Chain Reaction 3.1.23: Incorrigible Puppy

Michael

     I've tried calling Ivy a few more times over the next few weeks. As expected, she never calls me back. I don't leave a message every time--but probably more than I should.

     One day, I was walking down by the lake, and I saw her. She saw me. She stopped what she was doing, gave me an 'eat dung' look, turned about-face, and walked away. I let her go.

     But I did leave another message on her phone.

     Winter hasn't been easy for me. I've finished unscrambling everything for Aunt Em, and Uncle Alex says he plans on employing me in future for some unknown purpose. He claims he wants to finish writing a book about all his experiences. In the meantime, they provide me with financial help--as if I'm still doing work for them even though I'm not.

    So, in essence, I have too much time on my hands. I occasionally find myself at the spa.

      When what to my wondering eyes should appear--Ivy! I grin. I think I'll get a foot massage today. My impish grin still in place, I walk into the room.

     She sees me and utters an 'oh no' under her breath.

     I pretend to be surprised. "Ivy! Well, what a coincidence."

    "You know, Mike, part of your SimTuber charm is that you are a terrible actor."

     "Part of my 'charm'? Why, thank you, Ivy." The lady massaging Ivy's hand lets out a tiny giggle.

     "Ugh. Why are you here? Are you stalking me?"

     "In perfect honesty, no. I like this spa." I see the other spa attendant walking up to me, looking like she'd rather do anything but work today. I ask her for a foot massage. She wordlessly points to the chair.

     I feel like the only person who is pleased by my presence is the lady massaging Ivy's hand. Since I suspect that Ivy expects me to keep talking and annoy her, I stay quiet. For now.

     But she doesn't. "So what's the matter? Darrin not keeping you busy enough?"

     I pretend to think. "Darrin... Darrin... Hm. Where have I heard that name before?"

     The other masseuse bites her lip to stop the laughing.

     "Oh yeah! That Darrin!" I lean forward and loudly whisper to the lady giving me my foot rub, "Darrin is my ex-boyfriend." She doesn't care, and now she looks super-annoyed since I probably flashed her. Oh well. I'm not shy. I once again speak to Ivy, "Well, if you'd listened to my messages, you'd know he and I never got back together. In fact, the whole thing makes me furious. Um, 'drives me up the wall.'" I use her catch phrase.

     "Well, good. You deserve it."

     "Aw, well, that's not very nice, Ivy."

     "I warned you. You shouldn't have gone chasing after him."

     "You're absolutely right. Which is why now I'm chasing after you."

     "Fat lot good it'll do you." Out of the corner of my eye, I see her pinked cheeks belying her nonchalance about the whole thing.

     I can't stop my relaxed sigh. I can pretend it's all because of the massage, but truly, it was that blush. I can and will get Ivy back. Part of me wonders why I'm trying, why am I not going after someone else entirely, but the other half knows it's because I was really starting to like Ivy during the short time we dated. That, and I'm probably a bit stubborn.

    I smile, looking forward to getting her back. "So do you have any plans after this?"

    "If I do, it's none of your concern."

    "I'm only asking because I'm bored."

    "Again, not my problem."

    "Do you have any suggestions?"

    "Yeah. Go jump off a cliff." She stands up, finished.

    And I decide to change gears.

     I imagine I'm speaking these words right into her ear, my voice lower and infinitely more serious. "Ivy, you are quite possibly the most beautiful woman I've ever met, and I know that if I give up on you, it would be one of the biggest mistakes I could ever make. I realized where I messed up, and I don't want to live the rest of my life without you. I wish you would give me another chance to be the kind of man you need."

    The lady that was once massaging Ivy's hand sits slowly down in her chair, and I see in my peripherals how she stares at me with wide eyes. I wonder if anyone's ever said anything like that to her. She then looks at Ivy like if Ivy walks out of here after that, she's going to string her up. The lady massaging my feet decides she's finished, and she drops my foot to the floor. 'Go get her,' she mouths to me. Out of the corner of my eye, I spy a stack of romance novels, probably their preferred reading material when they don't have any clients.

    I stand up, ready to chase after Ivy if she walks out of here, but she doesn't.

     "Why do you do this to me?"

     "What am I doing?" I want to know specifically what she's talking about.

     "The calls. The texts. The messages. I told you not to."

     "And I believe I told you that I was going to keep trying. Honestly, Ivy. Haven't I learned my lesson? Don't you believe in giving someone a second chance?" The two other ladies pretend to be busy with straightening up their workspace, but I know they're listening intently to our conversation. "I was hurt, but it was probably karma because I also wound up hurting you."

     She puts her hands over her face. When they pull back, she's wiping under her eyes.

      "And after all those horrible things he said to me. I can't believe you went back to him. I'm not going to be anyone's second choice, Mike."
      "You're not my second choice. I made a mistake." Yeah. Big mistake. I still can't believe how cold Darrin was that following morning.

     I catch her eyes. "There's a bar next door. We could go grab a few drinks. And talk. I'll even let you chew me out if you would agree to just spend a little time with me."
     "Mike, you are the most incorrigible... puppy!" She tries not to laugh at herself and fails. "Fine! Go get some clothes on, and I'll meet you at the front door."
     "Yes, ma'am." I grin then dash to the men's changing room, where I frantically get dressed, scared she'll pull a disappearing act if I take too long.
    I don't. And she doesn't. And we walk into the snow to the bar.

     Once at the bar, she talks incessantly. I take it as a good sign because she'd once told me that typically means she's nervous. My only distraction from her pretty face is the people calling drink orders out between us. I think we need to get away from the bar proper.

      She suddenly gets quiet and closes her eyes. "I've been talking your ear off. Sorry."
      "No, it's fine. Believe me. My only complaint is that sometimes I have trouble hearing you. It's getting nothing but more crowded around here." I turn my head and look up. "They look like they have a second floor, a mezzanine of sorts. We could go sit up there. I'll bet it's quieter."
     She glances up there. "Yeah. But that's where people usually go to make out."
     I chuckle. "And...?"
     She does nothing but blink at me. We're finished with our drinks, so I take her hand and have her follow me up the stairs.

     "Well, this is cozy," she says, looking around.
     "Yeah. Plenty of room to stttrreeeeetccchhh."

     "Really, Mike?" She knew exactly what I was doing, but I don't care.
     "Yes." I gaze upon her flawless skin, wishing I could run my lips against her cheek.
     "I never said I we were getting back together. Yet you're taking liberties anyway."
     "Yeah." I do lean forward and lightly do what I wished to do, kissing her occasionally.
     "And now you seem to think we're going to make out."
     "Uh huh."

     At last. At long last, I'm kissing Ivy again. She kisses me back, but she's more cautious about it. I don't mind. I don't really blame her. But as the kiss goes on, I lean more into her, taking her sweet mouth. It's all I can do to keep my hands in neutral territory.
    "Mm!" She tries to talk, but I won't let up. It's only when she pushes on my chest while backing her head up at the same time do our lips separate.

     "Mike, we still need to talk."
     "Mhm." It's not that I don't agree with her. It's just her lips are calling me.
     I kiss her again, but she once more pushes me back. "And we can't do that if we're kissing."
     "Okay." I compromise with her neck, smelling her hair, bringing my nose just behind her ear. I breathe in again. "So talk," I say before slowly kissing her down to her collarbone. I don't have to be kissing her lips. Oh so much more of her I haven't kissed yet.
     Her breathing is heavy. "You're not making it easy for me."
     "I never said I would." I grin. I am having a superiorly hard time keeping my hands under control.
     I'd keep going, but the honest pleading in her voice makes me pause, "Mike, please."

     "Okay. What do you want to talk about?"
     "It's more that I have some questions."
     "Okay. What do you need to know?" I only had the one drink, but it's enough to make me just a little fuzzy. Super-relaxed.
     "Are you completely finished with Darrin?"
     "Most definitely, yes." Darrin's an as*hole.
     "Is Darrin completely finished with you?"
     "I hope so. I told him under no uncertain terms that I wanted him out of my life. I told him I'd file a restraining order if I had to." I reach up and stroke her cheek with my finger. "Forget about that as*hole."
     "You filed a restraining order?"
     "No. I said I would if I had to. I haven't seen him, and I don't care to ever again."
     "So if I date you again, he's not going to come back into the picture. Right?"
     "Not if I can help it."
     "Because, Mike, that hurt."
     "I'm so sorry. Give me another chance to make it up to you." I hold her chin and lightly kiss her.
     "Mike, your eyes are my kyrptonite. I worry you know this."
     I smile. "I guess it's all part of being an incorrigible puppy." I lick her cheek like a dog, and she squeals an 'ew.' I laugh. "So is that a yes?"
     "That's an agreement for a test run."
     "I'll take it."

     She's a little more into the kiss this time. I'm so glad.
     A test run. I'll pass the test. I don't care if Darrin comes begging on his knees and sucking my toes; he's never coming back into my life.