Undoing Ivy

Wednesday Night, October 14th, 6pm

She took a shower when she got home. She couldn't stop thinking about him. Her whole body was electric from that simple touch at the house. She got out and got herself dressed. Casual for the night in, but she pulled out a pair of light-wash jeans that hugged her waist and a knot tank that hugged her body. Her figure had always been an asset she'd hidden in high school but embraced once she was on her own. Her breasts were full, and her body had been refined by years of daily Pilates, her legs long and muscular leading up to a perfectly round butt. She looked at herself in the mirror, knowing she looked great, but insecure that she looked like she was trying too hard.

Austin was already in the kitchen cooking. She came downstairs, and he looked up at her, lingering on her shape in the fitted tank. He turned, opened the wine, and poured her a glass.

He handed it to her. "How was the shower?" he asked.

"Great, much better than the one at the motel," she said.

He smirked. "I'd hope so."

"Do you cook?" he asked.

"No, I'm a New York stereotype," she laughed. "I store shoe boxes in my oven."

He smiled again. "Well, good thing I can, although I pretty much stick to the same few things." He plated up some pasta for her and put it down. "Napkin?" he asked teasingly. "Or I can use my fingers again." She grabbed the napkin from his hand, rolling her eyes.

After dinner, he took the plates and cleaned up.

"Go pick a movie," he said. "Whatever you want."

She headed to the TV and looked through the options.

"How about this, The Royal Tenenbaums? Have you seen it? I haven't in years," she said.

Austin glanced at the screen. "Yeah. Long time ago though."

He settled onto the couch, leaving space beside him. "Good choice." His arm draped across the back cushions, relaxed. "You've got taste."

He started it, volume low. "Haven't watched a movie with someone in a while." His eyes flicked toward her briefly before returning to the screen.

She curled into the corner of the couch with her glass of wine.

He watched her. "You look cozy," he said, his eyes lingering on her form.

The wine was making her feel a little looser, lowering her inhibitions, braver.

Austin caught the shift in her expression, something softer, almost nostalgic. He didn't press right away. "You're staring at the TV like it's blank," he said, teasing but low. "What's going on in your head? You don't have to answer."

"I'm surprised I'm here, to tell you the truth," Ivy said.

Austin tilted his head, curious. "Surprised you came back? Or surprised you're here with me?" He shifted, facing her more directly. "I didn't expect you either. Life's full of surprises though."

"I mean, I didn't expect you to offer me a room, or even run into you at your bar. I didn't know you owned it. Just a weird mix of nostalgia happening here."

Austin nodded slowly. "Yeah. Small towns do that." His voice dropped a register. "Nostalgia's tricky. Sometimes you remember things differently than they were." He leaned forward, and for a second the careful tone gave way to something heavier. "You regret coming here?" Then, before she could answer, he met her eyes. "I already told you why. You needed help. I wanted to. And you're not a stranger."

"Okay," she said.

She felt her body respond to his energy. She looked over at him quickly; he was somehow hotter than he'd been in high school, more rugged, less pretty, but very hot. She kept her eyes on the screen.

He caught the quick look but didn't let on, letting the moment pass. His arm stayed draped along the couch. "Good," was all he said, quieter than before. Then he turned back to the screen, and the awareness just sat there between them, unspoken.

"I'm going to get more wine," Ivy said. She stood and walked in front of him.

His eyes followed her the whole way. "Bottle's on the counter," he said, easy and unhurried, spreading out a little more on the couch once she'd gone. When she came back, he glanced up. "You good?" No follow-up, just the question, left hanging.

"Yup," she said, and smiled.

He studied her a beat too long. "You sure?" There was something sharper under the easy tone now. "Because you're acting like something's on your mind." He didn't move closer, just held her gaze. "I'm not gonna bite."

That comment made her shift her weight on the couch. She inched away from him, eyes still on the TV.

He clocked the movement immediately but stayed put. "Easy," he said, calm and steady. "I'm just messing with you." Then he let his focus drift back to the screen, giving her the space.

Ivy, you i***t, she thought. He isn't interested in you. You aren't nearly as hot as those girls he used to pull. Not nearly his type. He'd literally pulled every hot girl in high school, and she could only imagine who he got a chance with now.

He must have caught something in her posture, because he set his glass of wine down. "You do that a lot," he said, watching her closely. "Get in your own head." Leaning forward now. "Whatever you're thinking, stop. You're here because I want you here."

"Sorry, maybe I should just head to bed. I'm acting weird. It's been a weird week."

He shook his head, standing. "You're not acting weird. But if you need sleep, go." He picked up his glass of wine. "Guest room's yours." A pause, and something steadier underneath it. "I'll be up a while if you change your mind. Door's open." He didn't push it further. "Goodnight, Ivy."

She headed upstairs. He followed soon after.

This was a bad idea, she thought. He didn't really want her there; he probably felt bad for her. He was being nice, so cool and easy about it, and she was a bundle of nerves. She decided she was going to tell him she was leaving tomorrow.

She headed down the hall to his bedroom. The door was open.

"Austin," she called into the doorway.

He looked up from where he was pulling his shirt off, dropping it on the bed, bare-chested now. "Yeah?" His voice was calm, but his eyes had sharpened. He didn't move toward her, just stood there, watching her carefully. "What's going on? Come in or stay there, your call."