The Heart System

I crossed the street, pulling my jacket a little tighter around me as the rain kept falling in a steady rhythm. This part of the city was quieter than the main roads, but it wasn’t dead. A few people still lingered under awnings, some smoking, some talking in low voices. A couple walked past me with their heads down, sharing an umbrella that barely covered either of them. Farther down, a flickering streetlamp buzzed faintly, casting uneven light onto the wet pavement.

It had that late-night feel to it. Not empty, not alive either. Just… in between. The kind of place where people came when they didn’t want to be seen.

The bar the guy mentioned wasn’t hard to find. A dim neon sign hung above the entrance, one of the letters half-dead, blinking every few seconds. The windows were fogged up from the inside, silhouettes moving faintly behind the glass.

I pushed the door open and stepped in.

Warmth hit me first, along with the dull hum of low music. Not loud, not energetic. Just something slow playing in the background, blending with the quiet chatter of a handful of patrons.

The place was small. A narrow bar stretched along the left side, a few worn stools lined up in front of it. On the right, there were scattered tables, most of them occupied by one or two people nursing their drinks. No loud groups, no chaos like the club. Just tired faces, half-empty glasses, and people minding their own business.

A man in the corner was staring at nothing, a cigarette burning slowly between his fingers. Two women sat by the window, speaking in hushed tones. The bartender wiped a glass lazily, barely looking up as I entered.

And then I saw her.

Finally.

Ivy sat at the bar, slightly slouched forward, one elbow resting on the counter. A half-empty beer stood in front of her. Her hair was a mess, strands sticking to her cheeks, and her shoulders looked heavy, like they were carrying more than just alcohol.

I walked toward her, my steps slow but firm. She noticed me when I got close. Her eyes lifted, unfocused at first, then settling on my face.

We locked eyes. She didn’t say anything. Didn’t smile. Didn’t frown. Just… looked.

I turned slightly toward the bartender.

“How much does she owe?”

The bartender glanced at Ivy, then back at me. “Three beers.”

I pulled out some cash and placed it on the counter. “Keep the change.”

He nodded, taking the money without a word.

I reached for Ivy’s arm and grabbed it firmly.

“Let’s go.”

She resisted immediately, her body tensing as she tried to pull back.

“W-wait…” she slurred, her voice weak but stubborn.

I didn’t listen.

I pulled her off the stool, steadying her before she could lose her balance completely, and started walking toward the door. She tried again, pushing lightly against me, but she didn’t have the strength to fight it properly.

“Evan… stop—” she mumbled, her words stumbling over each other.

“No.”

I didn’t even look at her.

We stepped out into the cold night, the rain hitting us instantly. She flinched slightly at the sudden change, her grip on my arm tightening unconsciously as I led her toward the car.

I opened the passenger door and turned to her.

“Sit.”

She blinked at me, her eyes glossy, her expression somewhere between confusion and exhaustion. Then, without another word, she slid into the seat, her movements slow and uncoordinated.

I closed the door and walked around to the driver’s side.

The moment I got in, I shut the door and leaned back slightly, not starting the engine yet.

I just looked at her. She sat there, staring ahead, her breathing uneven. For a few seconds, nothing happened.

Then her face crumpled and she broke.

A sharp, shaky breath escaped her first, like she was trying to hold it in and failing. Then another. And then the tears came.

She covered her face with her hands, her shoulders shaking as the sobs tore out of her. It wasn’t quiet crying. It was messy, loud, uncontrollable. The kind that had been building up for too long.

I exhaled slowly and shook my head, then leaned over and pulled her into me.

Her hands grabbed onto my shirt, clutching it tightly as she buried her face against my chest. Her crying only got louder, her whole body trembling as she held onto me like I was the only thing keeping her together.

I didn’t say anything. There was nothing to say. I just held her, one hand resting on her back, letting her cry it out.

The car filled with the sound of her sobs. Outside, the rain kept falling, tapping softly against the windows, mixing with her broken breaths.

Time passed. I didn’t count how long. Maybe a minute?

Her crying didn’t stop right away. It came in waves, each one a little weaker than the last, but still heavy. Still painful.

She clung to me the entire time. I also earned ten points from her but that wasn’t important… not right now.

══════════════════

WOMEN – INTERACTIONS

──────────────────

Jasmine: Interest: 40 / 60 ★★

Kayla: Interest: 38 / 40 ★

Tessa: Interest: 40 / 60 ★★

Kim: Interest: 100 / 100 ★★★★★

Delilah: Interest: 80 / 100 ★★★

Cora: Interest: 100 / 100 ★★★★★

Mendy: Interest: 20 / 40 ★

Nala: Interest: -99 / 100 ★★★★★

Penelope: Interest: 5 / 20

Minne: Interest: 38 / 40 ★

Ivy: Interest: 50 / 60 ★★

Eleanor: Interest: 25 / 40 ★

Amelia: Interest: 12 / 20

Esme: Interest: 60 / 80 ★★

══════════════════

Eventually, slowly, the sobs started to quiet down. Her grip loosened just a little, her breathing still shaky but not as frantic.

When I felt her calm down enough, I gently pulled back.

Her face was a mess. Red eyes, tear-streaked cheeks, lips trembling slightly as she tried to steady herself. I leaned over and reached for the seatbelt, pulling it across her and clicking it into place.

She didn’t say anything. Didn’t even look at me.

I sat back in my seat, turned the key, and the engine came to life.

I glanced at her one more time, then back at the road. “Time to go home, Ivy.”

⟁ ⟁ ⟁

I killed the engine and let the silence settle over us. Ivy hadn’t said a word the entire drive, and I didn’t push her. The last thing she needed right now was me lecturing her about running off and scaring the hell out of me.

She shook her head slowly, then buried her face in her hands. Even with the window slightly open, the sharp, sweet stench of alcohol filled the car. God, how much had she drunk tonight?

“You okay?” I asked quietly.

“Mmhm…” she mumbled, sniffing. “I’m fine…”

The quiet returned, heavy between us. I glanced up at her apartment building. Most of the windows were dark. The street was empty except for a couple of distant cop cars gliding past. The rain had eased into a soft, steady patter.

I was still angry with her, but the relief of finding her safe outweighed everything else. I’d thought this mess wouldn’t hit her this hard. I was wrong.

“Why…” Her voice was small, almost broken. “Why can’t I find someone like you, Evan?”

I gave her a small smile and lightly punched her shoulder. “I’m one of a kind, baby.”

She smiled back, but it quickly faded as she fumbled clumsily with her seatbelt. After a few failed attempts, I leaned over to help.

Then… ’something’ happened.

The moment I got close, Ivy suddenly moved forward and pressed her lips to mine.

The taste of her lipstick and alcohol hit me instantly. It was brief, impulsive… and electric. Her eyes flew open a second later and she jerked back.

“Oh shit… I’m sorry,” she whispered.

“I, uh…” I cleared my throat. “It’s… okay.”

Fuck. What the hell was I supposed to say? She was wasted. She didn’t know what she was doing. The smart thing was to get her upstairs and let Delilah handle the rest.

I pocketed the keys, got out, and walked around to her side. When I opened the door and tried to help her up, it was obvious she couldn’t stand on her own. Her legs were shaking badly. So, I turned around, bent my knees, and offered my back.

“Hop on.”

“I’m not… I can’t…”

“Hop on, Ivy.”

She hesitated for a second, then gave in. “Okay…”

Her arms slid around my neck, her legs wrapping around my waist. I straightened up, closed the car door, and started toward the building. Her warm breath brushed against my neck with every step, and her soft breasts pressed firmly against my back. After that kiss, the sensation made it damn near impossible to stay calm.

I pushed through the main apartment door and carried her up the stairs. By the time I reached the landing, Delilah already had the door standing open. She must have been stationed at the window, watching the street for the first sign of us the moment I’d messaged her that Ivy was safe.

Her eyes were red and swollen, her face pale under the dim hallway light. The relief that washed over her as she saw us was visible, a physical shudder that seemed to sap the remaining strength from her legs.

“Oh my God…” Relief flooded her voice as she exhaled. “She’s safe. Thank fuck.”

“Yep,” I said, stepping inside. “I’ll put her in her room.”

Delilah nodded quickly. “Please.”

“She’s completely hammered,” I added as I walked down the short hallway. “You might want to have strong coffee ready when she wakes up. And expect a brutal headache.”

Delilah gave a tired smile. “I’ve been there. I know the drill.”

She opened Ivy’s bedroom door for me. I gently lowered her onto the bed. Delilah moved in right away, pulling off Ivy’s boots and jacket. I watched for a moment, then quietly stepped out to give them space.