The ride back to the resort felt longer than it should have. My thoughts were a mess, bouncing between Aiden's reaction to the gifts and the unease of what I'd agreed to with Alex. What was I thinking, offering to repay him "with anything"? The words echoed in my head, making my chest tighten with embarrassment and anxiety.
I glanced down at the shopping bag in my lap, the dragon plushie's head poking out just slightly, as if reminding me why I did this in the first place. I had to focus on Aiden. He'd be so excited to see the chess set and the plushie. I could already picture his wide grin when I handed them to him. The thought brought a soft smile to my lips, briefly easing my tension.
But then, inevitably, my mind wandered back to Alex.
I still didn't understand him. He was unreadable, sometimes distant and cold, and other times... like in his room earlier, so casual yet intense. The image of him in that towel flashed across my mind, and I felt heat rise in my cheeks. Ugh, why did I have to knock on his door at that moment? Now I was stuck with that mental picture—strong arms, dripping wet hair, and that smirk.
I shook my head quickly, trying to clear the thought. It was hard enough trying to navigate my feelings around Alex. Every time I thought I had him figured out, he did something that threw me off balance again.
We arrived back at the resort, and Louise helped me with the bags as we made our way inside. The air-conditioned lobby was a welcome relief from the warmth of the car, but my nerves still simmered under the surface. I was glad we'd be heading back to the mansion tomorrow, back to Aiden. The resort was beautiful, sure, but it wasn't home. And honestly, I wasn't sure what my place was in all of this yet.
Once we were in my room, I carefully unpacked the chess set and plushie, placing them on the bed. The dragon looked even more adorable here, its tiny wings folded in and its emerald eyes sparkling. I ran my fingers over its soft scales, thinking about how Aiden would probably name it something wild, like "Fang" or "Nightclaw."
I smiled softly to myself. This was what mattered. Not the weird tension with Alex, not the luxurious surroundings I didn't belong in—just Aiden and making sure he knew I was thinking of him. That I hadn't forgotten him, even when I was far away.
I sat on the edge of the bed, staring at the chess pieces. They were so delicate, so intricately made. Aiden had always wanted to learn chess, and now he finally could. The thought filled me with warmth, but it was quickly followed by that familiar pang of guilt. How could I afford such things for him? How could I promise him a future I wasn't even sure I could secure?
The reality was, none of this was mine. The plushie, the chess set—they were things bought with someone else's wealth. Alex's wealth. And now, there was a price to pay. I didn't know what that price was yet, and the uncertainty of it gnawed at me.
A soft knock interrupted my thoughts, and I flinched slightly before realizing it was Louise. "Miss Logan, would you like anything else for the evening?"
I looked up at her, feeling a bit like a child caught daydreaming. "No, thank you, Louise. I think I'm good for now."
"Very well. If you need anything, just ring," she said with a kind smile before leaving the room quietly.
I sighed and fell back on the bed, staring up at the ceiling. Tomorrow, we'd return to the mansion, and I'd get to see Aiden. That was something to look forward to, at least. But the weight of tomorrow brought its own set of worries. What would Alex say? How would he act after our... conversation?
There was so much uncertainty in my life now, and I hated it. But I couldn't do much about it tonight. All I could do was wait for tomorrow and hope that, somehow, I'd be able to navigate whatever came next.
For now, though, I was going to focus on Aiden. Just Aiden.
A soft chime echoed in the room, pulling me from my thoughts. I sat up, glancing around. It took me a second to realize it was coming from the landline phone on the nightstand.
My heart skipped a beat.
I reached for the receiver, my hand trembling slightly as I lifted it to my ear. "Hello?"
"Ivy." His voice was smooth, but there was something else beneath the surface. That same mix of authority and calm that always left me unsettled.
"Alex." I swallowed, suddenly feeling like the room was much smaller than before. "Is everything okay?"
He let out a soft chuckle, the kind that made me feel like he knew something I didn't. "You sound nervous."
I sat up straighter, trying to compose myself. "I'm not nervous. Just… tired."
"Long day?" he asked, though his tone told me he already knew the answer. Of course, he did. Louise had probably already reported back to him the second we returned from the store.
"Yeah," I said, trying to keep my voice steady. "I got a few things for Aiden."
"I'm sure he'll love them."
There was a pause, and I could feel the tension building, even through the phone. It was as if he was waiting for me to say something, but I didn't know what. I shifted uncomfortably, glancing at the clock on the wall. It was late, too late for a casual chat.
"Alex," I began, but I hesitated, unsure of where I was going with it. What was I supposed to say? Thank him again for the card? Apologize for whatever awkward tension was brewing between us?
"Hmm?" he prompted, his voice low, urging me to continue.
I bit my lip, feeling the weight of his presence even from a distance. "About earlier... I just—"
"Don't worry about it, Ivy," he interrupted, his voice soft but firm. "I don't expect anything from you that you're not ready to give."
The words were reassuring, but something about the way he said them made me feel like there was more to it. Like he was giving me space, but that space had limits.
"O…Okay," I said quietly, not really knowing how else to respond.
He paused again, and I heard the faintest sound of him exhaling before he spoke. "We leave tomorrow morning. Get some rest."
"Right. I will."
I waited for him to say something else, but the line went silent. I realized he wasn't going to continue, and for some reason, that made my heart race even more.
"Goodnight, Ivy," he said after a beat, his voice softer now, more intimate.
"Goodnight, Alex."
The line clicked, and I sat there for a moment, staring at the receiver before placing it back on the stand.
I lay back down on the bed, pulling the blankets up to my chin, trying to calm the storm of thoughts swirling in my head. Alex's words echoed, but it was the tone—the softness at the end—that stuck with me. There was something in his voice that felt different tonight, and it left me feeling strangely unsettled and warm all at once.
Closing my eyes, I tried to push it all aside, but sleep didn't come easily. I kept thinking about what tomorrow would bring.