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“And now for the main event!” Professor Granger taps his glass, quieting the room. We all turn. “I’m thrilled and honored to announce that we’ve created a new award for the department, for special services to the field. As a tribute to the diligent work our specialty requires, the long hours and attention to detail … I can’t think of a better, more deserving recipient than … Jake Fortune!”
Rapturous applause fills the room.
Seriously?!
I watch, stunned, as Jake gets to his feet and saunters to shake hands with Granger and accept the domed glass award. “Diligent work?” I echo in disbelief. “Attention to detail?”
Reeve squeezes my shoulder supportively as Jake gestures for quiet. “I’m honored, really I am,” he says. “But we all know, I couldn’t have done any of this alone. Our job is about teamwork, all the pieces of the puzzle coming together. Researchers, assistants, other disciplines, I’m grateful to them all. And there’s someone who has always been the brains behind my operation—no, really,” he adds with a charming smile.
I take a breath, feeling a little better—
“My research assistant, Jessica,” Jake announces, and I see red. “She’s the one keeping me on schedule, and keeping my coffee hot,” he adds.
There’s laughter, but not from me. Because everything that drove me crazy during our marriage, all the ways he ignored and dismissed my contributions, acted like he was the one calling the shots …
“Avocado,” I mutter to Reeve, my hands curled in fists at my sides. “Avo-freaking-cado.”
He blinks, but then his eyes widen, remembering our talk about bad date safe-words. “Okay …” Reeve pulls me to my feet. “Let’s get out of here,” he murmurs, already steering me to the nearest exit. Luckily, everyone’s too focused on Jake’s big speech to notice us ducking out the back.
“Jessica?!” I exclaim, furious, as we emerge on the sidewalk out front. The street is dark and empty, which is a good thing, since my voice is carrying with rage. “He wouldn’t be where he is today withoutJessica?!”
“I’m hungry, and not for that fancy stuff,” Reeve says calmly. “Where’s the best place for a burger around here?”
“What?” I blink at him, confused. “Didn’t you see what just happened in there? What hesaid?!”
“Yup,” Reeve replies, already pulling out his phone. “Which is why we need to get you a burger, and a beer. Not necessarily in that order. Wilson’s?” he asks, naming a college dive nearby.
I scowl. “I’m too mad to eat, but fine, whatever you want.”
17
IVY
I lethim steer me the couple of blocks to the bar, my blood still boiling with frustration. “Jake always did this!” I exclaim. “Taking credit for our work, like it was allhisidea. Not in the beginning, no, he was a decent human being back then, but once he got a taste of the spotlight … I didn’t even notice it happening until suddenly I woke up and realized, he was treating me like a glorified secretary – and he believed it, too! But when it came time to pitch, or research, or do any of the actual work, it was always, ‘Oh, but you’re the best, Ivy. You always figure this stuff out, Ivy. I couldn’t do this without you.’ And Ilet him, too, that’s the really crappy part of it all,” I say fiercely. “I let him push me aside. Because I loved him, and it was easier than having another fight in front of everyone. BecauseIknew it was all my research and work keeping things running, and what did it matter if I got credit or not, as long as the show was a success? You heard him: it’s a team effort!”
I pause, panting with rage. Just when I think I’ve moved past it all …
“Finished?” Reeve asks me gently. I look around. Somehow, I’ve ranted the whole way over, and now we’re outside the bar, under the flickering neon sign; rock music drifting out from inside.
I exhale in a rush. “Maybe,” I mutter, coming back down from my high horse. “Sorry. Fuck. Ranting about my ex-husband isn’t exactly sexy date behavior.”
Reeve’s lips curl in a smoldering grin. “Then you’re lucky,” he says, pulling me into his arms. “You could rant about anything in that dress and still be the sexiest woman alive.”
He kisses me deeply, and just like that, all my past frustrations and emotional wounds go back to being just that: in the past. Because now … God, now I have way better things to focus on. Like Reeve’s tongue in my mouth, and his hands gripping my hips, and the tantalizing press of his body against me; my blood roaring with desire.
Reeve finally releases me. “Still feeling mad about Jake?”
“Jake who?” I whisper, breathless.On fire.
He looks satisfied. “That’s more like it.”
I sink against him, reach up to run my fingers through his hair. “What about the Bubonic plague?”
Reeve looks baffled.
“You said I could talk about anything and still be sexy,” I remind him, teasing. “Pus-filled sores? Seventeenth-century castration devices—”
“Ok!” Reeve cuts me off, laughing. “Time to get you fed.”
