Page 174 of Finding Olivia (Trace + Olivia 1)

I sat down at a table in Starbucks, and unwrapped the paper from the green straw, sticking it into my Frappuccino. I took a sip of the caramel goodness.

Avery stirred the whipped cream into her drink, eyeing me. “Spill girl, I know you’re worried about something.”

Avery hadn’t come back to the dorm last night, from the carnival, so I hadn’t had a chance to tell her about Trace wanting me to move in.

For a distraction, I wiped the condensation forming on the clear plastic cup. I decided to bite the bullet and tell her. There was no point in putting this off. She was my best friend, and right now, she was the only person I could confide in. “Trace wants me to move in.”

“What!?” She shrieked, earning us glares from the staff and patrons.

I nodded. “He told me last night.”

“What did you say?” She asked, wiping a dribble of Frappuccino from her lip.

“I said I would think about it,” I mumbled, removing the straw from my cup, and licking off the whipped cream.

“How do you feel about this? Living together is a big deal,” she remarked, pulling her red hair back into a ponytail.

“I don’t know,” I answered honestly. “I don’t want to rush our relationship, you know?”

“I totally understand,” she leaned forward and bit down on the green straw. “If Luca asked me to move in with him, I’d give him the middle finger, and tell him to fuck himself.”

“That’s because you’re a commitment-phobe,” I pointed an accusing finger at her.

“Damn straight,” she winked, slurping her Frapp. “But you are not.”

“Ugh,” I groaned, burying my face in my hands, and shaking my head. “I don’t know what to do!”

“Go with your gut,” she shrugged. “My gut’s never steered me wrong.”

The espresso machine whistled beside us.

I took a deep brea

th. “I think it might be a good idea but my mom-”

“No buts,” Avery interjected. “You have to do what’s right for you. Your mom will be fine. She can get her own place. Although, I’m sure my brother would be willing to get an apartment with her,” she snickered.

“That’s not funny!” I exclaimed.

“I wasn’t trying to be,” she laughed.

That only made it worse.

I shook my head back and forth. “I’m so confused.”

“Why are you confused?” She asked, tilting her head. “You said you thought it would be a good idea to live with lover boy. If that’s how you feel, then that’s what you should do,” she reasoned. “I know I shouldn’t talk, because I haven’t been in many long-term relationships, but you can’t judge everything by a timeline,” she shrugged, taking a sip of her Frappuccino. “Love doesn’t work that way. When it’s right, it’s right, and when it’s not, it’s not.”

I was taken aback. When had Avery become so wise?

I began to look under the table and over my shoulder.

“What the hell are you doing?” Avery questioned with a short laugh.

“I’m looking for my best friend. Her name is Avery. She’s about this tall,” I raised my hand up to Avery’s height, “has red hair, and never says anything wise.”

She scoffed. “I can be wise!”

I gave her a look that said, ‘Oh, really?’

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