Page 61 of Fielder's Choice

They all look at me, hiding amused smiles, meaning I’m on the right track with what I was thinking.

God, this is embarrassing.

“And when do you feel that?” Ella asks, a wicked gleam in her eye.

“When he’s flirting with me. When we’re kissing. And when I’m thinking about him, it seems. I’m mortified to even be asking because I might already know the answer, but I’ve been through far more than anyone knows. I pretty much avoid the topic of sex altogether. So I guess I just need confirmation.”

Lucia looks as excited as a kid whose parents told them to pick whatever they wanted at the candy store. “Can I tell her? Please?!”

Rory laughs. “Have at it, Luc.”

She turns to me now. “Olive,you’re horny.”

I choke on my water. Is that the answer I was expecting? Yes. Did I expect Lucia to practically shout it so brazenly in a cafe full of people? Absolutely not.

“Well, I think I’m going to go find that hole to fall into after all. Holy hell, this is embarrassing.”

“Hey,” Rory says reassuringly. “Don’t feel embarrassed. You don’t know everything about sex, and that’s okay. You’ve alluded to shutting yourself out from everything for quite a while, so I imagine there are a lot of things you’re just now experiencing.”

“Don’t feel bad about it at all,” Ella adds. “We’re a safe space. You won’t see any judgment from us. Harlow, either.”

“Thank you,” I say softly, still no doubt bright red right now.

“I do get it, though,” Lucia smirks. “Lane’s never been my type, but he certainly is a good-looking man.”

“You should see him without a shirt, then,” I say with a light laugh. “He’s so hot.”

Lucia laughs enthusiastically. “Look at you, Liv! Already getting more comfortable. I fucking love it.”

I just smile at the three women with me. Myfriends.

Meeting Rory during Sage’s lessons was one of the best things that happened to me. It led me to these women before me and the one at home still celebrating her engagement. My mom encouraging me to take over teaching Sage has done so much for me.

It also led me to Lane.

Yes, we met the day before, but without the ballet studio, I’m not sure we ever would have crossed paths again. But in a matterof weeks, he’s gone from a stranger to someone I can see myself falling for.

For six years, I was closed off.

I used to think that time was wasted, but now I know it was needed. Without it, I wouldn’t be surrounded by the people I am now. My friends and their partners. Lane and Sage.

I wouldn’t trade my relationships with each of them for anything.

twenty-one

Olive

Iflopontomybed, sinking into the plush mattress and numerous pillows. My head is so jumbled today. I’m a mess on a good day, but kissing Lane seems to have my mind running on overdrive.

I can’t believe how much I like him already. I also can’t believe I keep getting turned on around him. It is nice, though, to see that my reproductive system works after all. I wasn’t so sure about that anymore.

I grab my phone and doom-scroll through Instagram when a call lights up my screen. I can’t help but smile when I see Lane’s name.

“Hey, Hotshot,” I say as I bring the phone to my ear.

“Love to hear you call me hot.” I can hear his smug smirk through the phone.

“I said hotshot, not hot.”

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