The Minister Ch. 05

Shit. Derek.

"Oh, um. I was actually just heading out. You know, for uh, lunch." Ivy lied. "This is perfect actually, we can go and catch up over some lunch, I'll just go grab my keys and lock up."

She slipped back in before her grandparents could say anything. She grabbed her apartment keys just as Derek was coming out of her room, dressed in her father's old clothes. He started toward the door.

"I guess I better be going then." He said, reaching for the door.

Ivy stopped him. "Shhh! My grandparents are out there; they can't see you."

"Oh. They'd probably just think I am your boyfriend or something." He reached for the door again.

She slapped his hand away. "No, they would think I am sleeping with a guy that I haven't even told them about. That's unacceptable in their books."

"What about Heath?" He asked.

"Who cares about Heath? What they don't know can't hurt them." Ivy said.

"Besides, they know you from church. They go there too, when you've been preaching." Ivy explained.

"Oh. I could imagine that might be awkward. Them thinking that you slept with your Minister." Derek said slowly.

"Yes it would. But we haven't done anything, and we never will" She added, "so just stay here for ten minutes then lock the door and leave, ok?

She turned and walked out the door before he could say another word. She turned to her grandparents.

"Ok, let's go." She smiled.

"Was there someone else in there, Ivy?" Her Pop asked.

"Oh no, I just got a phone call, sorry." She lied again. It felt wrong lying to her grandparents all the time like this. But sometimes, the truth hurt.

After Ivy left, Derek did what she said. He waited about ten minutes then locked up and left to go have lunch with his friend, Jamison. He knew Jamison from when he was back on the special forces task force, they had been through a lot together. Jamison had recently finished a job and asked to be moved to a less demanding task force. He was in town for a while at least and tracked Derek down. Derek was looking forward to it, it had been a long time.

He walked downtown a little while to a cute tavern he knew of, where he had arranged to meet Jamison. It was called "The Jolly Jumbuck." Just as he got to the door, he got a text from Jamison.

"I'm running a little late. It's been a while since I've been in the city. Had a little fun last night ;)"

Derek smiled a little. Whenever they came back from a mission it was always women and drinking. He missed that a little. He wrote a quick text back telling him to hurry up and that he was waiting, then he pushed the door open and walked into the restaurant section of the tavern.

He was on his way to a booth when he saw them across the room. Ivy sitting in a booth across from her grandparents. What the hell were they doing here? He was right about to head for the other end of the room when he heard "Minister?"

He winced and turned slowly. "Mrs. Wright, Mr. Wright, fancy seeing you here." He forced a smile.

Ivy was staring at him with wide eyes. She shot him a look as if to say 'What the hell are you doing here?'

"Yes, fancy. How are you Minister?" Her gran asked.

"I am doing alright" Derek lied. "And you?" He asked politely.

"We are very well. This is our granddaughter Ivy. You have probably seen her at church a few times." Grandma Wright smiled.

"Yes, I believe so. Well I am just here having lunch with a friend, he is running a little late but I suppose I should get a table." Derek tried.

"Well, you can't be sitting there alone. Sit with us until your friend arrives. Pleas, I insist." Ivy's Pop said.

"Oh no, I couldn't." Derek said.

"I insist. You serve the Lord, the least I can do is buy you a glass of wine and keep you company." Her Pop said.

Derek paled and shifted uncomfortably on his feet. He couldn't decline, that would be rude, but at the same time, he couldn't sit right next to Ivy and pretend like nothing had ever happened. They had made out before. Derek took a deep breath and slid quickly into the booth beside Ivy.

"Thank-you, sir." Derek said politely.

A waitress came over to collect empty plates and Ivy's Pop ordered them some wine.

"I haven't seen you at the church in a while." Grandma Wright said. "What have you been up to?"

Derek glanced at Ivy. She looked a little pissed but was trying to cover it in front of her Grandparents.

"Um, I just haven't been running many services. That's all. I have been having some things going on in my personal life and so I am little busy." Derek explained.

"A lady?" Pop Wright raised an eyebrow.

"Oh no. No sir, us Ministers dedicate our lives to God. We are not allowed that kind of thing. It can get a little lonely sometimes." Derek was immensely uncomfortable.

"Oh, yes of course. I can imagine it would get very lonely, I could never give my life to God like that. You are a very brave, honourable man to be able to do that."

"Thank you. Yes, it can be a little difficult sometimes to... resist temptation." Derek said slowly.

He was ever aware of Ivy next to him. Their shoulders were no more than two inches apart and yet he could feel her presence right next to him as if static electricity buzzed in the space between them.

"How do you manage to resist then? How do you get through the loneliness?" Ivy asked now. Derek snapped his head around and looked her right in the eye. She was challenging him.

Derek shrugged. "I guess I don't get through it sometimes. I just learn to live with it. Friends help a lot, though unfortunately I don't have a lot of time for that either. I suppose that is why I am immersed in God. He will guide me through."

Ivy looked like she was pouting. She was putting him in a very awkward position. He wasn't quite sure why she was angry with him, probably because he was here with her and her grandparents.

He swallowed awkwardly. The drinks arrived and he took a gulp gratefully. After another fifteen minutes of awkward conversation, Ivy managed to convince her grandparents that they needed to go to the shops now if they wanted to get all their shopping done before the shops closed.

They said goodbye to Ivy and shook Derek's hand. Once they left, Ivy turned to him.

"What the hell are you doing here?" She demanded.

"I told you, I am meeting a friend for lunch. He is just really late." Derek told her.

"Look, stop showing up at my house in the middle of the night and stop following me around. Ok?" She asked.

"Why are you mad at me all of a sudden? You were fine earlier." He said.

"It doesn't matter. I didn't want you to meet my Grandparents and I didn't want to have to sit there through lunch, pretending like nothing ever happened. But you made me have to." Ivy replied.

"It's not my fault. I didn't want to sit there. Your Pop insisted." He said. "Besides, how would I know that you were going to the same bar I was going to?"

"It's not a bar. It's a tavern." Ivy said.

Derek shot her a look. Just then Jamison walked through the door. He wandered over and slapped Derek on the back.

"It's been a long time old friend." Jamison said, then he pulled Derek into a big hug.

Derek could feel his throat tightening a little and tears welling in his eyes.

"Yeah. Yeah it has." He replied.

Jamison pulled back and looked at him. "You going to cry?" he chuckled a little.

"Well, without me there, I never know if you're going to come back or not. It's harder like this, feeling so helpless." Derek said.

"Hey, you were the one that quit. You can always come back if you want, you know they'd love to have you." Jamison said.

"Yeah, well, I miss it a little, you know, the fun parts. But I don't want to travel so much anymore and I sure as hell don't miss all the... well, you know. I miss the thrill though. But I'm looking to settle down a little more." He explained.

Derek couldn't help but glance at Ivy as he said that.

"Well are you going to introduce me to your lady here or what?" Jamison asked, still hanging an arm around Derek's shoulder as he gestured to Ivy.

"I am not his anything." Ivy said angrily.

"Oh. Did you just break up? It feels a little tense here." Derek's friend looked a little awkward suddenly.

"No. We were and never will be anything." Ivy replied.

She could see Derek watching her carefully.

"Well, in that case, perhaps you would like to join us for a drink? I'm Jamison by the way." He said and stuck out his hand.

"Ivy." Ivy replied, shaking his hand. He grinned, he had a wicked, cheeky smile.

Ivy could see him checking her out. His eyes trailed across her body, lingering on her ass and breasts before resting easily on her eyes again. Ivy smiled knowingly. Derek would be jealous too.

Jamison was a good looking man. And though Ivy was not attracted to him in the same way she was attracted to Derek, she was not blind. He had short silvery hair, a military style crew cut that was getting a little long. He had a muscular body which made his t-shirt taut across his chest and biceps. His eyes were a silvery colour that matched his hair, they twinkled with confidence and mischief. He had a strong jaw with light stubble. He was about the same height as Derek, though obviously a little more laid back. He had a nice ass too.

"Sure. I'll join you for drinks." Ivy replied, smiling at him.

She liked Jamison already and though she was partially only interested in him because she wanted to make Derek jealous, the other part was genuine interest.

"I don't think so." Derek said flatly. "You're under age."

"You are?" Jamison asked. "You look mature." He said.

"I don't have to drink alcohol." Ivy glared a little at Derek.

"Yeah, you can just have a soda or something." Jamison said.

Then he took off in the direction of the bar without further conversation. Derek and Ivy followed, taking a seat either side of Jamison. He had already ordered drinks.

"So, you're a minister now?" Jamison asked Derek.

"Yeah." He replied flatly.

"Sworn off women, drugs and alcohol then?" He asked.

Derek's eye's flickered to Ivy for a moment before he said "Yep. But it hasn't been too bad, I haven't really met anyone that has made me wish I could still do those things." He lied.

Ivy hated to admit it but that hurt her feelings. She wanted to think that if Derek truly had feelings for her he would at least be tempted to 'do those things'. Plus, he wouldn't be able to just shut her down like that if he really liked her. Jamison it was then.

"So how did you two meet?" He asked, gesturing at Ivy and Derek.

"The church." Ivy replied, deciding not to elaborate.

"So are you good friends or something?" Jamison asked again.

"Or something." Derek replied.

Jamison raised an eyebrow at him but said nothing. Derek just stared at the drink in his hand before gulping it all down.

"Easy buddy." Jamison chuckled.

"Guess there is still a little bit of the old Derek in there hey?" Jamison asked.

"The old Derek?" Ivy inquired.

"Well yeah, back when Derek and I used to work together, he was a wild thing. Even more mischievous, seductive and slutty than me. When we came back to town after a mission he'd sleep with almost ten women before the weekend was out then we'd head back to the field. We'd get drunk too. I've never met a man that can drink like Derek." Jamison said.

Yeah. Neither have I, Ivy thought back to last night. He was handling his hangover very well, must be experienced she decided. She was a little surprised to hear he was a whore. Sleeping around and not calling women back didn't seem like something a now minister should ever have done. She couldn't believe that she was so damn attracted to a scumbag.

She looked at him. Still just staring at the drink his hand, refusing to meet her gaze. Probably ashamed of it. Or proud. Men were usually more proud of sleeping around a lot.

"So what do you do?" Ivy turned to Jamison.

"I work for the military. Top secret stuff." He winked at her.

She thought back to Derek's scare covered body. Was Jamison's like that? She couldn't help but look at his chest. It made sense that that was how Derek ended up with all those scares, being in the military. Was he tortured?

"So Derek used to work with you in the military?" Ivy asked.

"Yes, we were on the same team with two other guys. He didn't tell you?" Jamison frowned.

"No, he isn't very talkative." Ivy said looking at him.

"What are you sulking about?" Jamison nudged Derek.

"Nothing. Just tired, that's all." He was lying again.

"So who were the two other guys?" Ivy asked.

"Ricky and Garret. Great guys, Ricky was killed in action, god bless his soul. Garret changed branches and became a commanding officer in Afghanistan. I believe he is still there; I haven't spoked to him in a while. The team sort of fell apart when Ricky was killed. This bloke," Jamison gestured over his shoulder to Derek, "He quit. Said he couldn't do it anymore and then turned his back on us and opened his arms to the lord. After that, Garret decided he wanted a change of pace too. I was the only one left on the team so they gave me a bunch of new recruits, I trained them up to take our squads place and well, now that they are trained here I am."

"So what are you doing here?" Ivy asked.

"A more permanent position, one that requires less travel. I have been promoted so now rather than being in team and doing the work, I have a bunch of teams and tell them what to do. Fun stuff really. I can't tell you a lot more, you know, being the military and all, but it gives you a thrill. Don't know if I'll ever be able to turn my back on that." He looked at Derek.

Ivy and Jamison talked for a while, Derek barely said a word. He looked pissed. Jealous. Ivy couldn't help but feel a little victorious with ever curt answer and snappy response that flew her way. She knew she had hurt him again but really, after last night, Ivy wasn't sure that she cared that much.

After about an hour of laughing and talking and Jamison teasing Derek about his pouting they all got up to leave.

"Well Ivy, it's been lovely meeting you, I hope we can do this again some time." Jamison said. He took her hand and kissed it.

Ivy laughed a little. "Me too." She pulled out her phone. "Why not tomorrow?" She asked, glancing at Derek as she said it. He jerked his head, staring at her.

Jamison grinned. "That sounds great, here's my number" He pulled a little business card from his pocket and tucked it into hers, "Call me." He winked and with that he waved goodbye to Derek, spun on his heels and strolled out the door and down the street.

Ivy turned to Derek, "Well he was nice." She smiled.

Derek glared at her and considered her. "Ivy. I know what you are doing. Look, you can't go out with him."

"Why not?" Ivy interrupted him. "Because he isn't you? Because you are jealous?" She challenged as she headed for the door.

"No- "Derek began as he followed her to the door.

"Why then?" She turned to him.

She suddenly realised how tall and big he was compared to her, standing about 6"1' with a muscular build.

He reached out to touch her arm. She flinched away. His eyes flickered with confusion then he took a step back.

"You- you are scared of me?" he asked, confusing and anxiousness shaking his voice slightly.

Ivy ignored him and pushed the door open and spilled out onto the street.

"Ivy, look, it's not about me. Jamison, he is a good guy to work with, an honourable man in his work but in terms of women and drinking... he's just like me." Derek said, looking at his feet.

Ivy said nothing. She just ignored him and continued walking in the direction of her apartment.

"Ivy, he cheats on women, he sleeps with them and never calls them back. He doesn't respect them. I don't want to see you get hurt." He said, following her.

"Look, Derek, I am a big girl. I can look after myself and I would appreciate if you would leave me alone and stop showing up at my house unannounced." Ivy said, still looking straight ahead and marching in the direction of her house.

"Ivy. Please." He said, exasperated.

"Well, you said he is just like you, so what makes you think that I should be with you and not him? I mean if you're the same like you just said?" Ivy asked.

"What? Ivy, I never said that we should be together. Why do you think I haven't made a move? Because I don't like you? No, it's because you deserve better than me. And well, because I am a minister." He explained.

She stopped suddenly. "What do you mean you haven't made a move on me? What was last night? What was both of the times that we kissed before that?" Ivy asked.

"What do you mean 'what was last night'?" Derek asked, confusion evident on his face. A little bit of anxiousness surfaced too.

Ivy looked at him. He really didn't remember. She figured anyway.

"Don't worry." She said then turned on her heels to walk off.

He reached out again and caught her arm.

"Ivy wait- "He said.

She pulled her arm free again in a moment of panic, her memory flaring back to last night. Her expression must have showed some of the fear because Derek's face dropped to horror.

"Ivy." He said quietly. "What did I do last night? Did I- "He broke off, seeming to regather himself. "Did I hurt you?" He whispered.

Ivy dropped her gaze to the ground. She felt his hand gently touch her face and guide it back up so that he could look at her. It took everything she had not to flinch away from him again.

"Ivy. Please. Tell me. I need to know what happened last night." He pleaded.

Ivy considered him for a moment. Looking up into his wide, begging eyes. He looked scared. For the emotionless rock he had been when she first met him, he had come a long way.

She sighed a little. "You came over, drunk, banging on my door. I was asleep on the couch, it was about 3 o'clock, 4 o'clock, I can't remember. Anyway, I opened the door and I thought about turning you away but you would have gotten yourself killed or something like that. You started insisting that I hurt you. You- "She paused." You told me that you loved me." She looked up at him, expecting something, a flicker, anything. He was steady as a rock. As if it was nothing new to him, as if he expected it.

"Anyway, then you, you came in, you were really drunk. You, kissed me. At first it was nothing, but then, then it got rougher. I tried to push you off but you kept coming then finally, I got you to stop and you passed out." Ivy said.

Derek took a step back, eyes wide and face pale. "Ivy- Ivy I am so sorry. That shouldn't have happened. I am sorry I put you through that. Oh god. Ivy, I shouldn't have gotten drunk like that, I should have controlled myself. I am so sorry. God, I am such an idiot."

"Look. Just don't worry about it. You stopped before anything happened. Don't worry about coming around and getting your clothes either, they're ruined. I'll throw them out." Ivy looked him up and down.

"I'll see you around Derek." She said, then she turned around and walked away.

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