"Bounce with me!"
The clearing of a throat made me stop bouncing and turn around and freeze.
"Hi?"
"It took you fortyfive minutes to pee?"
I shrugged. "Hey, mother nature called," I said with an annoying giggle as I looked at Darius's face. Grumpy pants. His pants were grumpy. I laughed helplessly, doubling over and nearly falling over in my heels.
Darius sighed as he helped me straighten up. "Adrian," he said, warning him and Adrian muttered some vague excuse as I leaned over.
"Let's get you downstairs," said Darius, pushing me and I followed blindly, not being able to stop laughing.
I was bouncing, making it harder for him to drag me down. I heard a wolf whistle and blindly blew a kiss, not having a clue who it was.
"Ivory," Darius said warningly as he pulled me to some stairs. "Walk."
Grumpy bumpy.
"You know what?" I said, taking the steps at a time since poshness was blocking half the stairs with his fat ass insisting he was going to hold onto me. I wasn't going to fall down the stairs.
"We should go skinny dipping," I suggested. We were on a boat after all. He faltered and I nearly tripped over.
"And you call me drunk!" At least I could walk straight.
I heard him mutter something as he helped me down the last few stairs and we got to some type of sit out that had a fireplace going. I rushed over and sat on the floor beside it.
"Don't move," he said and I looked up.
"Why?"
"I'll be back," he said and I shrugged.
"Okay."
Like I was going to move, the fire was just so warm. I smiled contentedly, leaning forward and placing my hands over the fire, liking the way it warmed me up. But it got too hot after a bit and I stood up, swaying on my feet.
My head hurt and I looked at the white door, walking toward it. I felt sick. I pushed it open and nearly cried at the sight before me. A bed!
I rushed over, kicking my shoes off. I can sleep. I dropped onto the bed and sighed, feeling the soft mattress. I love sleep.
I felt something ticklish waking me up and I tried smacking it away.
"Stop it," I muttered as I felt his hand around my waist. Couldn't Darius see I was trying to sleep here?
"Darius, stop," I said in my half–sleep state, turning around and pushing his hand off my shoulder. I was dreaming about dogs. If he just bought me a dog, I wouldn't be dreaming about it.
"Ivory."
I froze, my attempt to pull the blanket back failing. Even in my half-sober state, I knew something was wrong with that voice.
CHAPTER FORTY
"Get your hand off me."
Sober up, Ivory. And this is why you shouldn't drink. I struggled to get up by rolled over to lie on my back and pushing my elbows up to lift myself.
"Just listen to me."
I shrugged his hand off my shoulder. Why was the room spinning? I felt sick. Where was the bathroom?
"There is n-nothing to listen to," I said, raising one hand to my forehead. I could feel a strong headache, like someone was pounding my head, like it was a door and they wanted to sell cookies.
"Please, I love you."
I froze. Three words. One meaning. And he said it before Da – I shook my head. I should stay away from alcohol. That, and a boat. Did I not learn from my Uni adventures? Clearly not.
"James, I'm married now. Get away from me," I said as he tried grabbing my hand again.
"Ivory…"
Since we were here now, might as well give him a piece of my mind. "Look, it's over. You were with her the whole time you dated me. Four years. How could you do that to me? And to her as well? If you didn't want to date me, you could have ended it at any time. You lied numerous times. You told me you were an orphan but of course you weren't."
James looked pained as he knelt on the bed, holding my hand in a death grip. I pulled at my hand, trying to free it.
"I knew her before I knew you."
I scoffed, feeling disgusted. Was that meant to help? I could feel the bile rise in my throat by just looking at him.
"Just give me a chance,” James suddenly yelled at me, making me flinch. “I love you more than Darius ever could. You don't even like him!"
Was it true? Don’t I like Darius? He was my husband. I was meant to like – no, love – him. But James saying it out loud made me question myself. Do I feel something for my husband?
Yes.
Do I love him?
I could say for sure that this feeling I have for Darius was more than what I felt for James, and I was pretty sure it wasn't the alcohol thinking either.
I looked back at James. Back when I didn't know about his girl on the side, he was good to me. He was the only other man in my life apart from my dad and I guess I fell for that stupid charm he blinded me with, the lies he told me.
But that was then and this is now. I was over him. There was nothing left for James in my heart, apart from disgust.