Page 80 of Finding Olivia (Trace + Olivia 1)

“It was one time, Olivia,” she shook her head. “I highly doubt he’ll cut you again.”

“We’re going to the same place?!” I shrieked.

“Well, duh, I always go to the same place,” she merged into the right lane as the strip mall came into view. I saw the sign for the nail place from here and squirmed in my seat.

“Honestly, Olivia, you act like I’m sending you in front of the firing squad. This is supposed to be relaxing and I wanted to talk to you. I feel like we’re both either studying, or out, these days. You go back home tomorrow and I won’t see you for a whole month.”

“You’re right,” I sighed as she parked in front of the nail salon.

We stepped inside the small salon and the smell of acetone permeated the air.

Avery explained what we wanted done and one of the ladies working there got two of the pedicure chairs ready.

“Pick your color,” she pointed to rows upon rows of nail polish.

Avery didn’t think twice before picking a shade of red.

I picked out a bright sky-blue.

I took the seat next to Avery and rolled up my jeans. Placing my feet in the warm water, I handed the color I had chosen to the nail tech.

“How are things with Luca? Are you guys…serious?” I glanced over at her. I didn’t want to make her uncomfortable by probing…then again, I didn’t think anything made Avery uncomfortable.

“We haven’t put a label on our relationship but neither of us are seeing other people,” she shrugged. “I really like him.”

I grinned. “It’s about time and it sounds pretty serious to me. Normally, you’re like a guy, and the minute the chase is over, you’re done.”

She sighed. “I am normally like that,” she smoothed her hands over her jean clad legs. “Luca is different. Most guys don’t want to get to know me. They’re happy to fuck and leave,” she shrugged, not at all concerned that the people around us could hear every word she was saying. “But not Luca. I thought he’d be like all the others, but he wanted to get to know me, and Olivia…I found myself opening up to him, and that’s not something I do.”

“I’m happy you’ve found someone, Avery,” I reached for her hand and gave it a light squeeze.

“I am too,” she smiled but it didn’t reach her eyes.

“What is it?” I asked. “You look worried about something.”

“It’s just…how long can it last?” She looked over at me with wide green eyes. I had never seen Avery look so upset before.

“We never know how long anything can last. We have to decide if it’s worth the risk,” I explained.

She nodded. “He’s worth it.”

???

A weight had settled in my chest and it wouldn’t go away. I didn’t want to go back home. I didn’t want to deal with my father and I didn’t want to watch my robot mother.

The summer months I had spent at home, had drained me completely, and I knew the next four weeks would take their toll as well.

What was supposed to be a break for students, wouldn’t be for me. I would spend the whole time on edge, waiting for my dad to blow up.

I zipped my suitcase closed. We had only been back on campus for a week, after Thanksgiving break, and now I had to leave again. I wished I could hide in my dorm.

“Hey,” Avery said softly behind me, “you can come stay at my house. My parents probably won’t even be there.”

I turned around slowly to face her. Avery knew about the verbal abuse, but I hadn’t told her about my dad yanking me by the hair. “Thank you for offering, Avery. Really. You don’t know how much it means to me, but I can’t impose myself on you like that.”

“It’s no trouble at all, honestly,” she moved her bags closer to the door. Avery’s family lived local to the college but she insisted that she stay on campus. When I asked her about it once, she said that she couldn’t stand being in that big house by herself. It reminded her of how alone she really was.

“I’ll be fine,” I took a deep breath.

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