Page 22 of Purity

“Yes,” he answers immediately. “He always hovers over her.”

I scowl at him. “What the fuck does that even mean?”

“You give her no space,” Mari says. “You stand right next to her. You insert yourself into all her conversations.”

“So I’m acting like normal fucking human beings do when they hang out with people?”

“You don’t look like a normal human being.” She gestures at me. “You’re huge. What guy is going to be brave enough to approach her at the bar when her glaring six-foot-five bodyguard is hovering?”

I raise both hands into the air. “What exactly am I supposed to do about that? I can’t help that I’m tall.”

Mari’s expression grows exasperated and she glances at Zac. “Please help me.”

“Do what we’re doing right now,” he says. “Stay back a little bit. Maybe find your own girl tonight—”

“Absolutely not,” I say. “I’m not leaving her alone her first time out drinking.”

Mari’s eyelids flutter dramatically. “Okay, I think we’re talking in circles here.”

Livvy’s giggle floats into the kitchen, and my chest grows heavy. That was genuine laughter. Livvy will laugh at anything. She’s always so worried about hurting people’s feelings, and when they tell dumb jokes, she gives a forced giggle.

That wasn’t it though.

I only hear that laugh when it’s just the two of us.

When I glance into the living room, she’s smiling shyly at Travis. “I don’t know if you have a good heart, but I don’t have any reason to think you don’t.”

Mari sucks in her lips to fight a smile, her expression growing almost pained. “A good heart?” she whispers. “Did she really just say that? Oh my God, my bestie is precious.”

Heat pulses through my veins as I strain to listen over Mari’s voice.

“I wish I had talked to you more,” Travis says. “I bet I seemed like a dirtbag back then.”

“No, not at all.” Livvy’s tone is urgent. “I was really judgmental of the kids I thought were rebellious, but that was mostly because they intimidated me.”

“Did I intimidate you?” Travis leans in so close his forehead is practically touching hers.

“A little bit.” She averts her gaze from his, clearly uncomfortable with his closeness.

When I take a step toward the living room, Mari grabs my forearm. “Don’t you dare.”

I lift a hand in the air. “I was literally just going to walk in there. It’s weird that we’re all whispering over here.”

“Stay.” She delivers the word through clenched teeth.

I exhale a shaky breath. Fuck, this is so hard. Why am I so territorial with her?

“I promise you I’m just another awkward Christian,” Travis says, and the gentleness in his tone makes me want to roll my eyes. He’s putting on a show for Livvy. I’ve never heard him talk about being religious before.

“If I seemed rebellious,” Travis says, “it’s because I’m a huge try-hard.”

Livvy giggles again. She loves it when people make fun of themselves. It endears them to her.

Goddamn Travis.

Theo walks into the kitchen and I spear him with a hard look. “What are you doing?” I ask.

“It seems like they’re hitting it off,” he says. “I thought I’d give them some alone time.” He frowns. “Isn’t that what you guys are doing?”

---