Chapter 14
Cory
I’m pretending not to listen to her conversation with Zack as I fill a frosted mug with a local IPA and slide it across the bar to Alexis.
“I don’t have anything else to do since Maddox is stuck at the training center. So, I told Olivia we’d go to the party,” she tells him with a huff of disappointment.
My boss laughs. “It won’t be all bad. Most of the teams make an appearance at those parties. So, your crowd will be there. Let the girl enjoy college life in her own way.”
Alexis lifts her beer to take a sip before nodding. “You’re right. She likes all that bubbly, outgoing stuff. I guess I can suck it up for her this time since she’s let me drag her in here to watch the games so often.”
I barely hold back my scoff at the idea of Alexis letting Livvy be her own person as I tell Zack that I’m headed out back to a smoke break.
Once my cigarette is lit, I pull my phone out and send a text.
Me: You still think it’s okay if I make an appearance at your girl’s party tonight?
Joey: Only if you do me a real solid. Show Skyler a good time. She’s a thick girl with red hair. She’ll probably be attached to Tracey Sheppard’s hip.
Me: eye roll emoji What do I look like? A pimp? No thanks, man.
Joey: Come on, man. I’m not asking you to hook up with her. Just make her feel special. You like thick girls anyway. I’ll owe you one. prayer hand emoji
Maybe a little jealousy will push Livvy into making a public move.
Me: I’ll do you one better. I’ll make all the single ladies feel special. devil face emoji
Alexis is already gone when I step back into the bar, so I make my way to Zack. “Hey, you think I can take off early tonight since it’s dead?”
Zack laughs before giving me a knowing look. “You’re headed to that party, aren’t you?”
I shrug. “I thought I’d check it out.”
“Yeah…go ahead, but don’t do anything stupid.” He points his finger at me.
I grin. “I’m a lot of things, boss man, but stupid ain’t one of them.” I hope.
I park my bike and nod toward the crowd forming in front of the cabin. Livvy catches my eye briefly before turning to follow her sister inside. Instead of following her like I want to, I make my way around the groups of athletes outside.
Even though this is the first time I’ve made an appearance at one of the college parties, none of them seem surprised to see me. They all talk to me just like they do at Ball Busters, and I realize that my reputation may not be as bad as I thought. Maybe I am good enough to be with Livvy.
When Alexis steps up to talk to the football team’s quarterback a couple of hours later, I make my way inside to look for my girl. I find her in the kitchen, talking with the hostess and the girl that must be Skyler.
I step up to the makeshift bar beside Jenny—the mother of Maddox’s little boy and one of the best bartenders I’ve ever met—and bump her hip with mine. “You want some help in here?”
Jenny laughs. “I’m just making drinks for my girls. It’s pour your own at these parties.”
“No bartender service. Got it.” I raise my hand in a mock salute, making her laugh. “Got any cherries?”
“Um…yeah,” Jenny says with surprise. “I’ll grab them from the fridge.”
I try to ignore the way Livvy’s attention has drifted to me since I walked in as I grab a solo cup from the stack. I fill it with ice and pour a shot of vodka before adding grenadine and filling the glass with ginger ale. When Jenny hands me the jar of cherries, I use a plastic spoon to scoop a few into my cup and take a long sip.
“O…kay,” Jenny says as she goes back to the drinks she was already making. “Come get ‘em, girls. It’s time to dance.” She shakes her hips, making Tracey and her friend giggle as they step forward to take their drinks. “You coming, Livvy?”
I look over just in time to see Livvy’s eyes bounce from me to Jenny. “Oh, uh, in a minute. I’m gonna use the restroom first.”
The other girls shrug as they make their way outside, leaving her alone with me.
Livvy
“For you, pretty girl .” Cory steps around the island in the middle of the kitchen to offer me the drink in his hand.
I take it and moan at the cherry flavor before letting out a giggle at the way he drops his hand to adjust himself. “I didn’t know that you knew Jenny.”
“Yeah, she used to be a regular at Ball Busters with her stepbrother, Ian. My guess is he forbid her to come in after he left town.” Cory shrugs.
“Why…” I stop my question because I know the answer. He’s probably as overbearing as my sister. “Right. Stupid older siblings,” I huff.
“Speaking of older siblings,” Cory says as he reaches for my hip. “I’m guessing we have another minute tops before yours comes storming in here.”
“I don’t care.” I raise my shoulders and let them drop with a sigh. “I’m tired of sneaking around. Maybe I should just drag you out there with me. What’s she gonna do?”
Cory pulls me toward him and nuzzles the top of my head. “As much as I want that, I don’t think a crowded party is the place to tell her about us. She’ll just drag you away. I’m sure she only came because you wanted to anyway.”
I nod as I lift my head to kiss him. “You’re probably right. But I really am tired of hiding it…us.”
“Same…” The door opens and Cory looks over my shoulder. He reaches for my cup before he turns toward the bar and starts refilling my drink.
“What are you doing, Olivia?” My sister asks as I turn to face her. “I didn’t let you drag me to this party so you could hide out in the kitchen all night.”
I’m just about to tell her that I was spending some alone time with my boyfriend. But before I can, Cory turns to hand over my drink with a smirk. “Here ya go, pretty girl . One Dirty Shirley, just for you.”
Alexis eyes us with suspicion and I know it’s just a matter of time before she spots the tension that I can always feel between us. So, I grab her arm and drag her out the door, back to the party that has doubled in size since I’ve been inside.
Alexis keeps walking until we reach the edge of the party before turning toward me with a look between concern and annoyance. “Did he say anything inappropriate to you?”
“No!” I say with more indignation than necessary. “He just made me a drink after the other girls were done.”
“I don’t know why he insists on trying to get under my skin by pretending to flirt with you.” Alexis rolls her eyes.
And that’s it . I can’t do this with her anymore. As guilty as I’ve been feeling for keeping a secret from her, it’s nothing compared to the hurt and anger I feel at hearing her words.
“Oh, please!” I give her my own eye roll. “Did you ever consider that it has nothing to do with you , at all?! If it did, he would have done it outside, in front of you.”
“So, what?” My sister laughs sarcastically. “You think he’s actually flirting with you? Livvy…” Her voice takes on that condescending tone. “He’s ten years older than you. Don’t tell me you have a crush on him.”
“It’s not a crush. It’s…”
“Nothing,” Alexis barks, cutting off my words. “Look.” She points and I follow her gaze to see Cory dancing in front of some girls doing some kind of hip hop line dance. “He’s just a flirt. Don’t take it to heart.” Her eyes soften at my frown when he pulls Tracey’s friend, Skyler into his arms. “I hate to hurt your feelings, Livvy. But at least I’m doing it out of love.”
But what my sister doesn’t notice—or refuses to acknowledge—is that even though Cory is dancing with another girl, his eyes are fixed on me .
“Love,” I scoff. “Right.” I turn away from Cory’s concerned expression to face my sister. “Listen, Alexis. I gave Cory my number the first night I visited Thorngrove almost a year ago. We’ve talked every day since then. He’s not flirting with me to make you jealous, and I don’t have a crush on him. We’re together. We’re happy. So, either be happy for me or stay out of it. Because I don’t want or need a love that’s going to hurt my feelings.”
Even in the dim light, I can see her face turning red. Whether it’s from shock or anger, I’m not sure because her expression remains as impassive as always. Without a word, she nods before walking past me toward the house, shoulder checking me on the way.
Well, that could have gone better…or worse.