Page 45 of Waking Olivia

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Olivia

At first, I refuse. The idea of Dorothy being the victim of my craziness when I’m not even aware of what’s happening horrifies me. Eventually, he convinces me by promising that he’ll be in the adjoining room and his mother will make no effort to stop me. I appreciate what they’re doing for me, I really do, but it still blows to have the rest of the team think I’m rooming with Dorothy because of my bad reputation.

"That completely sucks," says Erin. "You started one fight. That doesn’t mean you need a chaperone."

"It doesn't matter," I sigh. "It's not like we were going to sit around braiding each other's hair and talking about boys.”

"I'd planned to braid yours.” She grins. "And Ialwaystalk about boys."

I half-smirk. "Then maybe I'm glad I'm rooming with Mrs. Langstrom."

Brofton plantshis cocky ass beside me that morning on the bus, edging out Reed Loughlin, who'd just asked if the seat was free. And that's fine. I have no problem putting an asshole like Brofton in his place, but I'm worried Reed's got a little crush, and that's harder to deal with.

"Heard you're staying with Will's mom," smirks Brofton. "So we'll need to be really quiet when I come to your room."

"If you were in my room, I guarantee I'd be quiet. I'd probably sleep right through it."

"Keep giving me something to prove, Finn. It's just going to make it that much better when you're screaming my name."

"Only thing I'd be screaming for with you is a magnifying glass," I reply. Reed and Erin crack up, but Will's shoulders tense, which tells me he's listening and he's not happy. Fuck him. I'm not a nun. I didn't take an oath of celibacy to be on this team.

Fortunately for Will, Reed changes the subject. "Are your parents coming in, Finn?" he asks.

Before I can answer, Betsy chimes in. "Finn's parents never come. I guess they like her about as much as everyone else does."

"I'm surprised your parents bother," I retort, “seeing as how you've never placed."

“That’s enough,” Will intones without ever turning his head. I don’t appreciate him intervening like he’s our fucking dad, but I’m consoled by how pissed off Betsy looks right now. I give her a big grin and shoot her the finger before I turn around in my seat.

When we arrive, Erin's parents are waiting with their wide smiles and their bright eyes. I want to resent it, but oddly I don't. I like Erin. I'm jealous, yes, but I still wouldn't want to take this away from her. I know that somewhere deep inside I've looked at these situations and felt that something was taken from me, as if every set of proud, involved parents could have been mine if they didn't belong to someone else, as ridiculous as that is. But even if it were true, I would never want Erin to be alone like me. She's too sweet, too soft. If one of us had to draw a short straw, it’s best that it was me.

Her parents invite me out to dinner with them. I agree, feeling oddly chagrined that I won’t be eating with Dorothy and Will, which makes absolutely no sense. Why would Iwantto eat with my dickhead coach and his mother for Christ’s sake? I shower and blow out my hair, put on a little make-up, skinny jeans, and my favorite royal blue blouse.

"Don't you look cute?" Dorothy smiles. "Where are you off to?"

Just then, Will knocks on the door. His face seems to empty, go blank, for a moment, as he looks at me, as if he didn't expect to find me here at all. "You guys ready to go to dinner?" he asks.

"Erin invited me to go out to eat with her and her parents.”

His mouth goes into a tight line. "Not happening."

"What do you mean?"

"I mean I don't trust you enough to let you go to dinner with Erin.”

"Seriously?" I snap. "How much trouble do you think I can get into between here and Erin's room?"

"Plenty," he retorts, "but that's not what I'm concerned about. I don't trust you to eat."

"I'll eat. I don't need a babysitter."

"I had to force feed youlast week. But suddenly you've got it all under control?"

"If I'm telling you I'll eat, I'll eat."

"Fine, I'll give you two choices. One, you tell Erin I said you couldn't go. Or two, you write down every bite of food you put in your mouth and Erin's parents come here personally and vouch for the fact that it's true."

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