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

“Hey,” Grey said wrapping his arms around her.

“Hey,” Ivy said glad that he had come to visit her.

“I just…I wanted to be with you tonight,” he said closing the door behind him.

“I want to be with you too,” she said in a whisper. “I’ll go and set out your pajamas. There is some dinner still left from earlier in the microwave. You can heat it up while I run you some bath water.” She always did take good care of him.

“Don’t go through all of that, Baby. I’ll do it,” he said grabbing her by her arm. “God, I miss you.” The sincerity in his voice alarmed her slightly.

“I miss you too,” she said amazed at his mood change. No one would have believed that only hours earlier they had argued.

“No, I mean the Ivy I knew before the pregnancy. I miss you being happy.” He rubbed her face.

“I miss being happy.” Ivy fought tears.

“Let’s just go to bed.”

Entering into her quiet little bedroom, Grey noticed the picture of him on her nightstand in its silver frame. Her room was in perfect order with only the small nightlight to illuminate her bedside. The blinds were slightly opened to allow in the moonlight and the oak canopy bed set inviting with its plush soft pink comforter and gold embroidered sheet set. Dozens of pink silk and satin pillows with hand-stitched flowers lined her bed. To him, her room was a reflection of Ivy. Soft. Beautiful. Feminine.

Pulling the comforter to the side, Ivy tapped the bed and smiled. “Come to bed, baby.”

“Let me get undressed,” Grey said glad that he had chosen to come to her. “I’ll only be a moment.” Crawling into the warmness of her arms, he kissed her cheeks. “You feel like making love, baby?” he asked kissing her neck.

“I always feel like making love to you, Grey,” her eyes were crystal clear and wide with excitement.

Chapter Fourteen: I Do Love You

Chapter 14

I DO LOVE YOU

“I’ve had enough of the bullshit. I’m through with all these women. I’m swearing off sex. Hell, I can do without it,” Nicola proclaimed as he slowed down around the curve of the track field feeling his lungs nearly cave in from the compression of such a hard run. Bending down to catch his breath, he wiped the sweat from his forehead. “And when is this cold-ass weather going to finally go away? It’s March for Christ’s sake!” Nicola vented now after he and Brooks had run an exhausting six miles straight in complete silence with only their thoughts to keep them company.

“Sign of the times, man,” Brooks said bending down beside him. “Anyway, the fact that you are giving up women must mean that the world is coming to an abrupt and final end.” He stretched his hamstrings.

“I’m serious. Kelly got on my last nerve. She answered my phone, hung up on Ivy, compared me to a dildo, flipped me off and then slammed my door.” Standing up straight, he caught of glimpse of Brooks laughing. “What’s so funny?”

“Where in the hell do you meet these crazy-ass women?” He laughed aloud.

“The same place you meet them. The only thing is that you have Trina to go home to on a permanent basis, and she’s stable. So, it balances out your life, somewhat.” Sometimes, Nicola envied Brooks for his relationship with Trina, but he never envied Trina’s relationship with Brooks.

“Yeah, it’s just that I don’t constantly go back to the same retarded ass women.” Brooks couldn’t help but laugh at Nicola again. “You and Kelly have been on and off for a couple of years. I bet she thinks that she’s the one,” Brooks said shaking his head. To Brooks and Nicola, the one was the woman that would eventually carry their last name and have their children.

“She did. I told her last night though that she wasn’t the one, right before she gave me her you’re a big nothing speech.” Nicola stopped his watch. “She’ll be back next week, begging me to knock her back out.” They had obviously been through the entire scenario before.

“And of course you will oblige her.”

“Not this time, man. Until Ivy gives birth, I am a celibate man. No sex for the next three months.” He had made up his mind the night before as he tossed and turned in the bed thinking about Ivy, but he would never admit that to Brooks.

“Tell that shit to someone else,” Brooks said grabbing his shirt of the ground. “Three months…man, you couldn’t stop having sex for three days.”

“Well, I’m going to give it a good fight.” Nicola stopped laughing and looked at Brooks seriously nodding his head as if to give more emphasis on what he was professing.

“This wouldn’t have anything to do with Ivy…not the babies but the mother?” Brooks asked in vain.

“I’m just saying, what if she not only wants me to be the father, but she also wants me to be…you know…with her.” It was logical enough for Nicola although he could see that his long-time friend was not buying it.

“What?” Brooks had never heard such nonsense in his life. “Do you recall Ivy ever saying once that she wanted you to be the father of her children? No. And you won’t hear it, because it would mess up things with her fiancé, or have you forgotten about him? Take my advice,” Brooks said not allowing Nicola to say a word. “This woman is better off with Grey.” He absolutely hated wishful thinking.

“So, you don’t think I’m good enough?” Nicola asked offended and extremely discouraged.

“Oh no. It’s not that. I just don’t think that you’re ready for what Ivy needs. I’m telling you that you’re barking up the wrong tree. You’re not ready for all the crap that comes with her.” He shook off the entire ridiculous notion.

The thought made Nicola stutter. “Hhh…how do you know what I’m ready for?” he said picking up his phone. “Damn, Taylor called,” he said