Love You Better (Better Love 1)

“Wow.” I blink. “That’s amazing. Talk about a small world.”

“I know. It’s crazy.” We hop out of the Jeep and walk toward her apartment. “I’m really thinking it’s going to work out well, though. That man, Matthew’s dad? He’s, well, not really the best guy.”

When Ivy moves to open her door, it’s locked.

“Oh, weird,” she says with a small frown. “I thought B was supposed to be home.” She fishes her keys out of her bag and I step back, hiding my smile.

As soon as she walks through the door, she’s hit with flying confetti and a chorus of “SURPRISE!” from Jesse, Bailey, and me.

“Congrats on finishing the LSAT, my babe!” Bailey shouts and launches herself at Ivy.

“Group hug!” Jesse shouts just before wrapping them both up in his arms, so I join in, too.

“I baked you a cake,” Bailey exclaims when we break apart, and she pulls Ivy by the hand into the small galley kitchen.

I take a moment to look around the room. When Bailey texted me this morning with the idea of throwing Ivy a little surprise party to celebrate all of her hard work, I was all for it. Jesse and I ran to the Party Town store and bought black and gold streamers, balloons, and Congrats banners. Then we came back and “decorated” the apartment while Bailey worked on the cake.

Honestly, it looks like a high school graduation and a fiftieth birthday fucked, had a baby, and that baby threw up all over the apartment.

J and I most certainly do not have futures in party planning.

The absolute fucking joy on Ivy’s face makes it all worth it. She’s laughing with Bailey, and when she looks around at the celebratory embellishments we scotch-taped all over the apartment, her dimple is popped real deep, her face is flushed in happiness, and her brilliant blue eyes are dancing.

Fuck. She’s so beautiful it actually hurts. If I get to spend the rest of my life keeping that look on her face, I will die a happy man.

“So how do you think you did?” Jesse asks Ivy after we’ve eaten three quarters of the German chocolate cake.

“I think I did really well,” she replies, licking icing from her fork. My dick twitches in my jeans at the sight, and the way she winks at me tells me that she knows exactly what she’s doing. “Scores should be back in three to four weeks, and as long as I beat my last score, I’ll be happy.”

“Wait, what,” I sputter. “Your last score?”

“Yeah, what’s that mean?” Bailey cocks her head to the side and eyes Ivy.

“You took it over the summer, didn’t you?” Jesse’s sporting a knowing grin and nods his head slowly. “I had a feeling you already did.”

“I took it in June,” Ivy reveals sheepishly. “I didn’t tell anyone because I was nervous and didn’t want to have to share my scores if they were bad. I knew I’d probably be taking i

t again, anyway.”

“How did you hide it?” Bailey asks, and I’m just as shocked and curious as she is. “You’re literally always with at least one of us.”

Ivy shrugs. “Not always. I studied a lot at the library. Used my phone app and stuff. I think I studied harder this time around just because I was determined to beat my other score.” She takes another bite of cake.

“Well....” Jesse widens his eyes at her.

“Well, what?”

“Don’t play. What was your first score?” Jesse demands. “You know we’ll still love you, even if you tanked miserably.”

“Oh, why thank you, that’s so nice to hear,” Ivy says dryly, but she can’t maintain the unamused expression, and soon a toothy, proud smile is stretching over her face, and I know, I just fucking know, that this brilliant woman aced that damn test.

“I scored a 172,” she beams, and we erupt in cheers.

The highest score you can get on the LSAT is 180, and my girl scored a 172. She’s so damn sexy, her and that big, beautiful brain.

I’m going to make her come so hard tonight.

When the cake has been eaten and the revelry has died down, Ivy comes up behind me and tugs me toward her bedroom. I’m ready to jump on her as soon as the door shuts, but she sits on the bed and pats the spot next to her for me to sit, too.