Page 125 of Finding Olivia (Trace + Olivia 1)

I hugged my best friend to my chest. “I’m so lucky to have someone as wonderful as you in my life,” I confessed. I didn’t tell Avery enough, how much she meant to me. A lot of people were less than happy with their roommate, but I had found a lifelong friend with mine.

“I didn’t know a coat would make you this happy,” she giggled. “I only wanted you to stop wearing those sweatshirts.”

We both dissolved into a fit of giggles.

“My sweatshirt sure didn’t stop Trace,” I whispered in her ear.

“Oh my God,” she laughed. “Livie! Too much information!”

“You’re the girl who asks me a million and one questions about my sex life,” I giggled, “and gives me the explicit details of hers.”

“True,” she put a hand over her mouth to stifle her laughter. “I do like me some details.”

After that, it was hard for us to reign in our laughter.

???

Once every present was opened, I insisted on helping clean up. After all, they were letting my mom and me stay there for free. It was the least I could do.

Two trash bags were filled to the brim with wrapping paper and I was finally sure I had gotten everything.

I tied the bags shut, and carried them to the garage, dropping them into the trashcans.

On my way back inside, my phone buzzed.

I pulled it out and saw that I had a text message from Trace.

I’ll b there in 10 min. B ready.

Ok.I replied right back and couldn’t help smiling.

I dashed upstairs, and changed out of my pajamas, into a pair of jeans and a long-sleeved sweater with an owl on it. I cut the tags off of my gifts from Avery and put them on as well. I spotted the heel bootie’s she had given me at the beginning of the school year and sat down on the end of the bed to put them on.

I opened the door and was greeted with a low whistle. “Lookin’ nice,” Dylan, the brother closest in age to Avery, said. He towered above my small frame and his blonde hair waved on the ends. His eyes were the same shade of dark green as Avery’s.

“Thanks,” I mumbled.

“Where you goin’?” He asked, crossing his arms over his massive chest. All of Avery’s brothers were huge, tall and muscular.

“Out,” I replied casually. It’s not like I owed him a lengthy explanation or anything.

“Dylan!” Avery yelled up the steps. “Leave, Livie alone. She’s not going to suck your dick for you, so give it a rest!”

“Avery!” I shrieked.

“It’s true!” She hollered.

With a quick glance at Dylan, I ran away from him, and down the steps before Avery could say anything else embarrassing.

I met Avery in the foyer and she assessed my outfit. “I knew that would look good on you.”

“I love it,” I did a little twirl and the ends of the coat flared around my knees.

“I take it Trace is coming to get you,” she smiled and we started towards the garage.

“Yeah,” I blushed. “Was I that obvious?”

“No…you just smile differently when Trace is involved,” she opened the door that led to the garage and leaned inside to push the button that raised the garage door.

---