Page 54 of Get Even

“I saw Bryn leaving,” I said with an eyebrow waggle and Liv paled. “Hey, it’s okay. Invite over whoever you want. And I’m fine, I went on a long drive.”

Liv looked like she didn’t know what to address first, she chose to ignore the comment about Bryn. “A long drive where?”

“Phoenix,” I said as I strode past her to the hall and kicked off my shoes before heading to the bathroom. “Now, I need to shower off this funk and get some sleep, I’m dead on my feet.”

Liv bit her lip, “I have questions.”

I waved her off, “I’ll fill you in later. After I’ve showered and slept preferably.”

‘Okay,” she nodded and swung the towel off her hair, rumpling it to make sure it didn’t drip, and then handed me the wet towel to hang back up. “I think there’s something going on later atThe Box?Nick and Ryan asked me to tell you to come.”

“Sounds good,” I said, though I was a little worried that Ry hadn’t texted me himself. I closed the bathroom door and shucked my stinky clothes. “I’ll fill you in then.”

* * *

I’d made the mistake of falling straight into bed with my hair still wet, something I was now sorely regretting as half my hair had dried in mangled clumps and the other half was sticking up like I’d been electrocuted. Liv had taken one look at me after I’d stumbled out of my room with puffy eyes and fallen about laughing. I’d flipped her off and gone in search of cereal.

“It’s 6:30PM,” she said and I shrugged.

“I just woke up. It’s breakfast time.”

Liv rolled her eyes but the smile stayed on her face so I thought perhaps now was the best time to gently enquire about last night. This morning. Whatever.

“So. You and Bryn?”

Color immediately stained her cheeks and she looked away, fussing with a mug on the counter and swiping away invisible crumbs. “What about Bryn?”

So she was going to play it like that? “Oh, I suppose I imagined her attempting the walk of shame yesterday.” I paused, “Earlier.”Fuck. I felt like I had jet lag but I’d only gone on an hour’s drive. Admittedly the joints I’d smoked had been fat –mental note: keep smaller zoots in the car.I didn’t even want to think about what sort of stupid shit I might have said to Max yesterday.

I spooned another scoop of lucky charms into my mouth and crunched loudly while I waited for her answer.

Liv sighed, “Yes she came over. Then she left. Okay?”

“Was it good?” I drank the milk out of the bowl and widened my eyes when she grimaced. “It wasbad?” Who’d have figured? Bryn had the confidence of someone who was good in bed. I wiped a trickle of milk off my chin and Liv blinked at me as I licked it off my hand.

“It was fine,” she said, turning away and placing the mug in the sink. “It’s just that I sort of like someone else.”

Oh shit. Maybe I shouldn’t have pushed this. Was she about to confess?

“Wow,” I said after the silence stretched on for a couple seconds too long. “That… sucks. Do you think they like you back?” I asked carefully and Liv shook her head.

“No, but it’s okay. I’ll get over it.” Her eyes met mine in the window above the sink and I wondered if she knew that I understood. I moved closer to her and she pulled away, moving to the door as I placed the bowl in the sink. I made to turn away until I saw Liv’s raised eyebrows and turned back to wash the bowl with a quiet laugh.

“Anyway,” Liv said, “we’re supposed to be meeting everyone atThe Boxin like twenty minutes for some surprise or whatever. So hurry up and sort all of that out,” she gestured to my hair and face and laughed when I made a face.

“Thanks for giving mesomuch notice. What am I supposed to do with this mess?” I gestured to my hair and Liv looped her arm through mine.

“Come on,” she tutted, “I’ll fix it.”

Liv was a miracle worker. Or a witch. I wasn’t sure yet. She owned more beauty and hair products than me and Kat combined if I had to guess, but somehow she’d wrangled both my hair and face into looking somewhat presentable.

“Wow,” I said, I looked…glossy. Liv beamed, pleased as I surveyed my face in her mirror. “You should totally do something with this.”

“What do you mean?” Her nose wrinkled adorably and I bit my lip on a grin.

“Take my photo.” Liv stepped back, angling her phone and I shook my head. “I mean of my hair and make-up. For your portfolio.”

“I don’t have a portfolio,” she mumbled but took the picture anyway.

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