Lost in Paradise (Paradise Club #2)(41)

Shit! Whatever that call was doesn’t seem to be good. I hope everything is okay. Then I notice tears falling down her cheeks. Okay, so it seems it’s bad news. So I make my way out of the pool and grab a towel and dry off.

Ivy begins typing into her phone then holds it to her ear. I don’t want to be in her way, but I also don’t want to leave her alone until I know she is okay with whatever is wrong.

“Liv, oh my god, are you okay? Do you need me to come home?” Ivy nods, listening to whatever her friend is telling her. “I don’t mind, I can come to Edinburgh. I’ll be a day behind you, but I can be there,” Ivy states as she begins pacing around the bedroom. “You sure?” she asks. “Okay, well, I’m here for you no matter what, okay?” she states. “Love you, Liv.” Then she hangs up.

“Everything okay?” I ask gently.

Ivy looks up at me, her green eyes wide as if she’s only realized I’m still here. Then the next thing I know she’s wrapping her arms around me and hugging me tightly. Once she’s ready, I lead her outside to the pool area and lift her into the cocoon day bed wrapping my arms around her. She lets out a heavy sigh and snuggles in against me. I like this as much as I like her screaming my name.

“Do you want to talk about it?” I ask softly as I stroke her hair.

“Olivia’s father has been rushed to the hospital. And she must cut her trip in LA short,” she explains.

“Is he okay?”

“I hope so. He’s been sick on and off for years,” she mumbles. “I offered to fly back, to be there for her, but she said Axel was coming home with her. Liv told me to stay, have fun, and enjoy the island because there’s nothing I can do for her there.” Ivy untangles herself and stares up at me. “How can I think of sex when I’m so worried about my friend?” she asks, her brows pulling together in a frown. “I understand if you need to leave. What’s happening in my life shouldn’t impact your time here.”

“Why would I leave?” I ask.

“Because there won’t be any sex, not with me anyway. I’m sure there’s a ton of girls on the island who would love to have fun with you,” she adds.

And, to be honest, I’m now insulted.

We’ve only just had mind-blowing sex, and if that is all I’m getting today, I’m fine with that. Any person would be, so I try to reassure her with, “I’m not going anywhere, okay?”

“You won’t change my mind, Alex,” she says angrily.

“I would never try to do that. Not when you’ve told me no,” I explain to her with a scowl on my face.

Relief falls across Ivy’s face as she hugs me again and mumbles, “Thanks,” into my skin.

“Who the hell hurt you this much, Ivy?” I ask.

She shakes her head. “That story is for another day.”

“You will share it with me, won’t you?” Ivy nods. “I never want to trigger something some asshole has done to you. I never want to hurt you,” I tell her sincerely.

She holds me tighter, and I feel dampness against my chest, but Ivy buries her head to hide the tears that are streaming down her face.

We spent the rest of the day lazing by the pool, watching movies, napping, and eating. As hard as it was, I kept my promise of no sex. We talked all day. She told me about her life growing up, shuffling around from one home to the next when her mother met and married again. She shared stories about her time at boarding school as did I. I shared my life growing up in the States for a bit, my college days, shared stories about my crazy early twenties, and it was nice. Almost like a date, except we were naked wrapped in fluffy white bathrobes, and usually, that happens after the date, not during.





“Morning,” I say, opening my eyes and seeing Ivy there beside me. The sinking feeling knowing this is the last time she’s going to be in my bed like this hits me because she and Camryn are flying home today.

“Morning,” she says, wrapping her leg around my hip and pulling me to her. She stated last night no sex, and honestly both of us were so exhausted that the request was fine. But this morning, I don’t want to push things, not when I don’t know where she stands.

“I’m going to miss this.” She grins as her fingers run over my cheek as if committing my face to memory.

“I’m happy to come home with you, so you can see my face every morning,” I joke with her.

“Oh, sorry, I was meaning that crystal blue water out the window.” She giggles at her own joke.

“Such a comedian,” I say, rolling Ivy onto her back as I hover over her. “Well, I’m going to miss waking up in your bed when you’re gone. I’m going to be lonely,” I tell her.

“Please, as if your bed is going to stay cold for long.”

“Not interested in anyone else. Plus, I have work to do once you leave. There will be no time for play,” I tell her.

Her eyes widen at my confession, and she isn’t sure if I’m lying or not, but she doesn’t say anything.

“I’ll be back in London in a week,” I add. “Maybe we can catch up again?”

“Maybe,” she muses, and I can see the walls beginning to grow, brick by brick, layer by layer.

“I’ll take a maybe over a no any day.”