Everyone else has pretty much cleared out from the main floor. Likely passed out or screwing in the basement. Much better than the days when Travis would throw ragers and there’d be an orgy on the pool table. I wouldn’t touch one of those pool sticks with a fuckin’ hazmat suit on.
Ellie and Travis are on the couch, making out, while Olivia stares at the Netflix movie playing on TV. Before I can take a seat, there’s a knock at the door. I shuffle over to get the pizza and carry it into the kitchen. Travis grabs some for him andEllie. I make Olivia a plate and grab her a bottle of water from the fridge.
“Here,” I say, standing behind the couch.
Olivia turns around, eyes widening when she sees my offering. “Oh, thanks.” She smiles, taking the food from me.
I return to the kitchen to get my own, stack four slices on top of each other, and sit next to her. Her stomach rumbles as she bites gingerly into her pizza. I chuckle and she sends me a sharp glare, attempting to look mean, but I think she’s cute.
We eat in silence as the movie plays in the background. After a few minutes, Travis stands, scooping a sleeping Ellie off the couch. Olivia sits up, but he puts a hand out. “I’m going to take her to the guest room. Relax, Liv.”
Ellie stirs, whispering something in his ear that we can’t hear. Travis laughs, shaking his head and walking away while Olivia watches, her own eyes heavy with exhaustion. It only takes a minute before her head falls back, and she passes out.
“Guest room is occupied. Fucking Liam.”
I turn to see Travis next to me. “Basement too?” I ask.
He nods, but I figured as much.
“She’s in my bed. Looks like you and Liv are stuck on the couch.” He wiggles his eyebrows, then disappears again.
I hop up and snatch a blanket for Olivia, and when I return, she jolts awake.
“The guest room is occupied,” I tell her. “Ellie’s in Trav’s room. You can sleep here.”
“Occupied? What do you mean?”
I blink at her.
Her face flushes. “Oh. Right.”
“No one’s going to bother you, I promise.”
She chews on her lip. “What about the basement?”
“Occupied.”
“What about you? Where are you going to sleep?”
I gesture to the other side of the couch, and her shoulders sag in…relief? Does she like knowing I’m nearby? I’d love to wrap my arms around her and pull her close to me, see how she fits there. Something tells me it’d be seamless.
I was fucking fishing big time when I dropped the boyfriend line. I can’t deny the excitement I felt when she told me she didn’t have one.
Olivia kicks off her shoes and lies down. I drape the blanket over her. She fights a smile and her eyes flutter as I cover her from feet to head in a fleece blanket. Once she’s fully tucked in, I move to my side of the couch and stretch out, my long legs nearly touching her head.
“Night, Barbie.”
10
PENN
I’ve beenawake for a while. I haven’t wanted to move, though. Sometime in the middle of the night, Olivia shifted and planted her head right on my thigh. I considered moving her, but she looks damn comfortable there. Her long, silky hair splayed across my lap, her hand resting on my shin.
I stay still, watching her sleep. After a few minutes, her head slowly lifts, then her eyes. She scoots away fast, her face red.
I rest my hands behind my head as I watch her compose herself. “Mornin’, Barbie.”
Her pretty, sleepy eyes roll, but she says nothing. I stand up, lifting my arms and stretching out the kinks. My shirt rides up, and Olivia’s gaze falls to the sliver of my exposed stomach. I keep my arms up a little longer just to see how long she’s going to check me out.
