Page 43 of Rookie Mistake

“I love you, Ollie,” I say as I throw my arms around his neck and hold him tightly to me. “And I’m not going anywhere. Life is just… changing. I’m growing and evolving, but one thing that never will change is that you’llalwaysbe my big brother. I just need you to respect me… That’s it, okay?”

His arms slide around my waist at some point, hugging me back, and we stay like that for a few beats, neither of us wanting to end the moment. I feel lighter after the last few months of tension and frustration being the only conversations we’ve shared.

“So we’re good?” he asks when he pulls back and quickly swipes at a tear that’s fallen onto his cheek. He’d never actually admit that he just cried over our relationship, but he soooo did.

And now, I’m never going to let him live it down.

What are little sisters for if it isn’t driving their older brother nuts?

“Not to kick you out, and I’m so glad that you came here and we talked everything over, but Davis is supposed to be here any minute, and I’d like to avoid any awkwardness.”

Oliver nods begrudgingly. “I understand. If you need me, no matter what, I’ll be here, Zar. Night or day. I’ll come get you from a bar, from a frat party. Don’t ever forget that. Will you please think about moving back home? ”

“Okay, I will, I promise. Love you, Ollie,” I whisper as I put my head on his chest once again, wrapping my arms around his surly shoulders.

“Love you too, Zar.”

A few minutes later, he’s gone, leaving me staring out at the empty hallway, partially in shock and feeling a sliver of relief.As prideful as Oliver is, I didn’t expect him to be the one to apologize, so I’m really surprised that he did.

I’m glad that we attempted to patch things up between us, but the true test will be if Oliver actually changes these things, not just says them.

Words are nothing without actions.

After I close the door, I walk back into Harper’s dorm, which is more like a closet with a bed. There are clothes littering nearly every surface, and yet when I scoured through them in search of something to wear for my first official date with Davis tonight, I found absolutely nothing.

Everything’s too pink and girly, definitely not my style, but I did find a vintage-looking band T-shirt shoved in the very back of her dresser, so I went with it.

And actually… it lookssofucking fire.

It’s long enough to fall to my thighs, so I paired it with some fishnets and the only pair of shoes I grabbed before coming to stay here, my old checkered Vans that have music notes I doodled on the soles with a permanent marker.

I even curled my hair and put on Davis’s favorite shade of lipstick. The combination of all of that has me feeling confident and not at all nervous.

Sure, it’s our first “official” date, but we’ve been secretly seeing each other for several weeks now, and let’s be honest, we’ve done more stuff together than some couples do in a lifetime, so I’m comfortable around him.

A few minutes later, there’s a light knock at the door, and when I open it and see him standing on the other side, a flurry of butterflies erupts in my stomach.

It’ll never get old. That feeling. It always feels like the first night we met.

“Hi,” he murmurs as his eyes drag down my body. “Damn, baby, you look hot as fuck. Big night?”

Smirking, I do a little spin, showing off the outfit with a shrug. “Oh, you know, just going on a date with this guy.”

He smirks, pulling his hand from his jeans pockets and reaching for me. His big palm splays along my waist and hauls me forward into his hard, muscled front.

That will also never get old.

My boyfriend is actually the hottest man alive. No question.

“Might wanna tell him I can fight, then, Trouble.” His breath fans against my lips.

I rise on my toes and murmur against his mouth, “Mmmm. We’ll see how the night goes first.”

“Brat.”

He captures my lips as his arm tightens around my waist, holding me close to him. I swear I can feel his heart racing alongside mine. When his hand slides to my ass and the kiss starts to turn heated, he stops, pulling back abruptly.

“Fuck, we need to go before we never leave this dorm. Something tells me that Harper wouldn’t want me fucking you on every surface of her room.”

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