Page 19 of Olivia's Only Pretending
Gracie sighed. “I personally don’t have any time for college romance.”
“You’re not letting yourself get too overwhelmed again, are you?” My voice went nearly maternal. Gracie had a history of overworking herself and cramming her schedule to breaking point. Where I built nearly too many boundaries in my life, people-pleasing Gracie tended to forget boundaries altogether, especially with her time.
I pulled the phone close to my face and narrowed my eyes.
“No, no,” she said in a soothing tone. “Don’t worry about me. I’ve just plugged practice in where dating would normally go.”
“I don’t even know where dating would normally go in my own life.”
“Hey, how’s Vic?” Gracie cut in, her brows raised.
My palms felt instantly sweaty.My palms do not need to sweat over Victor.“He’s fine, why?”
“Because he’s become your best friend over the past few months, and you care about him?”
“You’re not asking about any of my other friends.” I sounded way too defensive.
“Why are you feeling defensive, Liv?” She raised a brow.
I took a long gulp of my plummy cabernet to stall.
“I mean, I’d be defensive too if I’d made out with my hot best friend on my office desk.”
I nearly spit out my wine. “Onmy office desk?”
Gracie fell off her bed laughing.
“Freaking Lucy Rhodes!” I shouted. “We were notonthe desk.” But I could imagine us on the desk. And my stomach dipped.
“But you did make out in your office.We’ve been talking for nearly an hour—were you just not going to tell me?”
“Did Lucy say it was on the desk?” I demanded.
“Olivia! Focus. Why didn’t you tell me about the kiss?” She held the phone close to her face, like she was trying to get a better view of me.
I sighed. My little sisters were exhausting. “I didn’t want to get your hopes up. Or have to explain why it didn’t mean anything, you know?Because it didn’t mean anything.”Then I added, “Plus, why tell you when I know Lucy will do that for me?”
Mom would probably be calling to sniff around for more details soon.
“So, it doesn’t mean anything?” Gracie said. “You kiss your best friend in what Lucy said wasdefinitely not a peck,and … somehow, it means nothing?”
“It was an accident,” I said. “I’m sure you’ve heard the whole story.” She probably heard the whole story,plusLucy’s added embellishments for dramatic flourish.
“If it didn’t mean anything, I guess that means you didn’t feel anything? No sparks?” Gracie asked.
I remembered his hands on my waist, his lips rough against mine, his warmth and woodsy scent. I remembered everything it made me feel. Like he’d started a wildfire across my skin.
“It’s Victor. It’s not about feelings or sparks with him.”
“Why not?” Gracie nearly shouted.
I reached for the soft gray throw blanket Grandma Rhodes had knitted for me years ago and pulled it around myself for comfort. “Because he’s my best friend. Okay? I don’t want to ruin that.” I hesitated, looking down for a beat. “Plus, he’s not ready for anything serious. He even broke the coffee cart girl’s heart!”
“The coffee cart girl?”
“There’s a new server at my favorite coffee cart. Victor had like a thing with her, and she told me how she should’ve known better since he isVictor Hernandez,after all.” I made air quotes around his name with my fingers. “Gracie, even the coffee cartgirl knows you can’t let yourself get caught up in feelings when it comes to him.”
“But the coffee cart girl doesn’t know Victor the way you do.”
