Sign Your Name Across My Heart

Chapter ten

Ivy turns her phone back to her as Bram says, "Hi Libby. It's nice to see you." I don't like Bram. I don't like the way he speaks, the way he acts, the way he treats me or Ivy, for that fact. He seems like bad news, especially for Ivy. She's never had good taste in men, speaking as though this is the fifth guy she's been involved with just this year and it's only May. One guy per month, I guess.

I don't want to but my curiosity kills me, so I look over at Ivy's phone again. Bram is lying in bed, holding his phone low, so that you can see part of his bare stomach and chest that's covered in a bit of dark brown hair. He's doing it on purpose. "You look hot." Ivy says, softly. I cringe on the inside. Why is she doing this? I don't feel comfortable in the slightest.

"Thanks, babe. You can come and join me if you want." He sounds so arrogant. He knows she's with me, he knows that I can hear what he's saying. I bet that he's enjoying the possibility that I'm looking at Ivy's phone right now, which I am - but it's not because I want to see him, it's more so just because I can't even believe my eyes of what's happening right beside me. "You can come too, Libby." He chuckles. Jerk.

"You're so bad." Ivy says as she laughs with him. Who is she right now? Why is she letting him speak to her like this? Inviting me over to his house with her, knowing he's almost naked in his bed. I'm so embarrassed right now. I'm even embarrassed for her.

Ivy looks at me, almost like she's waiting for me to answer. She also has a look of 'help' in her eyes. What is going on with her? "No thanks, I wouldn't want to intrude." I mutter bluntly, looking at him through the screen, as Ivy had turned her phone slightly to me when I started speaking.

Bram laughs gently as he purposely flashes a little lower down his body, since he knows I'm looking. I see that he's not wearing any boxers, just his blanket covering him. I almost yelp as I quickly look away. Ivy almost drops her phone as she turns it back to her, assuming she didn't want me to see Bram like that. "Oh come on, you wouldn't be intruding." He replies.

I don't answer him and I shift, turning my body a little further away from Ivy. I go back on my phone, I don't want to be involved in their conversation anymore. I didn't want to be a part of it at all in fact, they just forced me to be.

It's silent for what feels like forever, before Ivy brings up an inside story, or perhaps joke, something that's between just her and Bram, so that I won't understand. Honestly, I'm thankful. I start scrolling aimlessly online, trying not to listen to what they're saying. My mind slowly starts filling with thoughts of Ash. I can't stop thinking about how good he makes me feel. He makes me feel things that no one has ever made me feel before.

I hadn't realized an hour and a half had gone by before hearing soft snores coming from beside me. I look over, getting out of the trance from my phone and the thoughts of Ash. I see Ivy asleep, snoring. I chuckle and reach over, seeing as though her phone is still on, and I go to turn it off for her so it won't die. As I pick up her phone, I see that she's still on a facetime call with Bram. I see he's not paying attention and he has his phone propped up to show most of his upper body. I see lights flashing while he has a video game controller in his hands. Why wouldn't he hang up once he saw she was sleeping? I scoff and go to end the call but I see Bram's attention is quickly and excitedly turned to me. "Don't end the call." He says, a strange animalistic expression on his face. It instantly makes me feel uneasy.

"Goodnight, Bram." I ignore him, going to press the little red circle.

"Just because Ivy's asleep doesn't mean we can't talk." He adds on, still staring at me.

"I'm tired, Bram." I mutter, growing uncomfortable with the fact that we're still speaking.

"Wait, I need your help with something first." He calls out. I frown, wondering what his aim is right now. Is he just trying anything he can to keep me on the phone with him? I stay a little longer, wondering what he's up to.

"With what?" I ask.

Bram pushes his phone a bit and slides the blankets off his body, revealing himself. I can't believe my eyes. He really just showed me his body so freely like that. I quickly hang up and throw Ivy's phone on the couch beside her. I looked at her, hoping that wasn't enough to wake her. I don't think I'd be able to face her right now, after what I just saw.

My mind is running, I don't know what to think. Why did he do that, how could he do that? I feel sick to my stomach, but at the same time in a weird way, my stomach is fluttering. Besides seeing things online, that was the first time I've seen a man's body in real life. Of course it wasn't in person, but it felt so personal, so real. I'm overwhelmed with all the emotions I'm feeling, I don't know how to process them.

Suddenly, I hear my phone vibrate. I lunge for it, hoping it's Ash, which luckily for me, it is.

What? Never seen a dick before?

My heart begins to bang against my chest before it falls into my stomach. I was never texting with Ash earlier today, I was texting Bram. I sent Bram that personal picture of me in my bra. I gasp to myself, clutching my mouth with one hand as the other holds my phone, shaking. I had just assumed it was Ash who messaged me, since I just gave him my number - but it never was.

How did Bram get my number? I never gave him my number. I think back to the last couple of days and my jaw drops as I realize. Bram used Ivy's phone to text me about joining them for dinner. He must have taken it from her phone. I feel exposed and sick. I don't like that he did that, especially unbeknownst to Ivy as well.

I ignore Bram's text, still processing what just happened. I get up and slowly put Ivy into a more comfortable position, careful not to wake her up in the process, because I can't face her right now. What would I tell her? That I unknowingly sent a picture of me in my bra to her boyfriend because I thought it was Ash? I feel like she would never believe that. I put a blanket over her and turn off all the lamps I have on in the apartment while making my way to my bedroom.

My phone buzzes.

Getting shy all of a sudden? What happened earlier today? That sweet little picture you sent me made me think you wanted me.

I read it and gulp, feeling like I'm going to vomit out the contents of my stomach. What should I say? What am I supposed to do?

You tricked me. I thought this was Ash's number. You were never supposed to see that picture.

I close my door and get into bed, laying there, my mind still racing. I need a distraction but I don't have one. I don't have Ash's number and he hasn't texted me yet. I have no way of contacting him.

My phone never buzzed again for the rest of the night and on one hand I was relieved that Bram wasn't answering but on the other hand I wanted to know what he had to say to that message I sent him.