Sign Your Name Across My Heart

Chapter fifteen

The music booms in Bram's condo, bouncing off each wall. I sit at a round table, one leg crossed over the other. Ash sits on the chair next to me, his chair close enough to me to drape an arm over my shoulders. Ahead of me, Ivy and Bram are close beside each other, Ivy hanging all over him. Next to Bram is a close friend of his. He introduced himself as Sean when I got here with Ash.

Ash whispered in my ear when I met him that he's new to the business, but already close to Bram. Bram trusts him. He's a big guy, he has a small goatee and chubby cheeks that light up when he smiles. However he hasn't smiled much since he got here.

I know I said I needed time away from Ash and that's just what I did. It had been nearly two weeks since I last saw him before tonight. We texted with each other a couple times throughout those two weeks but I never let him come over or take me out. I told him I was busy, tired, not home, not trying to sound mean but anything to not have to see him. He knew something was going on, since it was such a sudden switch with me. He knew exactly what caused it as well. He called me two nights ago and told me how sorry he was, how he knows I've been distant because of what he did. He told me he won't let his anger get the best of him like that again. He also said not to be scared, that he would never hurt me, all he wants is for me to be happy and safe. I believe him. It didn't take a lot of convincing, as during those two weeks without him, I grew to miss him a lot.

The goal was never to cut him off, it was just to take some time to think. And I think I want him.

We spoke for about an hour on the phone before he asked me if I wanted to go to a party with him. He told me Ivy and Bram were going to be there, so I could say no if I wanted to, but I felt like I had to go. I haven't spoken a lot with Ivy since that morning when she invited Bram over without asking me, and everytime we have spoken, it's been a little uncomfortable. I still haven't told her everything that's been going on with Bram yet and I feel slightly bad about it.

I feel like I had to go out to show Ivy that I wasn't mad anymore, I just wanted everything to be normal. Like Ash, I had also missed Ivy quite a lot.

It was a good two weeks by myself, I went to work, I didn't see anyone, I just kept to myself. I also did a lot of cleaning that's been building up on my to-do list as well. It felt good.

Ivy's wasted, completely drunk out of her mind. I haven't seen her like this in a while. Bram is pretty drunk as well. I haven't looked at him at all most of the night, but the night's also just started. Sean is sipping on something in a cup, but I'm not sure what it is, but he also looks pretty intoxicated. I think Ash and I are the only ones sober, having only been sharing a beer together. He's going to drive me home after, so he doesn't want to drink too much.

Ivy's head is resting on Bram's shoulder and her eyes are closing every couple seconds. She looks like she's going to pass out soon. Part of me wants to be a mom to her like usual, to get up and take her away from this, from everyone, and bring her home to make sure she's safe. However, I told myself that I have to stop doing that. I do it for her too much.

"I'll be back." Ash whispers in my ear as he has his phone clutched in his hand. I nod at him as he gets up and makes his way through a chunk of people dancing, walking out onto the same balcony that we had our first real conversation on.

"So, Libby..." Bram starts as he looks at Ivy, seeing as though she's finally passed out on his shoulder. He has a tight grip around her, to make sure she doesn't fall.

"Hm?" I hum, looking at him, taking a sip of Ash's beer.

"I'm happy you came tonight. I was worried you hated us."

I scoff. "I don't hate you guys." Ivy, no. Him? Definitely.

"Well you sure did want us to leave before we even got to eat breakfast. What was that all about?" He tosses his hand up in the air, then drops it back down onto his lap.