~ ~ Ivy ~ ~

As I waved to Alex and the Uber pulled off, I was unlocking my phone and sending a text message with three simple letters.

S. O. S!!!!  

It took less than ten seconds for a response.

"What's wrong?" Trix's worried voice came through the loudspeaker.

"I'm living my worst nightmare!"

"What the one where you wake up with all your shoes stolen? Or the one where the gynaecologist loses his watch?"

"We agreed never to talk about the gynaecologist. Ever!" 

I shuddered and filled her in on the latest drama that was my life, talking so fast one might think I was on speed.

Or at least the Uber driver did, giving me weird looks through his rear-view mirror.

"Ohmygod! And Grams is there too?"

"Ah-huh."

"So, hold up—where are they?"

"At Risk."

"Shit," she mirrored my thoughts and blew out a breath.

"I know. I can hear her now." I changed my voice to sound more self-righteous. "I didn't raise my daughter to frequent a den of sin." The driver smothered his laughter. "I'm expecting to arrive and find her standing at the door praying for all the lost souls."

Trix laughed. "C'mon, don't you think you're being a little dramatic?"

"C'mon you remember that time I told her I had a date with a girl? And she told me God would still love me, but I was most likely going to hell."

"Okay, yeah.  I remember, but I still think given time she will come around.  She loves you, Ivy and I think it's time you quit hiding."

"You really think she could love a freak for a daughter?" I dragged my hand down my face.

"Hey, I love that freak!"

"That's because you're a freak, too!"

"How did she get the address?"

"Josh and Alex, being sexy, nerdy geeks, are into those comics that my dad loved and treasured more than any of his offspring." Trix giggled. "So I thought it might be y'know, hey lets give them to someone who would really appreciate them... or Josh and Alex." I groaned. "So I had Matty mail some of them over to me."

"You did that for them?"

There was no hiding her shock as I rolled my eyes.

"Ivy. You can say what you like, but this sounds to me like you've caught feelings."

Deflated, I let out a sigh of surrender. "Ugh. Fine. I admit it. Happy now!?"

She squealed so loud that the Uber driver winced. "I have three words." She paused for affect.  "About bloody time!"

I couldn't help but smile at her enthusiasm before I carried on. "But apparently catching feelings makes me a fucking moron and my mom must have got the address from my brother."

Note to self: kick Matty's ass when I see him.

"Or maybe it was your subconscious's way of telling you to come clean."

I stared out the car window, scowling at nothing.

"Do you want me to head over—meet you there?"

My expression softened. I loved that she would do that. No matter what, my girl had my back. "Nah. I'll be good. Exorcisms aren't a real thing—I think?"

My head fell back onto the headrest, and my arm sagged at the side of me. "She's gonna do that face." My mom had a way of looking at me, almost through me. "The disappointed one. I just know it."

"She loves you, Ivy. She just wants you to be happy."

"She still thinks I'm a kid, but fine. Okay. If you don't hear from me again, then you can have all my shoes. Oh, and I got this new dildo, still in the box, which cost me two hundred."

"Christ, Ivy—two hundred! I'd need it to talk dirty to me at that price!"

Chuckling. "Trix, I'm fussy about what goes on my feet—my vagina gets the same respect."

The Uber driver groaned, shaking his head.

"Excuse me! This is a private conversation." I told him.

He merely grunted.

Surely this couldn't be the worst thing he'd ever heard?

Back to my conversation. "It's still boxed up, along with a new pegging kit I got for Josh. It would be a shame for them to go to waste."

Trix laughed. "I can't believe you're gifting me your sex toys!"

"What are BFF's for? If not for sharing your shit...oh and clearing out your internet history and helping hide dead bodies." The Uber turned onto my street. "I'm here. Gotta go. Love you."

"Love you too. Call me later, okay?"

Paying the Uber. I stood outside Risk, looking up to the heavens. "Lord, save me from your followers!"

Heading inside, I made my way to Zack's office and as I came out the elevator, there he stood; giving my stink eye. "You're pissed at me, aren't you?"

He grunted. "And what gave you that idea?"

"You have a... look about you. How shall I put this?  Like you want to paddle my ass look and not in a fun way."

Another grunt, or it might have been a growl. 

"Shit. Tell me she hasn't sprayed you with holy water or anything?"

His lips twitched. "No, but if she squirts me one more time with hand sanitiser—" He pulled his hands from his pockets, holding them up for me to see. "Then I'm gonna cuff her."

I cringed. "Sorry." Stepping up and rising on my tippy-toes, my lips brushed his in a chaste kiss. "I'll make it up to you.  I promise.  Now give me five and you'll have your office back."

"Take your time."

And as I moved to walk past him, he grabbed my arm and I twisted my head to look at him. "Quit hiding who you are, Ivy. They're gonna love you either way once they get over the shock." He let go and stepped into the empty lift.

Standing outside the door, I took a breath and opened the door. Both heads swung my way as I plastered on the biggest damned smile I could muster.

"Ivy Gertrude Simcox!"

Oh boy, here we go.

"Mom... can I—"

She was up off the sofa, bulldozing her way toward me, yanking out her trusty bottle of antibacterial hand gel. Grabbing my hand, she squeezed some into my palm.

"Rub together!" she instructed, and I rolled my eyes.

"Keep rolling your eyes like that, and maybe you might find some brains back there and maybe some common sense, too." She huffed. "All that money spent on an education and you end up at a place like this!" She held up her hands, looking around the room.

Biting on my tongue, I smashed my hands together, then held them up for her to inspect.

My Grams said, "Quit being dramatic, Cora," and then she made her way over to me and wrapped me in a hug. "How's my best granddaughter?"

"I'm good, and it's really good to see you." I loved my Grams, and she was the one I'd inherited my mojo from. Which was most likely the reason my mum had dragged her along. Grams here, she was a human-lie detector, could sniff out bullshit like sharks scented blood from miles away.

There was no way I was fibbing my way through this.

"You good, Grams?"

Unwrapping herself, she rubbed her warm hands up and down my arms. "Can't complain."

Easing back, she put some space between us standing beside my mom. "Why didn't you tell me you were coming? I would have met you at the airport."

"Mhmm. So you could keep hiding what you're doing here?" She gave me the look. Disappointment.

"I work here Mom. Nothing to hide. I manage all the clubs' marketing and special events." No way I was telling her I played here and was a part-time dominatrix. "You want to come up to my flat?"

We made our way upstairs, and I made us all a coffee. "Where are you staying?" I called out from the kitchen.

"We've booked into a hotel."

"How long are you staying?" 

Please, please, please no more than a few days!

"Ten days."

Ah, fuck.

Heading back into the front room, I set the drinks down and they both came and sat on the sofa whilst I sat on the smaller chair opposite and waited for the interrogation.

"Mr Coles told us how hard you work and he would be lost without you." Her tight-lipped smile said she wasn't happy. "His choice of career aside. He seems like a nice man. Good teeth."

I would never understand her obsession with teeth.

"Um, yeah. He's a good boss and I love my job here."

"Then why were you ashamed to tell us?"

"I'm not ashamed, Mom. It's just I know you have expectations and I—" My eyes fell. Time to be honest. "I didn't want to make you worry or be disappointed."

"I'm disappointed you lied to us—your family."

"Technically, I didn't lie." Well, maybe a few white lies. "I just omitted some details about my life here. So you wouldn't worry."

"Mr Coles told us he has clubs all over the world, including back home. So why can't you work there instead of here?"

I knew what this was all about. She wanted me back in Canada. Settling down with a nice man and popping out a few grand-babies. "I work closely with Zack, Mom. I need to be here."

"What—so you're planning on staying here? Never coming back home?"

Sighing. "I'm happy here." Her lips pursed. "And right now. This is where I want to be."

"Surely you want to raise your kids where your family is?"

"Jesus, Mom." Shaking my head. "Kids?"

"Ivy, don't you be using the lord's name." She wagged her finger in my direction. "And by the time I was your age, I'd had all four of my children. You. Your brothers."

"I'm not you, Mom." I looked to my Grams for a little help, but she was hiding her smirk behind her coffee mug seemingly enjoying the drama.

Cheers Grams.

My Mom sighed, but I knew I wasn't off the hook yet. "You're eating right? Sleeping? Looking after yourself?"

"Yeah. Just like back home, five days a week, my body's a temple and the other two an amusement park."

Grams chuckled, and my mom's head moved so fast I thought she might give herself whiplash. "Don't encourage her!"

My Grams smiled. "Have you finished grilling the poor child yet?"

"No. I have not." Her head flipped back around to me. "Are you dating anyone?"

Ugh. I knew a trick question when I heard one, that, and my mojo was going batshit crazy. "Why do you ask?"

"Mr Coles said he wasn't sure if you were dating someone called Alex or Josh."

Zack moved from my favourite person list to my shit-list.

And fucking hell.  This was a conversation I could've lived my entire life without having.  But everyone keeps telling me I should be honest.  Let them see me.  The real me... or a watered down version – baby steps.

Straightening my back. "Both," I answered 

My mom's cheeks flushed with her eyebrows fleeing to the ceiling, and my Grams smiled. Apparently, nothing shocked her. Or did she already know?

"What do you mean—both? Is this like one of those love triangles you see on daytime shows?"

"You watch way too much television." I told her, adding. "And, no Mom. I'm not cheating. Josh and Alex are best friends."

Her jaw sawed as she levelled me with her stare.  "And how does that work, Ivy? They take turns to date you?" She looked at Grams for back up. "Well, I never.  Have you ever heard of something like this?"

"The point is, Mom, I like them both. And they don't make me choose."

That was as much detail as she was getting because the look on her face right now, well it screamed intervention or exorcism.

But Trix was right. I had to stop pretending to be the perfect daughter.  

My mom shook her head. "I'm just relieved your father isn't with us to see you working in a place like this."  she reached inside her purse and pulled out a handkerchief.

Oh fuck.  Please don't cry.  

"He had such big dreams for you.  He was always so proud. God rest his soul."  

Ouch.  That hurt.  I was half-sure my dad would have been okay with it and maybe used his quiet, gentle way of shushing my mom and easing her into acceptance of my life choices.

She carried on. "Is this because Beatrix lives with two men?" She performed the sigh of the cross.

I shook my head, sighing. "No, Mom."

"This will turn out just like all those other phases. Just like the time you told me you liked girls."

Still do. "Look. I know it's unconventional, but I like them. Really like them and we're not harming anyone."

"Its wrong Ivy. No where in the bible does it say you can date two men."

I did my best not to roll my eyes. But did the bible have rules of dating?

"Why shouldn't she have two, Cora?" Grams put her empty mug on the table. "Men do it all the time. Equal opportunities and all that."

Yes!

She carried on as my mum's jaw hung open. "You raised a wonderful daughter. A strong daughter. One who seems to me can look after herself. You should be proud of her." She smiled at me. "I know I am."

Hallelujah.

My mom picked her jaw up from the floor. "I brought you with me to talk some sense into her and fetch her home. She works in a sex club and is dating two men; at the same time!" She huffed loudly. "And the lord only knows what else!"

Grams waved it off, smiling proudly at me. "Leave the girl be, Cora. She looks happy. Happier than the last time I saw her. Happy looks good on Ivy."

My mom was not happy. "The road less travelled is less travelled for a reason!"

Oh. did I not mention my mom was full of these one-liners that made no sense to me?

"Ivy. Are these men good men? Treating you with respect?" Grams asked.

"Yes, they are. And yes they do."

My mom shook her head fiercely before jabbing a finger at me. "Okay. You need to listen to what I'm telling you. It's for your own good. If they are willing to share you, then they are nothing but takers."

Eh? I didn't know how she came to that conclusion. But she carried on anyway.

"Men will take every single thing from you and ruin your reputation, like draining the life from you. They will never give to you, ever, because it's not about you, it's always about them. And they will leave you broken, in a heap on the floor."

Christ. I needed an intermission from my mom's ranting.

"Mark my words, Ivy."

"Oh, stop going on Cora." Grams's tone hardened. She had reached her limit for the day. "I'd like to meet them."

Shit. 

But hang on. 

Maybe that wasn't such a bad idea. Both Alex and Josh were very likeable. I'm sure any parent would be tickled pink if their child brought either of them home.

"Anytime. I'm sure they'll love to meet you both."

My mom's mouth opened and then shut as something akin to plotting passed through her sharp brown eyes. "Fine. I'll meet them too."

I wasn't sure if this was crazy or pure genius, but either way, no backing out now.

Another hour went by but at least she eased up on the bible and when they finally left I collapsed on my sofa, feeling exhausted.

Grabbing my phone, I had three messages waiting. Replying to Trix first. Then I grabbed my Mac and made a teams call to Alex. I felt bad for running out on him, especially after the lovely meal he'd cooked.

In seconds, his face filled my screen. And bonus Josh was sitting next to him on the sofa with a games controller in his hand. "Hey. Good, I got you both!"

"Everything okay?" Josh got in first, but Alex nudged him over a bit.

I took a breath. "Sorry about tonight. Running out on you, but I had a family emergency."

"Family emergency—y-y-your family back in Canada?" asked Alex.

Nodding. "Yeah, my mom and grams flew in today."

"And you didn't know they were coming?" asked Josh.

"No. They just turned up at Risk."

"And they're staying with y-y-you?"

"No. They've booked into a hotel." 

"So we won't be able to see you whilst they're here?" Ask Josh looking a little crest-fallen.

"Well, that depends on you two."

They looked at each other and then back at me. "On us?" they said at the same time.

"Yeah, they want to meet you."

They shot each other a shocked look and it was Alex who asked first. "What? Y-y-y-ou've told them about us?" 

I nodded. "Surprise!"

Their identical smiles said it all, but they might not be smiling once they met my mom.

However, I realised something at that moment. Them smiling made me happy. Like, really happy.

What were they doing to me?

But I had to warn them. "My mom has some fixed beliefs. You know, marriage. Two people. A man and a woman type of deal. So she may not be so friendly toward you or the idea of us."

"So t-t-there is an us? The three of us?" asked Alex.

I rolled my eyes, but I was smiling now. "Yes. There's a three of us. And I don't want to lie to my family," I pointed. "But that doesn't mean they need to know everything!"

"Got it," said Alex, and Josh nodded.

"H-h-h-how about I cook? Give them a day or s-s-so to s-settle and Friday—if that's good with y-y-you?"

I could tell he was nervous as his stuttering was more pronounced. "Perfect, and thank you." 

They really seemed genuinely happy about this turn of events—or they're crazy. Jury's out on that one.

I waved my hand around. "So enough about my drama. I need an intermission—a distraction. Please tell me you've been doing more than just playing with those controllers?" I wiggled my eyebrows.

"You really wanna know!" asked Alex, his nerves gone and his voice deepening, and that usual thrill rushed through me.

"Is the pope catholic?" Christ, my mom's only been here a few hours and I'm already tossing the pope around.

Alex ran a hand across his chin. "Well, you left us high and dry tonight. So how do you feel about playing a little?"

"Go on. I'm interested." I was more than interested.

"Take your top off and let us see those pretty tits."

Fuck. I loved Alex's unrestrained side. My shirt was up over my head and being tossed to one side. My bra followed. "I hope what you have to tell me will be worth it."

Adjusting my mac so they had the full Ivy experience, I leaned back into the sofa and cupped my tits before pinching my nipples.

They both groaned.

"I watched Josh fuck himself with a dildo."

"And then I got on my knees and sucked him off," added Josh.

I pinched my nipples a little harder, my eyes closing for a second and the image of that paints a pretty hot picture "Dayum and I missed all that!" Opening my eyes, I swallowed my bottom lip.

Shit, this was going to be the longest ten days on record.

"Boys. Physical play time is out of the question this week... but I think we can be a little creative here? What do you say?"

"I have a few ideas." Alex smirked. "Starting with you, getting one of your toys out and letting me and Josh watch you fuck yourself."

Now we're talking. "I like the way you think."

Perhaps the next ten days might not be so bad after-all?  Maybe even fun?