Page 46 of What About Us

“Ivy, let’s go to that bookstore you were telling me about,” Britney says as she walks toward the door. “You and me. I need some girl time. We can get lunch, too, unless you’re busy, of course.”

I shake my head and pull my computer out of my bag to make notes.

“I’m not busy. I decided to not go to the bar this afternoon and told Ben, the daytime manager, to simply lock up if my mom doesn’t show up on time.”

“Attagirl,” Britney says, clapping her hands. “Now, you’re all mine for the rest of the day.”

“Well, I need thirty,” I tell her with a grin. “I have to write up notes and send them to the team doctor. But it won’t take me long.”

“Perf, I’ll go change.”

Britney winks, and then she’s off, and I open the laptop so I can get to work. Xander takes my water bottle, but I don’t really pay attention until he comes back with it refilled.

“Thanks. Where’s your water?”

He lifts an eyebrow. “On the kitchen counter. Don’t worry, I’m drinking plenty, wildcat.”

I smirk and dive back into work, and when I’m finished, I close the computer and put it away.

“You did well today,” I tell him as I stand. “Tomorrow, I want to test your range of motion, and depending on how that goes, we’ll add other things in.”

He shoves his hands in his pockets.

“Go to dinner with us tonight.”

I bite my lip. I want to. I really want to, so that means that I probably shouldn’t.

“I can’t. Thank you for inviting me, but I have a bunch to do at the house, and I haven’t seen Cally much in days. The poor thing is lonely. But I’ll be back here tomorrow morning.”

He blows out a breath and simply nods, and when I reach the kitchen, Britney’s already waiting for me.

“Do you wanna swing by your place to change?” Britney asks me.

“Nah, I’m used to the scrubs. Unless you don’t want to be seen with a literal scrub.”

She laughs and shakes her head. “Honey, you’re cute as can be. Besides, I’m just in leggings. We’re not doing anything fancy.”

She looks fancy, but I suspect that she would in anything she wears.

“Let’s go buy some books.”

I’m just getting out of the shower when I hear my phone ringing on the vanity. By the time I slosh my way over the bathmat and wrap a towel around me, the call goes to voicemail, but then it starts to ring again.

Xander.

With a frown, I answer.

“Are you okay?” I ask. “What’s wrong? What do you need?”

“I’m fine. Why didn’t you answer the first time?”

I frown at myself in the mirror. “I was in the shower.”

He pauses, and I swear I hear him growl before he says, “How indecent are you right now?”

“I mean, I’m in a towel, Xander. Dripping wet. I haven’t⁠—”

“Jesus, I get it.” He takes a deep breath. “You’re killing me. Okay, so here’s the thing. I told Coop and Brit that you were busy, but apparently I bore the fuck out of them because they insist that you should join us tonight. And I agree. You should. But I know you don’t want to leave Cally, so we’re bringing pizza to you.”