I squinted at my father. “What was a matter of time?”
“Thank God we got here when we did.”
My mother’s voice interrupted us as she took a seat next to my father. “And thankfully this isn’t an outdoor wedding. It looks like a monsoon out there.”
“Seriously,” Olivia said, sliding into the chair next to mine. “And good thing we got here early and secured that beautiful cake.” She slid her hand across my back, sending a current down my body and right to my dick. Every move Olivia made tonight was a turn on, and I needed to snap out of it. Maybe I’d ask Eli about those dating apps I wouldn’t touch. I’d told him I didn’t want the distraction, but going so long without anyone’s hand on my dick except mine wasn’t helping me focus either.
It had to be that. I wasn’t ready to handle the alternative.
“It is gorgeous, sweetheart,” my mother gushed. “You are so talented, and I don’t think we’ve told you enough. Right?” She smacked my father’s arm, who was now back to his disconnected self and annoyed that she jostled the spread of butter on his dinner roll.
“Right,” he mumbled, chewing without looking up.
I cut a look at Olivia, smiling when I caught her smirk. A month ago, I couldn’t stand her, and now having her next to me was my only bright spot tonight. I’d enjoy having her beneath me too. And on top of me.
For fuck’s sake, Tyler. Stop it.
I hadn’t seen Amy yet, and I’d managed a wave to Alan and Ross when they’d snuck into the ceremony. I knew the empty seats on the other end of the table were for them and was pretty sure Olivia would dial it up between us for their benefit.
“Hey, everyone!”
I cringed at the sound of Alan’s voice. Even when we were kids, it had a slimy edge to it. I swore he was born with his hair slicked back, a douchebag salesman from birth. He looked between Olivia and me and rolled his eyes. I promised myself I wouldn’t let him get to me tonight, and with this new piece of history Olivia gifted to me earlier, I almost welcomed sharing a table with him. I had experience with Olivia’s ability to torture someone without chipping a fingernail, and I looked forward to seeing her make Alan squirm.
“Hi, Alan, Simone,” my mother said, greeting them both with a smile.
Simone had been Alan’s girlfriend for about a year. He never settled down, but the girls became younger and younger. My theory was that once they matured enough to see past the fancy suits and watches and realized that he was just your typical self-absorbed prick, they moved on.
“I’m Olivia,” Olivia said as she rose from her seat and extended a hand to Simone. “I don’t think we’ve met.”
“Nice to meet you,” Simone chirped before settling into the seat next to my cousin.
“We were just talking about the cake Tyler made for Donnie and Cassandra,” Mom said. My chest pinched at how her back straightened against the chair as if she were bragging. I guessed every kid chases praise from their parents, no matter how old they are. Maybe I let what others said color what everyone thought of me as a whole and I was the root cause of my sour attitude after all.
“Wow, you made that?” Simone’s blue eyes widened. “It’s so beautiful and different.”
“He’sreallytalented,” Olivia added, looping her arm around my shoulders.
“I bet he stuffed the bread baskets too.” Alan snickered. “So when did this start?” He moved his finger back and forth between Olivia and me. “I only saw both of you last month and you were hiding from her like usual.”
“It was new,” Olivia replied before I could answer. “Well, being together is new, but not wanting to be.” She glanced over at me and scooted closer. Damn, she was good at this.
“Right,” he scoffed. “Tell it to someone who didn’t watch the two of you have to be separated at all of Tyler’s birthday parties.”
“Well, sometimes passion disguises itself as aggression.” She turned to me, her chocolate-brown eyes pinning me in my seat. “Sometimes, someone makes you feel so much that you just don’t know what to do with yourself until it all spills over.” She ran her hand down my chest. “You know how it is when you affect each other like that… Oh, right, probably not.” She snickered, cuddling into my side.
Alan’s eyes narrowed for a second.
“Olivia’s right.” I put my hand on her thigh and inched it up slowly, a wide grin splitting my lips when I caught her gasp. “Come on, look at her.” The mirth in her expression faded, her dark eyes wide as they bored into mine. “Who wouldn’t want a woman this gorgeous?” I took her hand and laced our fingers together, the air between us thick and hot as the words fell from my mouth with the utmost sincerity because I’d meant every word.
Her lips pressed together in a hard line for a moment before that devious smile came back to play on that sexy mouth.
“Tyler likes to make me blush,” she said on a giggle and slipped her hand away from mine. “Ouch!” she hissed, pressing her thumb into the palm of her hand.
“Are you okay, Olivia?” Mom asked with a concerned crease in her brow.
“Oh yeah, Helen. I’m fine.” She glanced at me before aiming her sly grin at Alan. “I hurt my hand back in high school, and every once in a while, I feel it. The weather must be bringing it out.”
Alan’s jaw ticked as he glared at her across the table.
