Page 5 of Olivia's Only Pretending
don’t know any guys your age who would build you a fancy deck
The morning air was crisp, breezing through my kitchen window, making my blue bonnet vintage curtains dance. I was pouring the rest of the coffee from the pot into my travel mug when there was a knock on my door.
I glanced at the microwave clock: 7:12. I furrowed my brows as I shuffled to the door.Who would pay me a visit before working hours?
I pulled the door open to find Victor standing in my doorway. “Good morning,” he said with a big grin. His caramel eyes looked sleepy.
I was incapable of anything but grinning back. “Well, good morning. What’re you doing here so early?”
“I left my work bag here last night,” Victor said. He wore a black hoodie with the hood pulled on, a few dark waves curling at the edges. “I need it for a meeting. I was hoping to catch you before you left for work.”
I worked in a little college town about twenty minutes south of Sweet River.
I went inside to finish packing my work tote, while he grabbed up his bag from the living room. He wandered into the kitchen with it slung over one shoulder. The bag hung open un-buckled, and I glimpsed a book spine poking out—Wheelock’s Latin.
“Are you learning Latin?” I asked him as I dug through my tote.
He glanced toward his bag self-consciously, then flipped it closed. “I might be dabbling.”
“Am I rubbing off on you?” I put my hand to my chest proudly.
He didn’t answer, looking over my shoulder distractedly. “Liv, I’m going to close this window for you.”
“Thanks, I always forget. You know, a bird even flew in once,” I said, slipping my arms into my cardigan as he grabbed an apple off my counter. “Grab me, one too?”
He dropped the apple into my tote as I hung it over my shoulder. “A bird literally flew in before, and you werestillabout to leave it open?”
“Well, I don’t want the birds to think they’re not welcome,” I joked. Though I did love how they filled my trees and sang by my windows. “I really love them making a home in the backyard. I think they should have their own spot out there.”
“Their own spot?” Victor chuckled, following me out of the kitchen. “I think you meana birdhouse?”
“Something like that, yeah. There’s a little bird family out in the elm trees that could use a house,” I said.
Victor opened the front door for me. As I turned the lock, Victor leaned back against the door, his hood still on.
“You wear hoodies into the office?” I asked, raising a brow.
He grinned. “I wear hoodies to the gym. I’ll change after my workout.”
I nodded, stepping onto the porch. “Got to get your gains, huh?”
He shook his head, eyes crinkling. “You mock, but you like the results.”
My face went hot. Scenes from yesterday ran through my mind: Victor’s tight white T-shirt, sweaty and clinging to his chest, his biceps flexing as he wiped his forehead with the back of his hand.
I cleared my throat, suddenly nervous. “Someone’s feeling cocky.”
Victor’s eyes dropped to my blush. “I meantfor renovation purposes. You know, the heavy lifting I’ve done around your house.” A grin cracked across his face as we crossed the rocky ground to our cars. “But, if you appreciate more than that, even better.”
I palmed my forehead with one hand, pulling my shiny white Prius’s door open with the other. “I’ll see you later, Victor.”
“See you, Liv,” he called, sing-songy as he sauntered to his black Silverado.
I turned the key in the ignition, and a metallic clanging sputtered from the engine. My heart sank. I knew that sound all too well. I tried again, turning the key again, but got the same sound.
“No.” I hit the steering wheel.
I’m in the middle of renovating. Busy with the Fall Seminar. Preparing my proposal. I don’t have time for car trouble and definitely can’t afford it.I turned the key once more—same splutter.
