{Book 1 of the New York Duet}
𝐈𝐕𝐘 𝐌𝐀𝐑𝐄𝐍𝐓 is a ballerina at the most prosperous dance school in all of New York City. Determined and unbending, she is hell-bent on getting the lead solo in the summer charity showcase by any means necessary...
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The bell above the door rings as it opens. Darren sat in a red leather boot, glancing up from his folded hands to see Ivy walk into the diner. He couldn't help but watch her interaction with the hostess and the way she unzips her brown hoodie revealing a white crop top underneath. And the way the smooth brown skin of her stomach glimmers under yellow-toned light.
Beautiful, he thought as he took Ivy's appearance as a whole, from her shoulder-length braids with curled ends to her white AirForces.
The hostess turns around to guide Ivy over to the booth. A small smile graces her glossed lips when her black-lined eyes meet his brown ones. His phone buzzed on the table and he already knew what or rather who it was. Darren flips his phone over to face him and taping on the screen to read the text.
ELIAS: it's not too late to cancel
ELIAS: say that you have an emergency. Or better yet, I'll fake being sick and you have to come back to the hotel and "take care of me"
ELIAS: STOP IGNORING ME
ELIAS: This is a mistake and you know it. Stop playing Mr. Nice Guy and remember what she did to you
Darren didn't even try to dignify Elias' demands with a response. He swipes down on his screen and puts his phone on Do Not Disturb. With that, he places his phone on the table, looking up only to see Ivy sliding into the booth across from him.
"Hi," she breathes while taking off her hoodie and placing it beside her. Her shoulder was exposed to the small chill going through the diner and he couldn't help but stare. "Sorry, I kept you waiting."
"It's fine. I just got here too," Darren says to ease her worry.
A lie it was. He had arrived ten to fifteen minutes earlier for two reasons: 1. He was nervous and had to prepare himself for this interaction 2. He had to escape Elias and his never-ending rants.
"Do you know who our server is? I'll see if I can wave them over, so we can order," she inquires with a straight face. Darren skims the diner, recalling only the hostess that had seated him. Ivy's shimmer lips press in a line as she hums.
"I guess we'll have to entertain ourselves until they come," Darren suggests to which Ivy doesn't object. "How have you been? I know it's been a while since we last talked."
Ivy tucks her hair behind her left ear, showing her silver post earring. "I've actually been great. I have this amazing ballet instructor, Madame Danvers— well, you met her the other day— I have an audition for her choreographed solo next week. So I've just been practicing for that. What about you? How have you been, Darren?"
There is a sparkle in her when she talks about ballet that he cannot help but notice. It's an enchanting sight. It's the only thing that truly puts a smile on her face and Daren is thankful for it.
"My life has been pretty shit lately," he laughs to which Ivy joins in with a brief chuckle.
Hockey sucks ass. I've been back in New York for almost a week now and still haven't gone to see my parents. I'm avoiding my brother like the plague. Plus, I'm here with you like we're old friends and we most definitely are not.
