Chapter 21

Thanks for tuning in as I post chapters of my new novel When Ivy Met Adam: A second chance, forced proximity, sexy, queer love-triangle romance. Your feedback is everything. Please post comments here or email me. I love hearing what you think.

Prologue (old) Prologue (new) Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5 Chapter 6 Chapter 7 Chapters 8&9 Chapter 10 Chapter 11 Chapter 12 Chapter 13 Chapter 14 Chapter 15 (old) Chapter 15 (new) Chapter 16 Chapter 17 Chapter 18 Chapter 19 Chapter 20

Chapter 21 - Ivy

Coming into consciousness, I feel a delicious ache all over. I lost count of the number of orgasms we each had over the last day. Love is about hearts, not parts. Not just a t-shirt at Pride anymore! Sex with Adam is magical. 

Before I can even open my eyes, Adam is running a gentle finger down my forehead, the length of my nose, my lips. “How did you sleep?” he asks.

“Like a rock until this sunbeam woke me up.” My eyes fly open. “Wait! A sunbeam?” I hop out of bed to pull open the curtains—and sure enough, the sky is blue and the Hawaiian sun is shining brightly. “The storm has passed.”

“Yes, I believe it has,” he says enigmatically. I turn to smile at him. His handsome face is relaxed. He looks sexy propped up on his elbows, watching me.

“I’m going to go check it out,” I say. I press my lips quickly to his and pull on his discarded t-shirt from the floor. I know he’s watching me walk away, wearing his shirt. I get a little thrill that I probably look pretty cute. Sex hair and only a t-shirt. Leave him wanting more…

*

Later I am sitting on the balcony of Adam's apartment, knitting and still marveling at the storm-ravaged landscape. The lush trees have been reduced to broken branches and leaves scattered across the flooded lawns. The sounds of generators and cleanup crews fill the air. The salty ocean air mixed with the damp earthy scent of the aftermath of the storm. 

The news says neighborhoods across the state are cleaning up the mess. Trees are down in the middle of main roads, streets are flooded, and families are without power. But we are safe. Our little family is already back from the hospital, enjoying each other in their resort room with all the visitors they can handle—word spread quickly and everyone from housekeeping to nosy hotel-room neighbors have been dropping off flowers and gifts and snacks and room service. It’s hard to feel anything but grateful for this experience. But of course, I have many feelings.

I have my flight rebooked for this evening, but I can’t shake the feeling of being more than one kind of stuck. Sure, severe storms made it impossible for me to leave, and forced me to spend more time with Adam than I planned. But nothing forced me to enjoy it. I wanted so badly to be miserable, stuck here with a man who once broke my heart. But he’s been, well, frankly awesome to be around. Undemanding, easygoing. Tireless in bed. I get a little shiver thinking about how much fun that’s been. And yet, I’m left feeling helpless and unsure of what to do next. Plus guilty and maybe even a little shameful that I so easily fell into bed with Adam. I need to get back to that feeling of power I had when I told him what’s what and wherefore. I have to redraw my boundaries. I need to stick to my let’s-be-friends guns. Sigh. Easier said than done, I think. 

My needles clicking against each other make a soothing, familiar sound that helps ease my anxiety. Knitting quickly became my obsession because it gives me a sense of control over something, even if it is just a simple scarf.

My flight is rebooked for this evening. My biggest fear now is that I’ll run out of yarn and willpower by then.