Ivy's Twisted Vine Redux by Latrivia Nelson (the beach read txt) 📗

In a way, she could blame all of this on Grey. What did he have up his sleeve anyway? He and his father had been whispering about something the entire night. And then there was Nicola. She couldn’t say enough about him. Sure his family was nice, but he knew that he had no place here. She hated him now more than ever. He had deliberately ruined this for her!

***

“Two more days and you can stop smiling,” Trina said rubbing Ivy’s back as they stood outside the ballroom on the Mezzanine level hugging each other after the dinner.

“Thank you for being here, Trina. You’ve been great,” Ivy said trying to hold back her tears.

“That’s what friends are for, but I still don’t know what tonight was for?” She looked over at Grey who was talking to Mr. Agosto.

“Politics.” Ivy said assured that the one-word explanation was enough.

“Well, you might as well get used to being a politician’s wife,” she said shaking her head.

“I know.” Ivy sighed speechless.

“When does he make his formal announcement?”

“The day after the wedding,” Ivy said looking at Grey’s brothers circling around like sharks and talking under their breath.

“If you need to talk, we can. You know that I’m here for you.” Trina let go of Ivy. “I had better go and get Emerald. If I leave him to his own vices too long, there’ll be trouble.”

“He’s still not talking to me.” Ivy touched massaged her temples. “I imagine that he has every reason not to.”

“Well, I’ll make sure that his mind is right for the wedding. He can’t go around acting like a little baby.”

“Just let him come around on his own.” Ivy watched as Nicola and Rachel came out of the doors before she turned around. “Ooh! I don’t even want to look at him. There nerve he had to come here tonight.” Her mouth pouted.

“He’s just playing the game that you and your fiancé recruited him for.”

“Don’t take up for him. Plus, I had nothing to do with this charade.” Ivy snapped.

“Well, if you didn’t have anything to do with it, what makes you think that he did?”

“I’ll have to tell you all about that tomorrow night.” Ivy bit her lip.

“Uh, well let me go. I’ll call you tomorrow.”

“Okay, girl,” Ivy said kissing Trina on the cheek before she entered the elevator and disappeared behind the golden doors.

Nicola wanted to go over and talk to her. He wanted to explain his reasoning, but there was not one opportunity. He could see anger in her eyes, and it was nearly impossible to hide the defeat in his. However, he was angry with her, too. He had a reason for doing this. What reason did she have?

“Ivy looks great,” Santo said with a cocktail still in his hand from dinner.

“I think that she already knows that,” Nicola said looking over at Rachel who stood with his family. “Do you think that I should go over and talk to Ivy?”

“Yeah, I would.” Santo sipped in between his advice. “While you’re talking to her, why don’t you tell her that you’re holding back a terrible secret and that’s the only reason that you won’t propose yourself?”

“I can’t tell her about that.” Nicola scoffed.

“Why not. This is the perfect time. It’s high drama in this place tonight. Top it off. Tell her about Grey and his plot to blackmail you and about banging Trina while you were blacked out before you met her. It’ll be great. He couldn’t top it if he tried.” His words were slightly slurred.

“How about I just go over there and wish her the best.” Nicola said realizing that his brother was drunk.

“You need to grow some balls my brother,” Santo said gulping down the last of the contents in his glass. “That woman is as in love with you as you are with her, but you’ve got to put it all on the line. Stop trying to be…protective. Just let it all hang out.”

“Santo, go have some coffee,” Nicola said excusing himself from his brother.

“Where are you going?” Santo asked in a raised voice.

“To talk with Ivy. I’ll be right back.”

Ivy stood alone waiting for Nicola to come over and talk to her. She was sure that he would. But what would he say? She turned and saw him walking over in his normal confident, half-cocky stride. He had such sex appeal. She took a deep breath to prepare herself. She couldn’t seem anxious, and yet she was.

“Ivy,” he said getting her attention. “Can I talk to you?”

“Sure,” she said rolling her eyes.

“I get the feeling that something isn’t going your way, you’re visibly pouting again.”

“I’m not pouting,” Ivy said sticking her lip back in. She looked over at Rachel. “Did you enjoy yourself?” She flipped her hair and turned where no one could read her lips or her facial expressions. “Why are you doing this?”

“Doing what? Grey told me that this was what you wanted.” He searched her face. “Is this what you want, for us both to put our families on front street so that your fiancé looks better for the polls.”

Ivy wanted to say no, but she thought back to her father’s advice. It wouldn’t help things to tell Nicola that they had both been bamboozled by the infamous Grey Henderson. “Yes, this is what we want.” Her eyes narrowed.

“Well, at least you know what you want now. Because the truth of the matter is that I know what I want too. I want to stop running after you, chasing something I can’t have and having it constantly dangled in my face. In fact, I refuse. I promise after this wedding you’ll only see me or talk to me when it’s about my sons. No more late night drop offs or close calls. I’ll