge success, and now they had to get some rest before the big day. The bride’s maids had settled in for the night in their hotel rooms adjacent to Ivy’s at the Madison Hotel, a four-star boutique hotel in the middle of downtown Memphis. Sadie and Liz had gone hours earlier after the strip tease show by Thunder, a stripper with a lisp, a massive body and an undeniable crush on Sadie. Now the girls had the opportunity to spend some quality time together before the big day.

“Yeah, I know,” Ivy said sighing. “I couldn’t believe that we did it, but I also couldn’t believe that he had a twin.” Ivy shook her head. “He’s so secretive. That is why I just don’t trust him. He wants you to know your whole life story, yet he can’t tell you one thing about himself.”

“Even I didn’t know that he had a twin brother,” Trina said rolling her hair. “But you shouldn’t be so angry with him about not being an open book.”

“What does he have to hide? I didn’t even know who the father of my children was. I cannot judge anyone.” Ivy sighed. “I mean, who could he possibly be protecting?”

“Me,” Trina said solemnly. “He’s trying to protect me, Ivy.”

Ivy lifted her eyebrow confused. “What?”

Trina turned on bended knees in the bed, and sat down her rollers. “Emerald has been begging me to talk with you. He said that you would understand, but I know us. And I know how we are about our men…even though technically, you and Nicola aren’t together.” Trina stopped to gauge Ivy’s openness to the conversation.

“What about Nicola?” Ivy stopped smiling, sensing that whatever Trina had to say was critical.

“Ivy, I’ve been carrying around a huge secret. But it can’t wait any longer. All I can do is ask for your forgiveness for waiting until now with this.” Trina took Ivy’s hands.

“Trina, you’re scaring me,” Ivy said with her eyes watering.

“Earlier, you said that Nicola hasn’t asked for you, but I know that it hasn’t been because he didn’t want to. It was because he couldn’t.” She sighed heavily, afraid of the words that were about to come out of her mouth. “It was because Grey was holding something over his head about me.”

Ivy sat and listened carefully, shocked to find out that Nicola and Trina had been together years before and even more shocked to find out that Grey had known for so long. The news was both disturbing and painful. With her hands over her mouth and wiping a steady flow of tears, she took in the news, angry that Trina had not confided in her before now, but also understanding of how complicated the entire situation was for all of them. Her mouth quivered as she tried to speak.

“Please tell me that’s all,” Ivy said not wanting there to be anymore to the twisted story.

“That’s all,” Trina said wiping her tears. “Ivy, I don’t want us to stop being friends, but it would be worth it for you to find true happiness. You’ve given me so much, and I feel as though I owe you this. I’m just sorry that I wasn’t strong enough to tell you before.”

“I can understand,” Ivy said taking Trina by the hand. “Telling Grey about Nicola nearly killed me. Telling my family that I had gotten pregnant…” she gasped. “It was the worst experience of my entire life.”

“I wouldn’t have said anything if I thought that Nicola was just a one night stand, but I’ve seen you two fall head over heals in love with each over these past months. I don’t want you to miss something great because of me. It’s only fair that you find true happiness. Look at me. I don’t know what I would have done without Emerald,” Trina said rubbing her stomach.

“I need to pray about this,” Ivy said confused. She rubbed her temples. “I don’t know what in the hell is going on in my own life.” She laughed, dismayed by her current situation, wiping tears from her eyes she sniffed. “And all this time, I thought it was because he didn’t care.” She looked at Trina. “But he does care. I know that this was hard for you, but thank you for telling me.”

***

The full moon shone down on Nicola as he sat by his pool looking up at the cloudless night gleaming stars and sipping on a bottle of Heineken. There was a quiet peace in his