IVY

 I wake up with a start. It's already morning and sunraysa are illuminating the whole room. I look around and I'm relieved to find that I'm in my room...on my bed. 

My muscles scream as I stretch and I brush my hand across the cold spot where Ryan is supposed to be.

I feel a tinge of sadness wash over me. He has never spend a night. He always goes back to her...always.

What have I become?
A home wrecker?
I'm about to wreck my to best friends' home but I don't feel remorse about it. All I feel is love and more love for Ryan. He's the only man I've ever loved. He's the only one I've ever been with. He broke my virginity. He made me a woman...he makes me feel like a woman 
But?
It's wrong in all aspects. I shouldn't be lusting over an engaged man. He claims to love me unconditionally but he's engaged to another.
Oh God!

Sighing, I climb out of bed and take a quick shower. 
I turn on the faucet and let the warm water cascade down my tired body.
I feel every muscle relax and I step out to my bedroom, drying myself.

Pulling on a pair of black jeans and a top, I slip in my shoes and tie my hair into a high ponytail then  drive off to work.

I work in a grocery store. It's owned by a middle aged couple who love me to bits. Their son and daughter work abroad but they come visiting once in a while. 

Jacobs Super store ain't far from where I live. Within no time, I park at the parking lot and walk inside. 
Mrs. Velma Jacobs who has always been the cashier is already inside when I walk in.

“How was your weekend Ivy?” Mrs Jacobs greets me. 
“I'm fine ma'am. How are you?” I reply and greet.

I barely hear what she says as Logan, their nephew who is busy dusting some stuff stops midway upon seeing me. His affection towards me has never been hidden. He's a good friend to me but he has always asked me out to no avail. 
I only see him as a friend.

“Ivy, thank God you're here!” He says, dropping the towel in the bucket and walking towards me.
“We missed you here over the weekend!”
He gives me a suffocating hug. 
I'm fully aware of the crush he has for me but I just refused to acknowledge it. I don't want to lead him on. He's handsome, his phsyique  is nice and his features are those of a model. His brown hair is short and he looks like the perfect male specimen... but I never felt any romantic feelings for him... 

Well, working at the Jacobs has been fun. I only work to sustain my lifestyle despite the fact that my parents think I should be doing a better job. I like it here. My parents bought an apartment for me therefore I don't have many expenses but still, I love it here.

I withdraw from his hug and walk towards the register to clock in.

Mrs Jacobs sighs, then gets back to work. She knows that Logan loves me but she has never commented on it.

I walk towards another section and get busy with customers. 
By noon, the customers have become fewer and I'm starving already.
My stomach growls just as Logan passes by.

He laughs and I jump from the sudden sound.

“Ivy, why don't we go get some lunch?”

“No, I'm okay. We still have more customers to serve.” I say just as my stomach let's out another thunderous growl.

“Yeah, you need to eat so come on!”
He grabs my hand and walks me out past.his auntie.

“Auntie, Ivy and I will grabs something to eat. Do you want anything?”
He call behind his back 

“No dear, I'm okay.” She replies.

He smiles at me and pulls me out of the store.

Logan is a few years older than me. He's twenty six, three years my senior. He was two classes ahead of me in high school.

We walk towards our usual small restaurant and take our seats, waiting fir a waiter to approach us. 

“You're so good at serving customers in the store Ivy.” He chuckles. “You're wonderful.”

I blush a deep crimson and my face feels a little too warm as I murmur a 'thankyou'. 

A young waiter walks up to us and greets us cheerfully. We make our orders and he disappears towards the counter. 
After he walks away, I can still feel the heat of Logan's stare. 

“Ivy, I've been wanting to ask for a while now but now seems the perfect time.” I look up at him wide eyes. His face is now pale and he nervously fidgets. 

A dark movement by the street to the entrance of the restaurant catches my eye. 

A pair of angry steel gray eyes meet mine before scrutinising the male sitting across from me.
Logan choses the moment to take my shaky hands into his. Ryan's furious eyes flare and his jaw clenches. 

He thinks I'm on a date.

Ryan is jealous.

I've never seen him jealous before and I...I love it! I feel almost empowered by it. 

Last night flashes infront of me. Everyone is expecting me to have a boyfriend. Ryan thinks he's the only man in my life.. (Of course he is) that's why he doubt u can be in a stable committed relationship. This can be my way of getting out of my lie. 

I turn and give Logan the biggest smile of my life his face brightens and he practically puffs out his chest and bangs on it. 

If I say I've heard whatever he has said I'll be a big liar!  

“So is that a yes?”

“Yes?” I'm not even sure as to what I'm fully agreeing to, but I have to get past this to ask him to be my fake boyfriend, just for a little while. 

“Great! Then it's a date.”

My eyes bulge and swing to the empty spot Ryan has currently occupied.

*A date? Shit!*

Logan is happy all day. He's gazing at me as I'm sure he's excited about the date I didn't realise I had agreed to.
I know my parents will love him and I'll be able to prove Ryan wrong in front of them! 

I'm in deep shit!