Page 72 of Olivia's Only Pretending
“I’m going to need a long phone call tonight after you get home with the full story,” Victor whispered low to me.
I gave him a little nod.
The doors opened up to the first floor, and we sorted out the rides home. Mom had her own car, but Adam took Lucy, who’d driven with Gracie and me. Gracie drove me and Victor in her old Jeep Wrangler.
Isat in the back with Victor. Gracie’s eyes periodically glanced at us in the rearview mirror.
“So, you three attempted spying on your mom’s date at Big Funbut left learning pretty much nothing about the guy?” Victor rubbed his jawline after Gracie and I had filled him in on our evening.
“He drives a motorcycle,” Gracie said before hitting her blinker.
Then Victor leaned in closer to me and lowered his voice. “Liv, did you eat any dinner?”
“Oh.” I chuckled, realizing right then how empty my stomach felt. “I completely forgot about dinner.”
“Gracie, you two need food. Swing through the What-a-Burger drive-thru,” Victor called up.
“Victor, I can make myself something at home.” I glanced out at the houses glowing in the night out the car window.
“This way you can start eating now,” Victor said. “Plus, you’re probably a little traumatized. You watched your sister collapse.” His eyes assessed me intently, like checking my vitals.
“Oh my, I’m fine. She only has a bruise.” I pushed him away.
“It was kind of terrifying,” Gracie said as she turned into the What-a-Burger drive-thru.
“See?” Victor said pointedly.
“And hilarious.” Gracie snorted.
We ordered our food, and the second I took the salty, warm bite of french fry, I was grateful for pushy Victor.
“Hey, how’s Watson?” I said, my voice low, matching Victor’s from earlier.
“He’s right back to his normal self. It’s as if he never stepped on anything. It’s crazy,” he said, the two of us ducked down in the backseat, dark and cozy, while Gracie hummed along with the radio from the driver’s seat.
“I think he needs me to take him for another pupchino,” I said.
“You and the pupchinos.” He laughed, playing with the strings hanging from his navy hoodie. I popped another fry in my mouth. “You’ve given him a taste for whipped cream now.”
“Everyone has a taste for whip cream, sir,” I said.
He stole a fry.
“Hey, those are mine.”
Gracie’s eyes peered from the rearview mirror. “You two know you don’t have to look like a couple for me, right? We’re not on campus right now, but you’re looking awfully cozy back there.”
“Gracie.” I rolled my eyes. “He’s this close ’cause he wants my fries.”
He stole another. “Guilty.”
I ignored the way I wanted to kiss the salt off his lips right here in my sister’s car.
“Yeah, yeah.” Gracie didn’t sound convinced.
After we dropped Victor off at his truck at city hall and began weaving through the quiet, dark streets of downtown, Gracie turned down the radio. “Even if you and Victor really are just best friends, it’s pretty sweet how he takes care of you. Not even a lot of boyfriends go as far as he does,” Gracie said. “The way he looks after you is … well, it’s special, whatever you want to label your relationship.”
I fidgeted with my seatbelt. “I know.”
