“There are plenty of men who lose their heads over a pretty face, and don’t underestimate Emma’s charm either. Remember how she managed to reel Micah in?” Ivy chuckled as she slipped the invitation back into its envelope.
Katrina nodded, half understanding. “So, are you going to the party? It’s this Saturday night–just a couple of days away.”
“I’ll be there. I mean, I practically played matchmaker for these two, so of course I have to show up and see the drama unfold.” Ivy’s grin grew sly; she was clearly looking forward to the spectacle.
“You’re the matchmaker?” Katrina looked genuinely surprised. “What do you mean?”
“Well, Sheridan Carter only met Emma because Jamison set them up. Just do a little digging into that guy’s reputation and you’ll see how reckless Emma’s being.” With that, Ivy slipped on her shoes, waved her hand, and headed for the door. “I’m off. Call me if you need anything.”
Ivy made it back to the apartment just in time for dinner, lugging only a small bag.
Jamison, freshly changed, glanced up as she walked in. “That’s all you brought?”
Instead of answering directly, Ivy asked, “Did you shower by yourself?”
His back injury meant he couldn’t get it wet, otherwise it would risk infection.
“I didn’t shower, but the clothes were filthy. I had to change, I couldn’t stand wearing them anymore.”
Ivy’s tense expression softened, and she carried her small bag inside.
One of the staff greeted her respectfully: “Mrs. Jamison.”
The title still felt strange to Ivy.
During dinner, Jamison brought the subject up again. “Are you planning to bring your things over little by little? Or are you just going to leave them and buy everything new?”
Without looking up, Ivy replied calmly, “Classes start next week. I’m moving into the dorms, so I’ll just take my things straight to campus. No point hauling them here first.”
She hadn’t even finished her sentence when Jamison set down his fork and looked up at her, eyes wide with surprise and a flash of irritation.
“You’re really going back to school?” His tone was low and serious.
“Of course. I never finished my undergrad–what else am I supposed to do?” Ivy finally looked at him, her expression earnest.
“But we’re married now. If you go back to school, what am I supposed to do?” Jamison knew she was independent, but he hadn’t expected her to make such a big decision without talking to him first.
Ivy frowned, clearly puzzled. “You’re a grown man. What do you mean, what are you supposed to do? It’s not like I’m moving across the country. Neo Haven University is just on the other side of the city. If anything happens, I can be home in no time.”
Jamison fell silent, appetite gone, and set his fork aside.
“What’s wrong?” Ivy sat up a little straighter, genuinely confused by his sulking. “Is it so wrong for me to want to go back to school? Am I not allowed to have ambitions?”
“What’s wrong?” Jamison echoed, his cool composure returning. “Miss Ivy, we’re married. Don’t you think you should at least talk things over with me first? I don’t mind that you want to study, but if you move into the dorms and leave me here alone, hardly seeing you–what’s the point of being married?”
Ivy had been ready to argue, but his string of complaints made her think of something Katrina once said.
“No wonder Katrina says you’re clingy,” she teased, dropping a piece of roasted chicken into his bowl. “Where’s your famous aloofness now? You’re acting so different, I hardly recognize you.”
“Don’t joke around. I’m being serious,” Jamison replied, his expression unchanged.
Ivy let out an exasperated sigh. “When I applied to re-enroll at Neo Haven, we weren’t even married yet. How could I have discussed it with you? And then everything else happened so fast, I just forgot to mention it.”
“Can you be serious for once? You’re still injured–what are you even thinking?” she snapped, catching on to his reaction.
Jamison looked put out. “It’s a normal physiological response, okay? Didn’t you pay attention in biology? If I didn’t react at all, wouldn’t you be worried I was secretly sick and trying to trick you into marrying me?”