Picking love over anything

Picking love over anything
The Memory Of You
  “Ivy, you keep asking this same question all the time. I did not kill Nate, I would never do that to you, and even if I did, it would definitely be for your good and the good of the kids,” he let out and sighed. 
  “That's the problem, Alvin. I trust you a lot and appreciate how you've stuck with me through this... darkest moments but... whenever you have to give a reason why you would do something back already hints at something,” she admitted to him firmly. 
  “So… you're saying that I killed Nate?” he scoffed. 
  “I’m saying that you know something about Nate’s death if you aren't the one responsible. I won't say it's you until proven,” she stated firmly and flipped her hair behind, looking away from her gaze. 
A moment of silence between them was all that they needed, a time to process things as they should. 

Alvin, feeling the unruly tension between them places a hand in hers. His gaze fixated on her, more or less confused about what to say to her. 
He balled finally and began, “I may not be the best man for you or the kids but thank you for having my back back there. I heard what you said to the cop,” he calmly said. 
  “You were eavesdropping,”
  “No, I was just… concerned about what you may think about me. I don't know why, Ivy, but what you think of me matters. Fuck what everyone thinks of me,” he said as his free hand extended to her delicate face, her eyes slowly met with his. 
The flame that had long died in her was beginning to light up. 

Was it lust, compassion, or real love? 
Ivy had no answers for her questions. 
  “I just want to be a better man for you. Let's be frank, Nate always had the gentlemanliness. And I was just a fool to think that time was on my side. Here I am, unable to move on from the love that I lost—the one chance at true love that I lost,” he stopped as he gently retracted his hands, keeping them to himself. 
  “Vin, that time… I- I have always loved you. I was in love with you but… You were very unprepared. You didn't want to settle just yet and also have kids and Nate, on the other hand, offered the life I wanted. A marriage and kids. But, here I am… here we are… who would have thought that I was merely married to myself? I thought that we had true love—one that would never end. News flash? It was all a lie,” her voice broke, her wet gaze staring at Alvin. 
He could feel her rage all over again. 
He hated the circumstances, or maybe he shouldn't have contributed to Nate’s death since Ivy was this broken. Or maybe it was the right and only thing to do, to bring her out of the deceit that Nate kept for several years. 

“Ivy, it wasn't your fault. We all had our faults, Nate and I—”
  “But you never cheated, right?” she asked, interrupting his statement. 
She was right, he never cheated on her. It was only the idea of settling and having kids that scared him. 
He placed business priorities over her needs and affection. 
  “I know. It's always better to stay with the demon you know than the angel you don't,” she said. “And I'm done crying over a man that never loved me,” she snapped, wiping her eyes ferociously.  
  “He loved you at some point,”
  “At some point, Alvin? Did you also love me at some point?” she scoffed. He was only trying to be nice but it backfired. “I don't deserve ‘at-some-point-kinda-love’, I deserve true love. I gave you everything but you weren't ready. I gave Nate everything but he cheated with multiple women. Maybe the problem is me. Maybe I'm better off alone,” she stated. 
  “No, we saw a good thing and let it slip away. And, I'm going to erase that, Ivy. You won't feel such pain ausin because I'll make things right,” he firmly assured as his hand wrapped her neck. “When was the last time you had real fun at the club?” he asked with a playful smile. 
She let out a smile, a smile mixed with weakness and a hope for new things.  
  “Dammit, I have no idea…” she shrugged. 
  “Oh, I'm about to change that. Do you want to dance? Remember our dance in Uni?” she reminded as they busted out in laughter, walking through memory lane.  
  “Oh my gosh, I remember! We drank lots of gin and got super high. Lana thought that we would die the next day,” Ivy laughed. 
  “But did we?” his voice turned soft. 
  “Never! We danced the entire night dancing to Prince, MJ, Marvin, McCourtney…”
  “Want that retro party again?” he asked, his brows wiggling. 
  “Yeah but… that kinda party doesn't exist anymore, Vin…” she pointed out with a chuckle.  
  “Oh, we are about to find out,” he snapped as he started the engine and drove off. 

The ride was calm, free, and breezy. Ivy was starting to feel like her younger days. All four of them were a friendship dream that came through until things started to change, greed and discontent seeped in. 

When they arrived at the party, Ivy tossed her blazer in the back seat. She adjusted her hair and took off her major accessories. 
  “How do I look?” she asked him. 
  “Oh, young and pretty...” he teased as they chuckled. 
Alvin did the same and unbuttoned his shirt halfway. 
  “Are you ready to have the best retro party of all time?” he charged, a surge of excitement flowing between them. 
  “LET’S PARTY!!!!!” Ivy screamed as they headed out of the car leaving behind their cell phones, except Alvin’s wallet to pay the bills. 

For the first time in ten good years, Ivy felt the freedom that she hadn't felt. 
They danced and got very drunk like the good old times. 
The music was loud, people were screaming in excitement, the DJ was out of his senses, a hand pressing against his headphones, his head swaying from corner to corner. 
  “One more shot and I'm actually dead,” Ivy screamed and danced as Alvin laughed as he held Ivy by the waist. The music switched and it was slow, ‘One More Night’ ringing all around the hall, setting the tone.
  “Or maybe that's what we need, to die beside each other…” said Alvin as Ivy smiled, wrapping her arms around Alvin’s nape. 
  “You are up to something, aren't you?” Ivy’s voice softened and was sultry. 
  “Only if you let me,” he said as his hands traveled all the way up to her face. “Are you happy?” he calmly asked, their movement was slow, the acoustic sound in the background, aiding the moment for not just everyone, but for Ivy and Alvin. 
  “I’m happy tonight. I'm scared that once the sun sets, I’ll be said again,” she admitted truthfully.   
  “If you let me, I’ll make it my life’s job to make you happy…” he said.
  “That is too many promises to make,” she snapped.  
  “You have not tested me to find out,” he said as she took off her hands, turning to leave. Alvin did not have it, he caught her wrist. He was utterly frustrated and confused. He didn't know how else to make her believe that he was in love with her and wasn't ready to let her go or move on with someone else. 
He lost a chance before and he didn't want to lose it again. 
  “Ivy, I'm in love with you, okay? I can't pretend and at the same time, I won’t let you go. Never!” he assured firmly. 
He wasn't the man full of ego anymore, he was a desperate man in love. 
  “It's not love—”
Before she could continue, he captured her lips. He gave a slow, sweet, sensual, lingering kiss that hooked her. 
  “How do you explain it?” he asked after he pulled away. “How do you explain why my heart races anytime I'm so close to you? How do you explain the tension that rises whenever I hear your name or see you cry or see your smile, or with someone else? How, Ivy? Swear to me that you don't feel anything for me, Ivy…” he coaxed calmly as the music stopped and people were slowly leaving to sit or smooch or drink more. 

Ivy was silent, she couldn't swear that she didn't feel something. 
  “There’s something, right?” he asked again, his voice shook. If anyone sees Alvin, they would assume that he was hexed on, given that he was a stern, cold, unbothered man. 
Her lips folded, her heart beating faster. 
There was something and she felt it.   
She hastily walked back to him and jumped on him, “You fucking idiot, come here! If this is a trick, I've fallen for it…” she snapped, kissing him passionately and hungrily.
  “Shoot! It's not, I'm being honest…” Jr said between their kisses. 
The night was still young and so was the moment Alvin carried her to the nearest room they could find.