Page 21 of Purity

When chuckles break out, Livvy’s grin widens, and my heart squeezes in my chest. Oh God, I don’t even think she realizes how sexual that sounded. She just thinks it’s funny because her insane parents actually spanked her until she was thirteen years old. She has no clue that every guy in this room is probably imagining doing it to her now. I can’t stand this. I want to haul her away from here.

With effort, I shoot her a reassuring smile. “Eat as much as you can.” Be a good girl for me. The words hover on the tip of my tongue, as they always do when she unintentionally turns me on.

“Alright!” Mari claps her hands. “Daddy Cole, you need to give her some room if we’re going to get her out of her shell tonight. Livvy’s goal is to have a wild, hot-girl summer. She’s finally living like a regular college student, and we’re going to help her. We’re going to get her to flirt tonight. She doesn’t know how, and it’s not her fault. It’s a Christian thing. We were taught to evangelize, which is the opposite of flirting.”

“Yep,” Travis says. “It’s why we’re all socially awkward.”

Mari nods. “You can all help her practice by flirting like crazy with her.”

Theo looks at me, his eyes wide. “Are you okay with this?”

Heat washes over my skin. I’m about to answer when Zac bursts into laughter. “No fucking way, dude.” He’s still chuckling as he looks at Livvy. “Don’t get me wrong, I would love to flirt with you, but I’m going to self-eliminate. Cole would kill me. Literally kill me.”

“No, I wouldn’t.” I glare at him. “I’ve only been protective of her in the past because she didn’t want the attention. Now she does, and I’d rather you flirt with her than a stranger at the bar.”

Zac snorts. “A stranger at the bar. God have mercy on his soul. You are very hot, Livvy, but I’m not risking my life just to flirt with you. Now, Mariana on the other hand…”

“No.” Mari shakes her head. “Tonight’s about Livvy. I’m going to busy finding guys for her.”

“I’m happy to volunteer,” Travis says, and my jaw clenches.

“Thank you, Travis,” Mari says. “Why don’t you start by sitting next to Livvy?”

“Jesus, Mari,” I can’t help but burst out. “Can’t you just let it happen naturally? This is awkward as fuck for everyone.”

She glares at me, but something that looks like mischief sparks in her eyes.

Goddamn her, she’s doing this just to annoy me. Mari’s always known how to get under my skin when it comes to Livvy. She probably senses that I’m hanging on by a thread, that it’s killing me not to order the guys to stay away from her.

Livvy turns to me, laughter dancing in her eyes. “It’s okay. I’m having fun.”

The tension leaves my shoulders at the delight in her voice. I can do this. I can get through the night, especially if she’s having fun. What are the odds that she’s actually going to make out with someone? Slim to none. She can’t change who she is in one night.

Livvy glances at Travis and then Theo. “You can both sit next to me.”

The guys grin, like they’re charmed by her awkward little suggestion. How could they not be? She doesn’t have to be good at flirting when she’s the most adorable person in the world.

Both of the guys plop down on the couch, scooting close to her afterward, and something churns in my stomach. Fuck, I don’t like this.

Livvy smiles up at Zac. “I would invite you too, but you already said no to flirting, and there’s no more room.”

Zac grins at her. “That’s okay, sweetheart. I like my life.”

I roll my eyes. “Zac, that joke is getting old.”

“It’s not a joke,” Mari says, shooting me a hard look. “I want to talk to both of you for a second.” Before I get a chance to speak, Mari grabs Zac and I and drags us into the kitchen. I can’t stop my gaze from drifting back into the living room.

Travis is leaning in close to Livvy, and she’s smiling up at him.

“She’s fine.”

My gaze snaps to Mari’s face. “What do you want to talk about?”

“This.” She gestures at me. “You’re hovering over Livvy, and it needs to stop.”

“I was literally just standing there.”

She rolls her eyes. “No, you weren’t. Zac, was he hovering?”

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