Page 26 of Olivia's Only Pretending
“I thought I’d check in,” he said apologetically, shoulders rising with each word.
“On?” I asked.
“How you’re … doing?” It felt like he’d wanted to say “holding up” but stopped himself.
“She’s great. Dean Oates was just talking about how excited she is for Liv to start putting together the curriculum for her own class next semester,” Victor said, stepping beside me, slinging an arm around my shoulder.
Ryan’s eyes went wide. “Wow, Olivia, that’s a big step for you.”
I burrowed deeper into Victor’s arm, his fingers brushing my shoulder. “I’ve been doing my research, compiling ideas.”
“If you need advice, I’m here the next few weeks!” Ryan chuckled.
Victor’s smile fell flat.
“Sure,” I said.Please, someone, say cocktail hour is over.
“Man, I’m trying to remember when I started designing my own classes.” Ryan squinted, eyes upward.
“I’m sure it’s been a while. Honestly, you should be asking Liv for advice now. She is so good at knowing what her students need. She even has a book club with her students that’s been a huge hit.” Victor’s eyes were on me the entire time he spoke, like he was really saying all of this as a reminder to me.
“Oh, a book club?” Ryan asked.
“Yeah, a romance book club.” Victor beamed.
Ryan smirked. “I forgot about your little guilty pleasure.”
“Guilty pleasure?” Victor asked, tugging me closer.
“That’s what Ryan always called my love of reading romance. My ‘little guilty pleasure,’” I said, monotone. I’d always cringed at the scene he’d make at the bookstore when I grabbed anything that wasn’t critically acclaimed, or the way he’d roll his eyes when I’d carry a love story around in my tote bag with us.
“Why?” Victor was confused because Victor didn’t have a condescending bone in his body.
“It embarrassed Ryan that someone he dated would read romance.” I shrugged.
“It’s not that. I just personally can’t read books like that—the characters are always so immature?—”
“Oh, sure,” Victor said with a grin. “Because people in love are known for acting rationally and maturely?”
Ryan cleared his throat. “It’s not just that. Those books tend to be overly sweet, like sweet as sugar?—”
Victor slipped his arm around my waist. “Well then, better steer clear of me. When I fall for a girl, I’m a total sap. I’ll give that girl a toothache.” Victor looked down at me playfully. “Ain’t that right, baby girl?”
I tried to bite back the laugh that bubbled up.
Ryan took a long gulp from his drink, eyes flicking between us. “I have a few more people to check in with.” He paused, then turned to leave. “Good luck with your book club.”
After he’d disappeared into the crowd, I turned to Victor, shaking my head with laughter. “Ain’t that right, baby girl?”I said, mimicking his voice through a grin.
A proud smile spread across Victor’s face. “That was pretty good, huh? He couldn’t stand me.” He beamed as if that was the greatest achievement.
Afarm-style oak dining table. A headboard built from a refurbished barn door. Mahogany bookshelves with ivy etched into the side. I was sliding through a folder in my phone titledVictor’s AMAZING Creationswith an older professor named Charles with gray hair and thick black glasses. “Okay, okay, but see, I love this coffee table.” I zoomed in closer to tiny ornamental carvings of leaves on the table legs. “Look at this detailing!”
Victor was blushing beside me. He grinned down at his plate. Our meal was being catered by a restaurant, the Vintage Table. Their famous fall dish was roasted mini pumpkins stuffed with an herby wild rice blend.
I’d devoured mine, and Victor had been telling me on the drive over how he hoped and prayed they would serve those “life-alteringly good little pumpkins,” but instead had only nibbled on his.
Probably because showing off my Victor Fan Girl album was one of the only moments in the evening that he hadn’t been the life of the party.
