Page 29 of Force a Date

“Fun would’ve been my fist in his face.”

She narrows those blues and puts both hands on her hips. “Tryin’ to think of every way to get out of this, huh?”

“Actually, no, it would’ve been just a highlight.”

“I shouldn’t be the one telling you this, but behave.”

I stare off at Kyle but don’t find him anywhere. “Sure, kid. Whatever you say.”

nine

. . .

LIV

“Soooo…dating your boss. That’s a new one.”

If murder wouldn’t get me twenty-five years to life, I’d stab my sister in the throat right now.

You should’ve seen her eyes when Mom introduced Hudson as my boyfriend, because he’s the exact opposite of her fiancé, Martin.

While Hudson looks like he’d run you over with his motorcycle while drinking a beer and fucking a girl at the same time, Martin is a redhead with thick black-rimmed glasses and an IQ brimming the level of genius, and a talkative one at that.

Every time he speaks about his job, I feel stupider than I did walking into the conversation.

However, he’s really nice, always has nice things to say to me, and supports my decisions, which is more than what I can say for my mother and sister.

“Just because he doesn’t wear polo shirts and khakis, Norah,” I state, finishing up with chopping some tomatoes and throwing them on top of the salad with too much force. “Doesn’t mean he’s below anyone.”

“He’s older.”

“Martin is six years older than you.” I glance up from the wooden cutting board and send an unamused glare at my sister. Her pretty golden blonde hair is pulled back in a perfect set of French braids as she meticulously chops carrots. “And way smarter.”

Norah lays down her knife with precision and perks a haughty brow. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

“I mean…do you understand anything he’s saying half the time? Do you even know what he does for a living, because I’m still confused? Is he a scientist or mathematician, I dunno. No one seems to know. The dude talks about both then uses words that no one in this house can spell if their lives depended on it. I’m not sure how that holds your attention and specific standards for men but you must be hanging out for the money, huh?”

I’m not entirely sure if that’s true, but I wouldn’t put it past Norah. Her goals in life are being a stay-at-home mom and baking cookies every afternoon.

“You’re unbelievable, Olive,” my sister sneers, boring her golden brown eyes at me. “I’ll have you know that Martin is a very interesting person.”

“He sure is.”

Norah’s nostrils flare, as does the slight pink along her cheeks, but she knows better than to do this with me. I have no problem cutting into my sister when the opportunity presents itself.

And she is right. There’s nothing wrong with Martin. In fact, he could do so much better than my snobby sister. However, Norah needs to learn that just because someone didn’t graduate from Harvard, it doesn’t make them a dumbass.

“You know, Liv, if you’d stop being such a big mouth, maybe someone would want to stick around.”

“I’d rather be lonely than settle, Nor, but thanks. I’m in no rush to get married and be bored.”

“Bored?” she repeats incredulously, her eyes peering back at me as if I’m losing my shit. “Um, I’m about to have a husband.”

She says that like she’s about to win the lottery tomorrow, but I honestly have no idea why.

I like my freedom.

I enjoy not having to answer to anyone. I love not having to ask someone what they want for dinner because Rory and I are the easiest things to feed.

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