Sign Your Name Across My Heart

Chapter eighteen

On our way out of the museum Bram asks, "Do you want to come over? Ash should be there."

I think about it for a moment, and although it seems like a bad idea, I want to see Ash. "Okay." I state.

Bram takes my empty glass from me and places them on the tray of the waiter from earlier.

Though it's not necessary, he takes my hand and guides me out of the building.

As I sit on the passenger side, he keeps his hand on the back of my seat. It's almost like since I'm not letting him touch me, he's trying to be as close to me as he can. He seems clingy. I wonder how Ivy is able to put up with him.

I take a deep breath in as we get to Bram's condo. I'm always blown away by how nice it looks, even from the outside. You can tell everyone who lives here makes good money.

As he parks, I hurry out of the car so he doesn't try to open the door for me again. I don't want him to feel like he has to, like I'm waiting for it.

I don't wait for him, as I rush up the stairs to the main door. I'm eager to see Ash.

I hear him hurrying after me. He unlocks the door of the main entrance once he reaches me and we walk to his door. He unlocks that one as well and I walk inside, immediately taking off my heels. I feel so much relief.

I don't see Ash, but I can hear him. "He's probably in the kitchen." Bram tells me.

I walk to the kitchen, searching for him, smiling as I see him sitting at the island. I walk over and he holds a hand out that I happily take, gently pulling me down into his lap. "Hey." I say.

"Hi beautiful. How was the show?"

"Uh, It was alright." I replied. I add on in a whisper, "I was mean to him all night."

He kisses my cheek and laughs.

I see a man sitting across from us, looking at me. He has a huge chain around his neck, bracelets dripping with diamonds, rings covering his fingers. I feel almost intimidated by his presence. "This is Hawthe." Ash introduces him, looking over at him. "Hawthe, this is Libby. She's my girl."

I look at him and give him a kind smile. "It's nice to meet you."

"It's nice to meet you too, hun." He responds.

Suddenly, I hear a knock at the door, the door opening immediately after. "Baby!" I hear a familiar voice shout. It's Ivy.

"Hey..." I hear Bram, but not as clearly. I wonder if he knew she was coming.

Ash lightly rubs my thigh, placing little kisses on my shoulder.

I look over as I see Ivy and Bram walking into the kitchen, Bram having an angry expression on his face. It's obvious to me now that Ivy came over unannounced. I can tell that's something Bram wouldn't like.

"Ivy's here." Bram huffs out, trying to sound enthusiastic.

"Hey!" Ivy says to me, coming over to give me a hug. I give her one back, before she looks at me with wide eyes. "You look good. Where were you guys tonight?" She asks, looking from me, to Ash, then back to me.

I pause, not sure how to answer. She thinks it's Ash and I that went out. Should I lie? I look at her momentarily, quickly deciding that it's not a good idea to lie. But before I can say anything, Bram says, "I took her to the art exhibit that you didn't want to go to." He sounds blunt, cold.

"Oh," She says softly. I can tell there's many things going through her head right now, based on her facial expression. She looks confused, happy, angry, upset, everything you can think of. "That's nice." She mumbles.