Page 25 of Audiophile

“What if it was an emergency?” Livi huffs.

I roll my eyes. “It’s not. I know why you’re calling.”

“Exactly! Why do I have to find out from Jessica thatmysister snuck out of a guy’s room this morning?”

“I wasn’t—”

“You were wearing your work polo!”

“Alright, those optics aren’t great,” I admit. I can’t tell her about Knight for my own sake, and I don’t want Reed to lose the anonymity he obviously craves. “He’s just…easy to talk to. He doesn’t remember me at ten years oldorhow I was with Nate. Reed sees me as I am now.”

“That’s sweet, but can we squeal over you getting laid first?” Livi asks.

I frown at my phone. “We didn’t have sex.”

“Don’t lie. I’m happy for you! You should get laid all the time.”

Oh God. This is why I didn’t want anyone to know.

“Chelsea told me he bought you flowers,” Livi plows on. “You’re going on a date tonight?”

Lessthan a minute of talking to Livi and my headache is worse than it’s been all day. “He brought me flowers yesterday, which wasn’t a date. It was a conversation.”

“A conversation that lasted until dawn? Also, Chelsea said today. He got you flowers two days in a row?” Livi didn’t sound overjoyed. In fact, she grumbled under her breath while she typed out a text message to her husband. “Darin, Petra got flowerstwodays in a row—”

“Livi.”

Livi steamrolls me as she continues typing. “And I boretwinsfor you, so where are my flowers?Twicethe flowers!”

“Seriously? The man dotes on you.”

“He knows I’m joking,” she scoffs. “Tell me about tonight. Where are you going? What are you wearing?”

“I’m in my uniform, because it’snota date.”

Livi groans. “I’m coming over there as soon as Darin gets home. I’ll bring clothes, a makeup bag, lingerie—”

I shut that down. “I don’t need lingerie.”

“You can’t stoptrying. You’re not ancient, no matter how determined you are to believe that.”

The criticism stings. “I have to get back to work. Do what you want.”

“Wait,” Livi sounds contrite. “I’m excited for you! Nate jacked up your perception of what a relationship is supposed to be. Iwantyou to get another chance—even if it means you get all the flowers.”

As blunt as Livi is, I know she means it. “You know Darin is buying you four bouquets as we speak, right?”

“Part of his charm. Did you hear anything else I said?” I don’t answer, and Livi sighs in defeat. “Can I at least bring you another shirt?”

“I’m not off until eight,” I warn.

Livi pushes right back. “You’ll be off at seven-thirty after I call Ray.”

I don’t doubt it. “Bye.”

Livi means well, but she’s a loud, unapologetic princess, and she’s used to getting her way. Livi is still Mama’s favorite girl. It might cause friction, as with all families, but beneath all that—deep,deepbelow the surface—Livi’s got my back, and I’ve got hers. Which is why I let her bring me another shirt. Plus, who wants to go to dinner in a polo?

But Livi can’t keep her mouth shut, and my phone dings half an hour later.

---