𝔼𝕧𝕖𝕣𝕘𝕣𝕖𝕖𝕟

Chapter 24 : Cigarettes

Alex feels like he just got caught doing something very wrong.

"Hi !" he greets enthusiastically.

Ivy doesn't deflect, "Hi."

Alex knows he has nothing to feel guilty about, and he's getting tired of her attitude.

Lies. Lies. Lies.

Ivy's reaction makes him all giddy inside, but he can see her energy isn't matching his, so he takes the bait anyway, "Okay, what now ?"

Ivy cocks her head to the side in fake confusion, "what do you mean ?"

"We were good an hour ago, and now you're trying to pick a fight. What have I done this time ?"

Alex is bracing himself for an outburst.

It never comes.

Instead, Ivy tries for a laugh, "you lied to me. You said you didn't like her."

It all clicks in Alex's brain.

He understands that, to Ivy, it looks like he's having an affair as soon as her back is turned.
He wants to be offended or get angry because they're not even together, but the look of utter defeat on the girl's face disheartens him.

So Alex drags his feet toward Ivy, places a small kiss on her forehead, and stays there for a minute.

"I didn't and I don't. I'm right here with you."

"I'm sorry," Ivy mumbles when he presses one last kiss to the top of her head.

They stand there, in the way of all these doctors, nurses, and patients and somehow, they are content, that is until Alex mentions work dully, so Ivy decides to leave.

"I'm going to hang out with Mason for a bit if you're not gonna entertain me," Ivy shrugs and Alex feigns outrage when she disappears quickly behind the doors that lead to the patient rooms with a playful smile.

The rest of the day goes by quickly, with Alex contacting his clients via E-mails or phone calls and Ivy spending that time in Mason's room.
She comes out every few hours to check on Alex when the others leave for work, but every time Ivy appears with a big smile, she leaves with a huff because Alex is still on the phone.

This continues until it's dinner time and the guys are back. Alex's last phone call ends when Tyler walks through the hospital doors. His best friend greets him with a wave of his hand and a smile that Alex returns weakly.

Tyler is about to walk over to him when Ivy reappears. This time with her 'my-brother-is-back' smile. Alex knows, try as he might, that such joy will never be directed toward him.

But then Ivy leaves Tyler's arms to search for Alex, and when her eyes land on the boy, it's a whole different kind of smile.

The - I've-been-waiting-for-you - kind of smile.

Alex has been hoping for that smile for an entire month, and damn if it wasn't worth the wait.

So Alex returns it as the siblings walk hand in hand over to him.

"Fucking finally !" Ivy whines, "how do you stand having your phone glued to your ear all day? It's not good for you !"

Alex rolls his eyes at Ivy, looking utterly bemused, "you get used to it."

"Yes, well. I hope you're done for the day cause we need to eat dinner!" Ivy presses.

Alex is about to agree when Tyler interrupts, staring intently at Alex, "actually Al, I wanted to talk to you outside real quick if you don't mind."