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“Thanks.” He catches my gaze in the mirror again as he hooks one through his earlobe. Lilac eyeshadow makes his brown eyes pop before they narrow. “Is everything copacetic with you two?”
“Sure.” Isn’t it? But he’s her best friend and if he’s suggesting… “Why? Does it seem like we’re not?”
“I don’t know.” He watches me for a moment before he waves the conversation off with the flick of his mascara wand as he starts to add another coat to his lashes. “You know what, it’s probably nothing.”
Great. Nothing like it being nothing to make me more worried that Ivy isn’t happy or talking to me about what is worrying her. “You’re her best friend. So if you’re seeing something…”
“I really think it’s nothing.” He thrusts the wand back into the tube and rotates it as he pulls it back out. “But she’s just seemed off these last couple of weeks. It’s probably just stress. With deciding to quit school. And Nicole. And the media.”
Yeah, that’s probably exactly what it is.
Music starts playing somewhere in the room. Something pop about nice dresses and sunsets and wildest dreams. It slowly grows clearer as I locate the source of the sound in the pile on top of an armoire pushed under the only window in the room. It’s stacked high with stockings and garters and suspenders. None of which I’ve seen on Ivy, but now I want to buy her some very expensive lingerie.
The screen is lit up, the name on it is one I recognize. “Do you know who T-Swift is?”
“Duh.” Adira looks at me like I’m an idiot. “Is the pope Catholic? Is Lady Gaga the queen of the monster ball? T-Swift is pop royalty, baby. Where have you been?”
“I know that.” I turn away as Ivy’s phone grows silent. The screen fades to black. Whoever T-Swift is they’re not a drag queen or a friend of Adira’s. So who the fuck is this person who keeps trying to contact my girl?
“Then why ask such a daft question?” Adira stares at me like I’m losing my mind. Maybe I am.
“I’m ready.” Ivy returns, her attention on her wallet that she’s shoving into her bag.She’s added slouch boots and highlighted her eyes with eyeliner and mascara.“I just need to find my phone.”
“It’s here.” I pick up the device and hand it to her. As much as I want to question her about T-Swift, immediately before we go to my brother’s is not the time. I need to chill. I can’t keep Ivy in an ivory tower. She needs to learn to trust her own wings. As long as at the end of the day she’s in my arms.
But fuck, it’s hard to be this patient and vulnerable. Because I need her like I need oxygen. There is no life for me without her that I’ll ever be satisfied with.
“Are you okay?” She peers up at me like I must look as frustrated as I am.
“Hell no, he’s not okay. Your man has no clue who Taylor Swift is. I mean really.” Adira plants a hand on one cocked hip. “I don’t care that your brother is a famous rockstar and probably not into pop, shame on him for not musically educating you properly.”
“Oh no, did you push his Taylor Swift button?” Ivy asks even as she drops her gaze to her bag as she slips her phone into it. I swear I catch startling recognition in those honey-gold orbs before she snaps her purse closed. “His greatest goal in life is to meet her.”
“So you don’t know her?”
Ivy and Adira exchange a glance and start to laugh.
“Yeah, right.” Adira begins pulling shoes out of a box. “Not all of us are world famous hot shots with golden penises.”
“Hey, I don’t know her either.” I put my hands up and retreat a step, in case Adira decides I might be his lucky ticket. “I just really like her song about the scarf.”
“Oh you do not,” Adira calls me on my shit.
I chuckle. “Okay. You caught me. I don’t.”
Ivy and Adira look at each other and burst into laughter.
“I can’t believe you would date someone who doesn’t understand how important Taylor Swift is, Love.” Adira waggles his brows at me.
“He doesn’t mean it.” Ivy turns pink, her throat working like she can’t figure out what to say.
“I’m aware.” Still chuckling, I pull Ivy in nice and close. This whole thing with the code names and the secrets can wait for another day.
Tonight should be laid-back. Fun. A chance for my brothers and friends to get to know my girl better. Especially when my twin is still not ready to believe that she can be trusted. Besides, I have a surprise for her and I’d rather focus on that than the fact I’m an impatient and jealous motherfucker who wants her entire heart, soul, and body served up to me on a platter.
Chapter Ten
Ivy
