~ ~ Beatrix ~ ~

Shutting the door to my apartment, kicking off my shoes, I padded down the hallway to find the living room in darkness. It wasn't like Ivy to sleep in. Perhaps she'd slept next door at Estelle's?

I shrugged to myself, throwing my purse on the sofa and walked over to our double windows to pull up the blinds, propping open the window. It was stuffy in here and the day was warming up to be another scorcher.

Turning, I spotted two wine glasses and three empty bottles of wine. Someone had a good night.

Picking the glasses up and balancing the bottles, I headed to our kitchen.

Yawning, Christ, I was shattered, fucked in both senses of the word. Recycling the bottles and dropping the glasses into the dishwater, my bed called out to me. And at least I didn't need a shower. Fucking in the shower was a win-win. Get dirty and clean simultaneously.

Walking past Ivy's room, I heard shuffling inside. Perhaps she was awake? About to knock, the door opened ajar. I jumped back, startled when a head and partly bare shoulder I didn't recognise popped out.

My eyebrows shot up. "Hi?" This was new. It was a man. A very cute man.

He whispered. "Hey, you must be Trixie?"

He knew me?

Those warm blue eyes of his put me at ease as cheeks flushed. He reminded me of someone but couldn't put my finger on who.

About to ask him his name.

"Ivy's asleep." Glancing over his shoulder, he added. "Do you want me to wake her?"

He obviously didn't know Ivy well—waking her was akin to having one's bikini line waxed. Eye-watering and burned like a mofo. I'd learned that the hard way.

However, he seemed sweet. "As long as you haven't got her tied up and gagged in there—leave her be."

He tilted his head, looking at me like I was crazy.

"I'm alive... I think." I heard Ivy's muffled croak. "Neeeeed caffeine."

I grinned. "Can I get you one—?" Waiting for him to drop a name.

"James and no thanks. Not for me."

James? I was looking forward to finding out more.

Getting the coffee ready, a cloud of black curly hair caught my eyes as Ivy plodded into the kitchen, sitting herself at the table with a groan. "Perfect timing." I stirred the coffee. "Good night?"

"God, why did I drink so much?" she mumbled.

I turned with coffees in hand and placed them on the table. "Did you forget your clothes?" It shouldn't have shocked me to find her naked.

She waved off my remark.

"It must have been a good night?" I barely contained my amusement and it was good to know I wasn't the only one breaking the rules last night, letting someone sleep over. "Hangover?"

"You noticed, huh?"

"Do you want some painkillers?" I leaned over the table and pressed my hand to her forehead.

"Nah, I'll be fine." She sniffed her coffee. "I drank a metric fuck-load of water last night to avoid this... but apparently not enough." She grimaced. "The caffeine will work its magic." She pushed out her chair and stood up, walking tentatively to the cupboard, opening, and grabbing something. It was her cookie jar. "And these babies will make me feel better, too." She hugged the jar as my eyes dropped. She wasn't completely naked.

"Are you wearing his boxers?" I bit back a laugh. "You know you're supposed to wear his shirt... not the guy's underwear."

She pfft'd and sat down. "Says who?" Opening the Jar to fish out a cookie.

"Err... only every book and film. The woman wakes up, looking flawless, and grabs the man's shirt from the floor. It's an unspoken rule." I hummed, adding, "oh and morning breath doesn't exist."

"Just throw me on the outlier pile." she huffed, but suddenly perked up. "And it looks like I wasn't the only one breaking rules... see you didn't come home last night."

There was no hiding her smugness. Change of subject. "Seriously, are you not going to put some clothes on?"

Ivy shoved the cookie into her mouth and then cupped both her breasts. She talked while chewing. "What, you've never minded me naked before?"

I rolled my eyes, laughing. "We have company for breakfast." This was the first time.

"C'mon, no one complains when a man walks around bare chested." She shrugged. "Anyway, you're one to talk, sat there sporting a tramp stamp."

Shit! I'd forgotten about that as I visibly cringed, lifting my hand to cover my neck. "It looks bad, doesn't it?"

Ivy giggled, "Nothing that a bit of makeup won't hide." She winked. "Did Clarke piss on you too?"

I rolled my eyes for a second time. "James looks familiar. Do I know him?"

Ivy shook her head. Her curls fell across her eyes to be flicked aside. "Doubt it. He's Estelle's brother."

Ah... That's why he looked familiar. The family resemblance to Estelle—same colour eyes and red hair. "Oh, I only remember her talking about her sister."

"Yeah, James was her sister. He's transgender. Born Ellen and they haven't really talked much over the last two years. Estelle had a hard time adjusting." She blew over her coffee.

"So what's this, then? Are you dating them both?" It wouldn't surprise me.

She shrugged. "Estelle and I are better as friends, although she's open for fun when we're both horny."

"And James?"

"Only met him last night, officially."

"And Estelle's okay that he stayed over?"

Ivy nodded. "Yeah, in some fucked up way I think I'm helping them to bond."

"Ah, so you and James have the potential to go more than a few rolls in the sack?"

"Friends for sure. The other...ask me again in a few days." She reached for the sugar bowl, spooning in another two heaps.

"Jesus, Ivy—your teeth won't thank you for all that sugar."

She ignored me. "As well as his day job, which we'll get to. He's also a writer. I want you to read his stuff. He let me read some from his phone. I think he's got potential."

"Sure."

Her face lifted in surprise. "Yeah?"

"Of course, you know I trust your judgement. Ask him to drop something by."

Both our heads turned as James walked into the kitchen, his lips parted at the sight of Ivy sitting at the table naked... or almost naked. James had dressed, apart from being forced to go commando. I had a feeling I was going to get along with James. He had this whole hipster chic look with his red hair and deep blue friendly eyes.

He smiled and held his hand out to me. "Let me introduce myself properly. I've heard so much about you."

I shook his hand. "I dread to think what she told you." His widening grin implied he knew more than he should.

Ivy butted in. "Only the fun stuff. Y'know you being a kinky bitch!" She tittered.

My jaw dropped as James coughed into his hand, and it came out suspiciously like he was hiding a laugh. "Seriously Ivy, is nothing sacred?"

"What?  I like him, and he has some kind of superpower that makes me talk."

I shot her a look. "I think the wine did that." Ivy shrugged, popping another cookie in her mouth. "And your arse won't thank you either if you keep shovelling them in."

"Meh." She flipped me off, grinning.

"Your secrets are safe, Trixie." He smiled, turning toward Ivy. "I wondered where they were." His eyes dipped.

"You don't need them, do you?" Plucking the waist band. "I like them, comfy."

"Er... hmm, no." The heat rose in his cheeks as he tried to cover his surprise. "It's okay. They look better on you, anyway."

Ivy jumped up and twirled, wriggling her arse. "I look hot—don't I?"

Only Ivy could get away saying and doing something like that.

James cleared his throat, nodding. "Yeah, definitely hot." His voice sounded strangled. The man was adorable. "I'm gonna need to shoot off. Can I see you later?" He yanked on the collar of his shirt. "At the club—Risk?"

The club... Risk?

"I'm gonna check in with my girl here, and I'll message you later, okay?" she replied, taking a slurp of her coffee. "C'mon I'll walk you out."

Returning a few minutes later, I scrolled through my iPad checking my messages. My head lifted. "Please tell me you didn't walk him to the lift naked?"

"And...?" Ivy smirked, wiggling her eyebrows. "Anyway, I'm not naked. My kitty is well covered."

Jesus, my eyes were going dizzy with all the rolling.

She picked up her drink and flicked her head. "C'mon. Let's sit on the sofa, and you can tell me all about your night." She started walking off. "Oh, and fetch the jar. I'm hoping you're gonna have some juicy stuff to share."

Urgh... I wasn't so sure I wanted to tell her I'd given Cam more time to tell me what he was hiding. "Your arse is telling me it needs no more biscuits."

"Ha, cheeky bitch. You can only dream of having an ass as sexy as mine."

She knew I was only teasing. I grabbed the jar of cookies, my coffee and followed, watching her ass sway in those star spangled boxers, and she was right, mine would never look as good as hers!

As we both sat, I plonked the cookie jar between us. Ivy turned, tucking one leg beneath the other so she could face me. Then she jumped right in. "So, let me guess, no talking— you went straight to fucking."

Christ, she was using her mom voice on me as she pushed back her spiral curls. "Don't say it like that—like it's a bad thing."

She pulled the lid from the jar and plucked out a cookie. "Okay." She nibbled. "You got distracted by his dick and then you talked—yes?"

I winced, sucking a breath through my teeth, squeezing my shoulders together. "Yeah... about that."

Her chewing paused, eyes sharpened. "Trix, what did we talk about at length before you left last night?" She didn't wait for my answer. "Confessions before grinding your private parts together!"

Groaning. "Yeah, I know." I paused, wanting to reach for a cookie, instead I bit down on my thumbnail.

"Stop biting your nails." Ivy swatted my finger.

"What can I say? He answered the door—Naked!"   I fanned myself. "God, it's hot in here." Was the air con not working?

It was her turn to look surprised. "Way to go Clarke... Nice." She prodded me to continue. "C'mon, what does about that mean?"

Just say it! My hesitation drew a frustrated sign from Ivy. "Yeah... right. So, I've taken the deadline off the table." A nervous laugh crept up my throat.

Her eyes widened. "Man, he must have one amazing dick?" She blew out a breath as her dark brows snapped into a frown. "Did he ask you for more time?"

I shook my head. "No, Finn asked me."

"Finn?"

"Finn came home early last night... or rather, joined us."

"Joined? As if you had a three-way?" Her mouth kicked up into a smirk. "Fuck, Trix. Why didn't you start with that?" Eyes twinkling, her giddiness bubbling over like champagne.

"I would have if you'd let me get a word in."

"Hal-le-fucking-luja," she hummed happily. "I didn't think you'd get there that quick. Y'know, with Cam and the giant stick up his ass."

Surprised the hell out of me, too. "You were right about there being more than meets the eye with those two."

She put her drink down. "Yeah?" she gasped. "Nooo. Don't tell me Cam likes dick?"

I would not share what Cam had told me. But Finn wouldn't mind. "Finn's in love with Cam."

"Spank my ass, I knew it—see, my mojo never lets me down." She bopped up and down.

"Will you quit that, or at least put more clothes on?" It didn't faze Ivy, her tits bouncing all over the place.

She froze. "Not to jinx anything here, but I'm sensing something is off."

I grumbled. "Cam doesn't know."

She relaxed back, taking a bite of her cookie. I could see her head swimming with questions. "Son of a Bieber, how can he not know?"

I'd wondered this too, shaking my head. "Best guess. Finn's a talented actor or Cam's just refuses to acknowledge it."

"Do you think Cam has feelings for Finn?" she asked.

I shrugged. "Honestly, I'm not sure. I think there's something there, but he's too stubborn to see it, or scared to accept it."

"And how do you feel about it?" Ivy cocked her head studying me.

How did I feel?

That was the question I was trying to figure out. I'd had my future mapped out and maybe it was the sudden paralysing, overwhelming image of my future suddenly being flipped on its head that was stressing me out the most. Getting involved with not one but two men distracted me from my end game. "I'm okay, I guess."

"Nah-ah. Don't feed a line. You're hiding something." She sat up, using her finger to twist my head toward her. There was no masking her concerned expression.

I sighed, wanting to avoid this conversation until I figured it out. "How do you know I'm hiding something?"

"Girl, you know I have an in-built bullshit detector."

"Fine—" Where the hell did I start? Finn was in love with Cam, but had feelings for me. Cam loved me and didn't have a clue about his feelings for Finn. And me—I'd never stopped loving Cam and didn't doubt my deepening feelings for Finn.

Drawing in a deep breath. This was a Greek tragedy in the making.

"All this wasn't part of my plan," I confessed.

Ivy grabbed another cookie, waving it around as she spoke. "Ah, you're worried a relationship will fuck up your career goals?"

Yes, and no.

"Or are you really worried about letting yourself feel something, opening yourself up?"

Yeah, that too. I shrugged.

"Woman up, sister. You can have it all."

Have it all?   My career was important. I had something to prove, not only to Sean but to myself. I'd earned this position. Then, throw in a relationship and not just the normal run-of-the-mill relationship. Oh no. I had to be different. And how could it ultimately work? Being a couple took work—but three? Wasn't that asking for trouble? Especially if not all parties involved didn't feel the same.

"You know this differs from Sean, and Sadie," she paused, adding, "I mean Sean, Sadie and you. Because let's face it. You never allowed it to go further that sex. You always kept your feelings squirreled away."

"That's not totally fair. I cared for them both. I was committed"

"Yeah, cared." She shuffled in her seat. "As in, you care for a friend or a puppy." 

Neither Sean nor Sadie asked for more from me, although sometimes I got the faint impression Sean felt more than he let on.

"And if you want me to be honest, then you stayed with them because it was less of a commitment."  She took my hand in hers. "Because your scared Trix."

Was she right?  Scared?

Ivy continued. "The way I see it. The rule books' been tossed out—go with the flow, don't stress. Fuck until you're bored or get a UTI."

Ivy let go of my hand and popped in another cookie.  I sat listening to her crunch her biscuit. "Lets be honest here Ivy. You know long term this won't work if we don't all feel the same."

"You can't worry about what might or might  not happen."

She made it sound simple. But when the heart was on the line—it could never be simple. Ultimately, one or all three of us could get hurt.

"I can see that genius mind of yours working overtime."

I scoffed. "Genius? Yeah. I've jumped back in bed with my ex. Have feelings for his best friend—who's in love with his best friend. Who doesn't have a clue that his best friend loves him!" Phew. I threw my hands up. "Fuck, give me one of those goddamn cookies."

Ivy grinned, passing me one. "Here, calm your tits!"

"I think I should call quits on this right now!"

"Pfft—stop throwing it away before its started. You're not a quitter Trix." She made it sound easy. "You don't know how it's going to turn out. Just enjoy the sex for now. Don't complicate things by overthinking—like you always do!"

"It's already complicated."

"No, it's not Trix."

Wasn't it?  Fucked if I knew. I was beginning to bore and irritate myself for thinking about it non-stop. And what was the worst that could happen. A broken heart? Maybe. But was regret worse? Never taking the chance?

I tipped my head to the side, considering what she'd said.  Woman up!   Her words repeated in my head.  Ivy was spot on, as always. "Okay."

"What!?" she blurted, obviously not expecting me to cave so quickly. "You're seriously taking my advice without me twisting your arm?"

It was incredulous to me too. "Yes, you're right. I'm overthinking it."

"Fuck, you should eat cookies more often!"

We both laughed. "Pass me another."

A goofy smile spread across her lips. "Atta' girl."

Ivy sat up, grabbing her mug from the table. "I need more caffeine. You want one?"

"Yeah, please." I passed her my mug. "Oh, are we doing something tonight? Or are you seeing James?"

"Oh yeah. I almost forgot. James's day job is he manages a club... Sorta like a kink club and tonight is an open night. You up for it?"

I had said I would go with her. "Yeah, count me in."

My phone buzzed as I stretched across the sofa to reach for my purse. "It's from Cam. He's asking what I'm doing tonight." Ivy was walking out of the room, but shouted over her shoulder.

"Invite him and Finn. Could be fun."

That was a great idea.

I quickly replied, asking but including Finn in the invite. If this was going to work, then Cam needed to be on the same page too.

He replied before I'd blinked. I'm game, but will need to check with Finn.

Okay, that sounded promising.

Another message came through. I miss you.

I smiled, replying. Been less than two hours since you were balls deep inside me!

Another message. Yeah, 2 long-as-fuck hours!!

I grinned, thinking of a cheeky reply. Entertain yourself. Ask Finn to help!  I inserted a smiley, winky face. And if that wasn't a big enough hint, then I didn't know what was.

Pressing send. I fired off one last message. Miss you too x

Taping my phone, my mind ran over the possibilities for tonight, hatching a plan. This might work better if Cam thought he was in control. Last night, he'd instructed me and Finn. But tonight, he would play my game—he just wouldn't know it.

I lifted my phone and messaged Finn. For this to work, he had to be on board.

Was I manipulating the situation—maybe.  Risky—possibly.  But worth the risk—definitely.