( 𝐟𝐨𝐮𝐫 ! ) — real life

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          She fluffed her hair one last time before making last-minute adjustments to her appearance. Looking at herself in the mirror, she wondered if her outfit was too much for dinner at his apartment. Instead of eating at a restaurant to avoid a crowd of fans, they both thought eating dinner at his place was a good idea.

Ivy pursed her lips, looking at her outfit: straight-leg distressed style light-washed jeans with a light pink, long-sleeve corset top and her white sneakers paired with it. Her long brunette hair was lying straight across her shoulders.

She let out a loud sigh. "Jules, Maia!" Ivy hollered out.

Loud footsteps were heard as the two girls swung her bedroom door open. "Are you bleeding out, or is something on fire?" Maia asked.

Ivy stared at her in confusion. "No, I just need an opinion on the outfit," she mentioned.

"You look amazing?" Jules smiled, taking in her friend's appearance.

"But is it too much? He's just cooking me dinner at his apartment," Ivy anxiously asked.

Maia shook her head and chuckled at her friend's anxiousness. "Ivy, you look gorgeous. Why are you stressing so much? It's just dinner," she shrugged as she sat on Ivy's bed.

Jules remained standing in the doorway. Ivy shifted her weight from foot to foot, sighing. "It's a date with an NFL football player. I actually don't even know if this is even a date."

"If there's dinner, it's a date," Jules implied.

Ivy groaned. "I don't know the first thing about going on dates. I don't know if something is supposed to happen or even if I want something to happen."

The nervous brunette sat beside Maia on her bed. "Look, Ivy, you don't have to do anything with him tonight. Let it happen if it feels right and you are comfortable with doing something. Just feel it out," Maia explained, giving her a comforting smile.

Ivy nodded, trying to calm herself down. After talking with her friends for a couple more minutes, she knew she had to leave to make it to Joe's on time.

Maia and Jules stood in the doorway as she walked out their front door. "Be safe and have fun!" Jules said to her.

"If you do have sex with him, use protection!" Maia yelled out to her.

Ivy laughed as she waved them off.

To say Ivy Foster was not shitting her pants was a complete understatement. Since meeting in a bar last week, Ivy and Joe have been constantly talking. Butterflies filled her stomach with every message she received from him. She never felt this giddy, even in the earliest stages of her and Justin's relationship.

She looked at her phone to make sure she got the address correct. Once exiting her car, she locked it before walking into the apartment complex. Ivy was amazed at how big the building was. She was surprised he didn't buy the entire complex, especially since he was bathing with money.

Ivy took the elevator up to the top floor, the penthouse apartment. She let out a shaky sigh as she stood before his door. She lifted her hand and knocked on the door. As soon as the door opened, the wind had gotten knocked out of her.

Her eyes couldn't help but gaze over him. He dressed in black ripped jeans and a white button-down, with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows, showing his toned and veined arms. Ivy could not believe this man was cooking her dinner in his apartment. She had won the lottery, big time.

Joe smirked at her. "When you're done checking me out, you can come in," he coyly mentioned as he moved aside to let her in.

Ivy snapped out of her gaze as she playfully rolled her eyes, her cheeks tinting red from getting caught. "Don't let this get your ego any bigger than it already is," she teased as she stepped into his apartment.

"Oh, trust me, it will," Joe grinned as he chucked, shutting the door.

Ivy looked around the entranceway of the apartment, taking in the modern style of the room, impressed with how amazing it looked. "You really put the 275 million to use, huh?" She amusedly asked, chuckling.

Joe laughed. "Thanks. It may seem like a lot, but it's home," he smiled.

Ivy smiled as well, glancing at him. "I like it."

Joe clapped his hands together. "So, dinner. I have made one of the few things I can actually make—pasta," he stated as he led Ivy toward the dining room.

Ivy laughed. "Wow, he can cook and play football. What can't this man do?" She joked.

"Play golf," Joe answered as Ivy joined him in laughing at his joke.

As they reached the dinner table, Ivy was impressed and touched by the effort Joe had put into making it look romantic. The lighting was slightly dimmed, as the table had candles burning in the middle, with two glasses of wine beside the plates of pasta.

"Wow, Joe. If you were trying to impress me, you definitely outdid yourself," Ivy truthfully spoke, a little speechless.

Joe was slightly bashful about it but smiled softly. "Had to pull out all the stops for our first date."

Ivy raised an eyebrow. "A date, huh?"

"What else do you call a man and woman eating dinner with an interest in each other?" Joe smirked.

Ivy grinned. "Ah, so you have an interest in me?" Ivy had no idea where this newfound confidence was coming from. It was one thing when they first met at the bar because she had alcohol in her system. And it's one thing to do it over the phone because she doesn't have to look at his perfectly structured face.

Joe looked down at her, a flash of desire flickering in his baby-blue eyes. "I think we already know the answer to that question, don't we, Ivy?" His tone made her melt as she giggled nervously.

Joe pulled the chair out for her as Ivy sat down, and Joe followed along before her. "This looks amazing, Joe," she said as she inhaled the scent of the food before her.

"Thank you," he smiled in appreciation. Joe raised his glass of wine as Ivy followed suit. "To the beautiful woman in front of me," he praised.

Ivy blushed. "You're so annoying," she giggled, clinging their glasses together as they sipped.

"It's true. And you look so beautiful tonight," Joe complimented, a smirk on his lips.

Ivy's cheeks were hot. "You're just doing this to make me flustered," she accused, giggling.

Joe gazed at her. "I'm just telling the truth. But if me expressing how breathtaking you look right now makes you blush, then it's a win in my book."

The two continued to eat, with more conversations on trying to get to know each other and even more attempts at making Ivy Foster blush that were successful. After dinner, the two sat together on the living room couch as they continued conversing with another glass of wine.

Ivy didn't know if it was the two glasses of wine or the vibes radiating off of Joe, but her eyes kept glancing down at his lips. Her focus on the words he spoke was starting to vanish as she only focused on his lips.

Joe seemed to notice as she stopped mid-sentence, smirking heavily at her. "Something caught your attention?"

Ivy nodded, "Definitely," she grinned. That confidence that was enhanced by the wine made her take a risk. She leaned in, placing her hands on either side of his face, and captured her lips with his.

Joe was not in the slightest taken aback but immediately responded, grabbing her waist. It was a new feeling as their lips moved in sync. Never in her eight-year relationship with Justin had Ivy ever been kissed like this. This kiss was passionate and yearned with desire.

Ivy squeaked when Joe pulled her into his lap as she straddled him. He chuckled lowly, and the sound made a heat burn in her core. This man was going to be the death of her.

His lips trailed down from her lips, down her jawline, down her neck, and across her collarbone. His lips left wet kisses, earning soft moans to escape her lips. This was uncharted territory for Ivy, but God, did it feel good—especially the feeling of his lips and hands on her body.

Her fingers tangled in his dirty-blonde locks as he began to leave marks on his neck. "I'm going to kill you for these hickeys. Do you know how much concealer it takes to hide them," she giggled.

Joe gripped onto her hips harder as he whispered into her ear. "Why not show them off? Knowing I was the one who gave you these marks." That was all it took for Ivy Foster to combust.

She knew if this escalated, it would be game over for her. No matter how she wanted to pounce on him like the horny animal she was, she knew it was best not to take it further. Joe understood and respected her decision, also agreeing to hold off.

After more conversations and sweet kisses every so often, Joe walked Ivy outside to her car. He gave her one last kiss before he watched Ivy drive off with a wide grin on his face.

Ivy was left with a wide grin and a burning desire filling her core.

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