Page 255 of Worthy

“Oliver, you in?” she asks, turning to him and making me want to change my answer.

I move toward the fridge to get my beer, but I still hear him agree to join us.

“I’ll see you out there,” I say, passing them while avoiding eye contact.

When I get outside, there’s a couple other guys smoking cigarettes at the table. I recognize one of them as Dave, a friend of Mason.

“You want one?” Dave asks, holding up his pack.

“Nah. Thanks, though,” I say, pulling out my phone to distract myself.

“Hey, are you and Victoria together?” he questions. “My friend wants to know,” he says, jerking his head at the other guy.

“We’re just friends,” I reply.

“Y’all are pretty close though, right?” his friend asks.

“Yeah. She’ll be out here soon.”

“Who will be out here soon?” Vic asks, coming through the door. “Y’all talking about me?”

Her smile is wide and infectious, her long, black hair falling over her shoulders.

I notice the guy stub out his cigarette and pop a piece of gum in his mouth.

“Yeah, have you met Dave and…”

“Jacoby,” he says, standing up.

“He’s interested,” I say as quietly as I can.

Vic gives him a onceover and I can tell by the look on her face when he passes whatever first glance test she has. Her grin grows slowly and she saunters over.

“Hey guys. I’m Victoria.”

Dave says hello before getting up and letting his friend have alone time with her. When he walks through the door, Oliver comes out.

The two of us stand on the side of the door, out of view from anyone inside, my back resting against the house as I continue to scroll through my phone.

“She’s abandoned us,” I say casually.

“I know that guy,” he replies. “He’s in one of my classes.”

“Is he cool?”

“Pretty quiet. A little reserved.”

My eyes flicker up as I watch Vic put her hand on his shoulder, laughing about something.

“She’s gonna eat him alive.”

Oliver snorts. “She’s a good one, though.”

I turn my head to see him watching her with a small grin on his lips, and a tinge of annoyance grows in my stomach. I’ve never felt jealous over Vic being with anyone else. Hell, I don’t even care about her flirting with that guy right now, so am I worried he likes her?

He’s already fucked her. Maybe now that she’s showing interest in someone else, he doesn’t want to lose the chance of being with her again.

Oliver slowly looks over at me, and the expression my face must give me away. He smiles at me, amusement in his eyes. “I’m not trying to be with her. Calm down.”

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