“Where are you headed?” “Just going shopping.” “Shopping? With who?”
Ivy shot him a look over her shoulder. “Who else but Katrina? Unless you think I’m sneaking off to meet some random guy from the internet.”
Jamison fell silent, at a loss for words.
A small, sly smile tugged at Ivy’s lips as she turned away, her thoughts laced with quiet amusement. Serves you right for always pretending to be so calm and collected. Sometimes you need a little reminder to keep you on your toes.
She reached the foyer and was slipping on her shoes when Jamison called out again.
“I’ll come with you. I’ve been cooped up for two days–could use some fresh air.” He stood, already following her.
Ivy frowned, clearly not keen on the idea. “School’s about to start, and I need a haircut. That’ll take ages. Besides, shopping with women is a nightmare for men. You’ll be bored out of your mind.”
Jamison stepped closer, bent down, and pressed a gentle kiss to her lips, his hand cupping her cheek. “We haven’t even been on a proper date yet. Today’s the perfect chance.”
“But your back-” “It’s healing well. I can move around just fine.”
Ivy kept searching for an excuse. “If you come, what about Katrina?” “If she doesn’t mind tagging along as the third wheel, she’s more than welcome.”
Ivy was speechless. No way would Katrina want to join. Who would be that oblivious?
Since Jamison couldn’t drive yet, he called Boyd to be their chauffeur.
From afar, Boyd spotted them coming out of the elevator and quickly got out to open the back door, his smile bright and his tone playful. “Uncle, Ivy, you two newlyweds are joined at the hip these days. You’re making the rest of us jealous.”
Jamison accepted the teasing without batting an eye.
Once seated, Ivy glanced at Boyd, curiosity piqued. “Are you holding some secret over Jamison? He calls you, and you come running–chauffeur service included, plus a side of flattery.”
Boyd slid into the driver’s seat, eyebrows raised in mock offense. “Sis, you don’t get it. Uncle may not be much older than me, but he’s basically my second father. Think about it–what kid dares ignore their parents‘ orders?”
Jamison rolled his eyes. “Cut the nonsense. No way I’d claim a son like you.”
“Oh? Now this sounds like a story worth hearing.” Ivy’s interest was genuinely piqued as she glanced at Jamison.
Boyd started the engine and steered them onto the road, already warming to his tale. “It’s a long one, all right. I was a real piece of work back then–a total terror. My dad tried everything–yelling, grounding, even the occasional smack–but nothing worked. Eventually, he gave up and let me run wild. A few years ago, I fell in with a crowd of rich kids obsessed with drag racing and off–roading. One day, during a race, we lost control. Two cars went tumbling down a steep slope. One guy died on the spot, and two of us were badly hurt. I was one of them.”
Ivy’s expression tightened, picturing the wreckage. It must have been horrific.
“When they got me to the hospital, the doctors thought I was a goner. Lucky for me, Uncle had just come back to the country. He performed the surgery himself–saved my life, and even managed to save my leg.”
“So, you tell me–doesn’t that make him my second father?”
Ivy blinked, genuinely shaken. She turned to Jamison beside her. “You really are a miracle worker.”
Jamison just nodded, accepting the compliment. “Thank you.”
Ivy broke the short silence. “So you’re all healed up now? Can you really drive?”
Boyd grinned in the rearview mirror. “Don’t worry, I’m good as new. Spent a whole year in rehab. After that, I turned over a new leaf, but I could never see myself in a boring office job. Lucky for me, Uncle needed someone trustworthy to help manage his businesses. He asked if I wanted to work for him, and here I am.”