Page 74 of Play the Last Card
“You—oh my lord, my husband won’t believe me when I tell him. You’re Scott Harvey.”
“I am, yes.” I nod. I tap my fingers along the counter top. “I’m looking for one of your teachers. Do you think you can help me out?”
“What are—who are you looking for? Here?” She rises from her seat, fiddling with the lanyard hanging around her neck.
“Uh, I’m looking for Ivy Booker.” Brenda’s eyes widen.
“Ivy? Our Ivy?!”
I chuckle. “You know her?”
“Well, of course I know her.” She glances over her shoulder at the closed door behind her. “I can’t just let you go wandering the school grounds.”
My chest begins to tighten. The desperate need to speak to Ivy coursing through my veins. I convinced myself on the drive over that I would be able to see her now. I inhale deeply and plaster on my best, most charming smile.
“I promise to only be a minute. I really need to see her.”
She purses her lips and her eyes track me from head to toe as if she’s sizing me up. Then she lifts the phone on her desk to her ear, punchingin numbers on the keypad. We both wait, her still sizing me and me just trying to keep my cool.
“Cheryl, can you please come and cover the office for a few minutes? I have to walk a visitor to Ms. Booker’s classroom,” Brenda says into the phone. She smiles and nods. “Thanks sweetheart.”
Cheryl shows up and I notice that they have the same style tortoise shell glasses. I don’t miss the not so subtle looks the ladies share before I follow Brenda out of the administration office and through the corridors.
I remember the way from when I was here in the summer but I don’t let on. The last thing I want is to get Ivy in trouble and my guess is that Brenda and Cheryl don’t miss much. Brenda slows down as we get to Ivy’s classroom door.
“Thanks, Brenda.” I smile down at her, pasting on the charming smile I muster up through my nerves. I glance through the window in the door and see Ivy’s chestnut, honey hair swaying behind her as she wanders through the clusters of tiny desks.
“Not a problem, dear. Just a minute though, we didn’t sign you in properly.” She winks at me and steps away.
I steal my spine, suck air into my lungs and knock gently on the door.
Ivy whips around. Her hair settles over her shoulders, her cheeks flush and her eyes shine.
Fuckme.
How the hell did I forget how beautiful she is?
A small child tugs on her dress but her attention is locked on me. My heart races and I can feel the blood pumping in my ears. I want to burst through the door, thread my fingers through her hair and kiss her so badly. I want it more than I want my next breath.
Adrenaline spikes as she says something to her class while walking my way. I don’t take my eyes off her.
The door opens, her body between it and the door frame. She glares up at me. “What the hell are you doing here?”
“I need to talk to you.” I lean against the door frame and the position brings me a little closer to her.
“So you decided to turn up at my school? How did you even get in here during the day?” she whispers angrily. The flush begins to run up her neck, painting her soft skin red. She pokes her head further out the door frame, looking around until she see’s Brenda lurking a few steps away. Her eyes roll.
“You didn’t text me back.”
“I know.” She glances over her shoulder before sagging into the door frame opposite me.
“Can we please talk?” I ask.
“I’m literally at work, Scott. No. We cannot talk right now.” Her words sting but I hear the strain, the sadness lacing them. It matches my own and that’s enough to keep me going.
“Tonight? Can I come over? Can we talk tonight?” I press. I let go. I let the desperation seep into my words. I need her to see how badly I want this. How badly I want her.
She hesitates, chewing on her bottom lip. Out of the corner of my eye, I see Brenda step closer to us. She’s doing a pretty shit job at masking her eavesdropping efforts but I’m past the point of caring.