Page 51 of Olivia's Only Pretending
“We need to have boundaries. Let’s keep some distance, okay? I know we’ve been pretending we’re a couple at my campus … but let’s cool it. No more touching, no more sitting so close, and absolutely no more kissing.”
Victor’s jaw ticked, like he was really mulling this over.
“Don’t you think it’s confusing?” I asked.
He parted his lips like he was about to say something but stopped himself, like he’d swallowed back the words. His forehead wrinkled. “You and I …” he started, then hesitated again.
I waited.
“Are you sure this is what you want?” he asked.
“I’m sure,” I said quickly, before I could even stop and think through his question or why he asked it.
“I don’t thinkanyof this is a problem. And I’m not confused about what I feel for you, Liv.” His tone wasn’t joking at all anymore. “But if you think we need those boundaries, then I’ll do whatever you need.”
I nodded.Okay. Problem solved,I lied to myself.
Sixteen
Gracie
I’m on my way back right now. SO GLAD TO BE ON FALL BREAK. I’ll be to Lucy’s by 5!
Since Gracie was back home in Sweet River for fall break from school, Lucy decided to host a dinner party with Adam at her house on Sunday night. She’d enlisted me to provide appetizers, but I was not much of a cook. I made a mean grilled cheese and loved a salad kit and frozen lasagnas. The local restaurants around town knew my regular takeout orders by heart. I didn’t even have to say anything when I called anymore, excepttakeout for Olivia Rhodes.
So when Lucy asked if I’d bring an appetizer, I headed straight to our local market downtown. The ceiling was hung with flimsy paper pumpkins and turkeys, streamers in browns and yellows strung about. Our small-town market was always decked out for the season. I strolled through the aisles, pressing my cell phone against my ear.
“Hey, Liv,” Lucy answered my call.
“Hey, I’m at the store shopping for an appetizer, but I wanted to double-check who is coming tonight.”
“We have me, you, Adam, Gracie, Mom, and she is bringing a date?—”
“Mom is bringing a date? Who?” I set the box of muffins I was studying back on the shelf.
“One of the guys she’s been messaging with on LoveLocal. Jeff. He seems nice. He’s a banker or something like that. He has a few kids, all around our ages,” Lucy said before yawning. “Him coming tonight means we can vet him, I guess.”
“Is this their first date?”
“Yeah, this’ll be their first date,” Lucy said. I could almost see her shrugging. “Mom on a date.”
“How do you already know so much about, what’d you call him, Jeff?”
“It’s called talking to Mom, Olivia. I asked her about him.”
“I forget Mom even has a love life now to ask about.” I pushed the cart through the chip aisle. “Is this more of a chip and dip situation, or a cheese board situation?”
“Cheese board. Definitely,” Lucy said decisively. “Oh, by the way, Adam invited Victor.”
“What?” I stopped pushing my cart, frozen in the middle of the aisle.
My stomach fluttered. Flashes of our kiss raced through my mind—my hands on his chest, his lips on mine, my back against the doorway.
“Why do you sound so surprised? You’re close to him. Adam’s close to him. Of course he’s invited.” Lucy’s chuckle was muffled on her end of the line, like she was holding her phone between her ear and shoulder. “What? You afraid you’ll kiss for a second time?”
A second time?Try a third time.I swallowed.
“Have you talked to Gracie since our last margarita night when she FaceTimed?” Lucy asked.
