Page 79 of Finding Olivia (Trace + Olivia 1)

ived to be my whole life and now, I felt angry that Avery was telling me I was perfect.

“There’s no such thing as perfect,” I muttered quietly, picking at a loose thread on my comforter.

She did another spin in her chair. “I know that. I was only picking on you. Sometimes, you don’t know how to take a joke.” She wrapped a piece of hair around her finger.

I finished my coffee and stood. “I’m going to take a shower and then I have a lot of work to do, what with finals being this week.”

My stomach clenched at my own words. Campus would be closed for a whole month.

A whole month trapped in New Hampshire with my dad. Four days had been too long. Four weeks would kill me. But I had no choice. There was nowhere else for me to go.

Avery pretended to gag. “Ugh, finals.”

I opened the bathroom door and Avery said, “Hey, before finals are over, and you head home, we should have a girl’s day.”

“Sounds great,” I smiled.

???

Finals were kicking my butt.

Then again, I had thought the same thing last year, and passed with flying colors.

I walked out of the classroom, breathing a sigh of relief. Finals were done, but tomorrow I had to go home.

My phone rang and I pulled it out of my pocket. “Hey, Avery,” I answered.

“Are you almost back to the dorm? It’s time for our girl’s day,” she sing-songed.

“I’m walking back now,” I cradled the phone between my ear and shoulder as I adjusted my grip on the books in my arm.

“Drop your stuff off and then meet me at my car,” she commanded and hung up before I could reply.

“So, bossy,” I snapped at the dead line.

I left my books and backpack at the dorm, and while I was there, I pulled my hair back in a ponytail, desperate to get the long strands out of my face.

My phone rang again and I wasn’t surprised to see that it was Avery calling.

“I’m coming,” I growled into the phone.

“Just checking. I was afraid you might have chickened out on me,” she chimed.

“Nope, I’m leaving the dorm right now.”

I hung up and speed walked outside before she came after me.

“Took you long enough,” Avery laughed when I slid into her red Beetle.

Buckling my seatbelt, I snapped, “You are so impatient. I had to drop off my stuff.”

“I’ve learned that patience never gets me what I want,” she chortled.

“What is it, exactly, that you’re subjecting me to on this girl’s day?” I asked.

“We’re getting our nails and toes painted,” she grinned.

“Avery!” I groaned. “You know I hate getting my nails done! The last time I went with you that guy made me bleed!”

---