Page 80 of Time To Live Again

“Andy!” Olive snaps. “Are you fucking crazy?” She glances at me. “You don’t have to do that.”

“And”—he continues as if Olive hasn’t said a word—“if we’re going to be one big happy family in the future, why don’t you ask your sister and brother? The more the merrier.”

He’s hysterical. I like him already.

“Are you high or something?” Olive peers at her brother through the screen, then turns to me. “I apologize for my brother.”

I rub the crease between her eyebrows until it relaxes. “Don’t. I love this.”

“See, Ol. He loves me already. But seriously, Leo, work it for me. You guys can stay here because I have a guest bedroom.”

Olive leans away from the phone and frantically mouths, “No way!”

I wrap my arm around her waist and pull her into view again. “I’ll do my best. Thanks for the invite.”

Andy continues speaking while he styles his hair, using the video as a mirror.

“Focus on us, not your precious hair, Andy. Or hang up,” Olive points out, obviously used to his behavior.

“I’m going out soon. Gotta look good.” He’s a trip. I can’t tell if he’s trying to be funny or is cocky. “My main reason for calling was to wish you luck tomorrow with Mom and Uncle Bruce. He’ll be a good buffer. But, Leo, I think you’ll hold your own.” Someone calls his name in the background. “I gotta run. Call me on Sunday.” The phone disconnects, and Olive deflates against me.

“Do you really think he’s on something?” I ask, concerned.

She shakes her head, looking unfazed by him. “Nope. That’s the way he is. You wouldn’t recognize him at work, though. He’s the complete opposite. Relentless competitor.” She picks up our coffee cups and heads for the living room. I take mine from her and sit at the end of the couch.

“Don’t worry about asking Sam to the party or Tonya and Sully. I can’t believe he put you on the spot like that. I could kick his ass.” She rests her back on the armrest and extends her legs toward me.

“The way he approached it makes me want to ask them.” I can’t stop grinning.

“What’s putting that smile on your face?”

I place my hand on her leg and squeeze it. “This. You and me. The call with your brother. Making plans for the Super Bowl and our future. Why shouldn’t I ask them? The worse they could do is say no.”

“Or ‘what the hell? We don’t even know this guy,’” Olive says, thick with lighthearted sarcasm.

I put my cup down, take hers away too, then crawl over her and nuzzle her sexy neck. “Don’t rain on my parade.”

She caresses my face and holds my gaze. “I’d never do that. If you want to invite them, go for it. I’d love to see them again.”

I slide off the couch and make some calls. Tonya is an instant yes. Sully will need convincing because of Smokey. Then we call Sam from my laptop. Talking to him is difficult because Ellie and Olive are chatting at the same time. Honestly, I didn’t think Sam would have time, but he’s all for it. Ellie is too. The call was chaotic, but I loved it anyway. This is the kind of shit I’ve been missing.

Olive sends Andy a message about Sam, then she plops next to me and gloats, “Andy’s probably twitching in a corner right now. You are officially his new favorite person. I’ve been kicked to the curb.”

I close my computer and pull her onto my lap, squeezing her perfect ass. “And you’re officially mine.”

“What do you want to do now? Stay in or go out?”

“Why don’t we relax and watch a movie together…in one room this time?”

“Sure. It’s your pick. I chose last time. Something funny.” She slides off my lap and takes our empty coffee cups to the kitchen. She comes back with bottles of water and puts them on coasters.

“How aboutAvengers: Endgame?”

She puts her hand on her hip and looks down at me. “Seriously? Is that a funny movie?”

I place my hand over my heart in shock. “Are you telling me you haven’t seenEndgame?” She shakes her head. “Any of theAvengerfilms?”

“Nope.” She smirks with pride.

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