Page 22 of Time To Live Again

I huff. “Oh really. I’ll show y?—”

“There you are! I’ve been looking all over for you!” Bethany jumps out from behind the tree. Olive and I jump off the bench like it’s boiling hot, and Bethany snorts. The blanket lands on the damp ground, and Olive scoops it up quickly.

“Fucking hell, Bethany!”

She comes forward like it’s an invitation and pulls me in for a hug lasting much longer than wanted. When she retreats, she drags her hands through my hair, creating a nest on top of my head since it was in a half bun. “I love your mustache. It’s sosexy.”

Ugh. A whiff of alcohol and cigarettes blows in my face. She has to be drunk—she’s never come on to me like this before. Shocking me further, she comes at me like she’s going to kiss me. I turn my head in time and her sloppy lips press hard on my cheek.

I pull away, wiping my face with the back of my hand. Then I shake my hair out, careful not to lose the band. I roll it onto my wrist and step closer to Olive. She tosses the blanket on the bench.

I put my arm around Olive’s waist and squeeze gently. She stiffens, then quickly relaxes into my side. I trace my nose along her neck and inhale, then whisper in her ear, “Please, please follow my lead.”

This is going to be hard to fake.

9

OLIVE

Leo towers over me, and I melt into the side of his warm body. My eyes flutter shut when a hint of his cologne teases my nose, stirring something deep inside.Dangerous. The tip of his nose traces up my neck, and I can’t control the desperate need for more of his touch.

“Please, please follow my lead,” he whispers softly in my ear. It’s hard to focus when his voice is smooth like velvet. I think I know what he’s going to do. I’ve read it a thousand times in romance books. Time to turn on my acting skills. If I have any.

I simper, then say, “That tickles, babe. You’re feisty tonight.” I brush my lips across his soft cheek. Only for acting purposes!Yeah, right.

Leo’s big hand squeezes my waist again, pulling me closer. “I can’t help it. You’re so damn beautiful and you smell amazing,” he murmurs against my neck, his lips and mustache tickling my skin. Flames ignite inside me. Damn, he’s good at this. Too bad it’s fake.Is it, though?

Bethany’s scowl is hard to miss. My lips quirk. What do we do now? It doesn’t matter because the surrounding crowd starts to count down. “Three, two, one…Happy New Year!” Total chaos follows. People are hugging, kissing, dancing, and, of course, drinking. I’m in awe of my surroundings, and with the fireworks above us, it’s magical.

“Happy New Year, Olive,” Leo says, pulling my attention to him.

I gaze into his golden eyes and find it hard to breathe. He rests his hand on the back of my neck, leans down, and I close my eyes to let the moment sink in. His lips tease mine with the lightest touch. So warm. So soft. So gentle. So perfect.

“Leo!”

That isn’t Bethany’s voice. We break apart abruptly, putting some distance between us. I touch my mouth, shocked that we did that. Lost in a fake moment. I search for Bethany, and she’s out of sight. Good.

“Leo! Woo-hoo!” A short woman runs up and jumps into his arms. I take a few steps back. “Happy New Year, brother.”Ah ha, his sister.

Leo whispers something in her ear, and she punches him in the arm. He inches closer to me and places his hand on my lower back. “Tonya, this is Olive. She’s staying at the hotel.”

She grabs my hand and shakes it vigorously. It’s comical. “Hi, Olive. Are you the one Leo took to the café?”

I regain my hand, then look at Leo. He clenches his jaw.

“Um, yes?”Why is it such a big deal?

“It’s nice to meet you. Are you coming back to the party? I planned everything, and the room looksfab-u-lous!” She singsongs the word.

“Leo invited me, but I’d feel like a party crasher. Are you sure it’s okay for me to be there?”

“No worries. You know Leo and me. Ellie and Sam are the sweetest. Any friend of Leo’s is a friend of theirs.” Tonya turns to her brother, hands on her hips. “And you—Bethany was looking for you again. She’s a little out of control tonight.”

“A little?” Sarcasm oozes from his voice. “She was just here in her drunken glory. You should’ve seen the shit she pulled. She was all over me, even tried to kiss me.”

Leo takes the elastic band off his wrist and puts half his hair up in a fashionable, messy bun. I watch every movement. It was up earlier, but—call me weird—witnessing him do that one simple thing unleashes something wild in me, catching me by surprise. He has great style, and he moves with confidence. I could go on and on.

“I cuddled up to poor Olive, hoping Bethany would get the point I’m not interested. It seems to have worked because she disappeared. If you see her, pretend Olive’s my girlfriend.”

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