Chapter 2009


    Chapter 2009


    Ivy was utterly baffled by his assumption, a frown creasing her smooth forehead. She wasn’t angry, not


    even close.


    “Wait a sec. Why do you think I’m mad?”


    Balfour cocked his head, his expression one of mock confusion.


    “I’m not mad, really,” Ivy said, shing a wry smile, “I just don’t know anyone here, so I feel a bit out of


    ce, that’s all. But mad? Nope, not me.”


    But no matter what she said, Balfour had already whisked her away from the clubhouse, and there was


    no turning back.


    “Just hop in the car.” Balfour swung open the passenger door, ushered her into the backseat, and then


    slid into the seat opposite hers. The designated driver was already waiting, keys in the ignition, ready to


    go the moment they were settled.


    Ivy wanted to clear the air, but it seemed pointless now, so she chose silence over futile exnations.


    Without a word, Balfour directed the driver to head back to the movie theater. Pulling Ivy along, he


    climbed the stairs at a time.


    “Two tickets, next showing,” Balfourmanded, snapping up tickets for the movie they’d missed


    earlier.


    As Ivy took the tickets, she winced inwardly at the cost-another twenty bucks down the drain.


    “Balfour, this is such a waste,” she muttered.


    The first ten bucks had felt like throwing money to the wind, and now here they were again. It wasn’t as


    if the movie was going away, and it would be online eventually. There was no need to spend more


    money on it, especially since it wasn’t exactly Oscar material.


    Balfour seemed agitated by her prattling, “Are you watching it or not?” he growled, fixing her with a


    re.


    Ivy bit her lip, knowing better than to argue, “Of course, I’m watching.”


    If she bailed now, Balfour would bolt, and the tickets would go to waste. She couldn’t let that happen.


    The movie started at 11:40 p.m., and in the dark expanse of the theater, it was just them, and no one


    else hade.


    In the quiet, the only sounds were the movie’s dialogue and their own breathing.


    Nervous and preupied, Ivy couldn’t focus on the film. She nced at her phone, and it was 11:50


    p.m.


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    Soon it would be midnight, and Balfour’s birthday would be over. She hadn’t known about it


    beforehand, but now that she did, she couldn’t ignore it.


    “Balfour,” she whispered, turning to face him, “I’m sorry I didn’t know today was your birthday until


    Giselle started the celebration. I just found out.”


    “OK,” Balfour grunted, slowly turning to meet her eyes.


    Their gaze locked, and in the dim light of the theater, something flickered between them, charged and


    intimate.


    Feeling his stare, Ivy nervously dropped her gaze, “Balfour, it’s not midnight yet, so it’s still your


    birthday. I guess it’s not toote to say Happy Birthday.”


    He’d heard those words all day, but none had stirred anything inside him, until now.


    Balfour’s eyes softened as he looked at her, “Thanks. So, where’s my gift?”


    Ivy’s eyes shot back to his, her brow furrowing in mild distress, “I just found out today, so I didn’t get


    you anything.”