Ivy was extremely drunk when she started searching
for her phone contacts for her best friend and then
she unintentionally calls him. After two rings, a young
man picked up the phone.
Linden was tired and so he was enjoying Christmas
Eve by sleeping...
"Thank you all so much for everything," Ivy said as she hugged Chloe and Bill and then she bend down on Leah's turn, saying "It was so lovely getting to spend the holiday with you, Leah." In return, Leah kissed her cheeks ever so sweetly.
"It was our pleasure, Ivy," Bill told her.
"You'll have to come back soon Darling!" Chloe said, leaning in for another hug. Ivy agreed, and much to Chloe's delight, she told her that she would love nothing more that coming back to that place again and again. Ivy really had enjoyed every moment of her time with Cowden household, and she was really sad to go.
She had been kicking herself all morning for telling Linden that she was leaving early.
Then she turned to where Casey was leaning in the doorway to the dining room.
"And you," Ivy pointed at her. "You better come and visit and hang out with me soon."
"You betcha," Casey said, pulling her in for a tight embrace. "Let us know when you've made it home safe."
"Will do," she agreed easily.
Ivy turned to grab her bag from the couch and found Linden holding it, watching the scene with soft eyes and a tender smile.
"Thanks to all of you again for this Happy Christmas!" The family all waved from the door.
When they had settled into their car seats silently, the enclosed space felt heavy with all of the things Ivy wanted to say. She cleared her throat and shifted in his seat.
"So, your other present that I promised..." she trailed off, dragging her fingers through the front of her hair nervously. "Well, it's not really a present. It's just an idea I had. And you absolutely do not have to say yes."
"You sound nervous," Linden remarked, eyes flickering between her and the road.
"How insightful of you," Ivy teased like she always did. "I am a bit. Okay, so, like...you show me your photography..." Linden made a noise of agreement but brow furrowed in confusion.
"If you're interested, I thought... you... digital park photography? Like you know my dad he is the owner of this Magic's world," Ivy took a deep breath when she finished her speech and burrowed further back into her seat. She watched out of the corner of her eye as Linden tried to process all the information she had just flung at him. He couldn't take it in that he spent his entire yesterday with such a rich girl, like the heir of the magic's world. It was one of the biggest amusement park companies in California. Of course, he should have understood Ivy Hansen daughter of Gabriel Hansen.
Linden glanced behind them before signaling left and pulling over.
"Ivy," he said seriously, turning in his seat to face her. He braced his arm against Ivy's headrest and searched her face. "Are you serious?"
"Of course I'm serious."
"Your father hasn't seen any of my photography yet," Linden, pointed out.
Ivy knew he had this point but her father didn't need to see them. Because Linden photos weren't anything less than magic, just like Linden himself
"I told them they're perfect," she said firmly.
"How about this," Linden started, giggling when Ivy sighed at the thought of having to compromise. "I'll email your father some my photography and he can look at them. Then, if he really likes them, you can let me know. And then we'll talk about this amazing offer you've presented me."
"Fine," Ivy sighed but couldn't contain the fond smile on her face.
"Good. Thank you." later Linden faced forward in his seat and looked to make sure traffic was clear before pulling back onto the street. Ivy watched him unabashedly as he drove, knowing she would be leaving him in a matter of minutes. God was she dreading it.
After twenty minutes of driving, Linden had turned off the headlights and cruised to a stop the car near the entrance of Ivy's apartment complex. Ivy looked at Linden and he looked at her. She parted to speak but something stilled her from saying a word. And then without another word, she opened the door and got out of the car. She gazed down at him what seemed like an eternity before
Ivy smiled up at him, but it was a half-hearted smile closing the car's door.
Then she started walking toward her apartment, Linden watched her walking away from him with his rearview mirror. Ivy the unknown drunken girl might always remain unknown to him.
He glanced on the rearview once again by the time Ivy was gone inside her apartment. "Fah," he spat and clenched the steering wheels.
He turned on his headlights and started driving away slowly toward his own life. Who would have ever thought he would meet someone like Ivy? He knew he would think about her all the time from now.
He didn't know whether he was scared of not being good enough for her or that he was afraid of her rejection. Ivy the sassiest girl he ever met but she was the most gentle at the same time. He might have waited too long to say those big three words and so now she was out of his limit.
He was sure she would have never liked him like the way he liked her. She could only give him employment to her father's office.
Ivy was gone, hope was gone.
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