Page 9 of In League with Ivy

Neither of their preposterous and inflated ambitions suited my laidback nature. Maybe with them gone for a while, I could get some breathing space to do what I really wanted to do—open my own destination hotel in New York.

“No. It’s good. I get the penthouse to myself.” A faint smile touched his face.

“Woohoo. Parties,” I said.

He laughed. “That’s never stopped us.”

Ben’s legendary wild parties while his parents traveled, came to mind.

“So where’s Alex?” I asked.

“He should be here soon.” Ben shook his head. “Hey, dude, what’s happening to you? You look miserable.”

I puffed and rubbed my neck. “There’s all kinds of shit going down.”

“Like what?”

“Well, for starters, I have to start work at eight a.m. tomorrow or else.”

“Your father’s given you an ultimatum?”

“You could say that. You know, get your shit together or be cut off. “ I sniffed. “That’s not such a bother, because I have a plan.”

“So you’ve taken Alex’s advice?”

“Yep. I’ve got a nice big shiny journal sitting on my coffee table.”

“Have you written in it?”

Ben knew me well. I could have changed my name to Procrastinator. “No. But I have a plan to write in my planner.”

He laughed. “You’ll get it together. You’re a sharp thinker, and your hotel destination idea sounds promising.”

I swallowed my beer. “It also comes with a big price tag.”

“You can raise the capital. You know enough people. And I’m in.”

I patted his arm. “Thanks, buddy.”

“So no girl action? Ivy?”

“She won’t return my calls.” I toyed with the bottle. “I don’t know what I’ve done.”

“When did you last see her?”

“Last weekend.”

“That’s nearly a week. How long have you been dating?”

“We’re not really dating.”

“You’ve seen her every night for almost two months. And you have a history.”

I nodded.

He pulled a crooked smirk. “That’s a first. I’ve never known you to keep calling the same girl.”

“That’s because they always call me,” I said before ordering more drinks.