She purses her mouth to the side like she always does when she’s thinking. “Probably. But luckily we know you can take a punch,” she winks, throwing open her door. I see a slender brunette on the expansive wraparound porch when I exit, her arms crossed, eyes narrowed.
“Livvie!” Sloane trills but Olivia’s posture stays rigid. Sloane remains unfazed as I grab our luggage from her trunk and she approaches her. I can see the subtle shake of Olivia’s head, the way she’s glaring at me, her brown eyes growing darker just as Ben appears, plunking a large hand on her shoulder. Somehow, this alone softens her a bit. They turn back into the house and Sloane nods toward them, insinuating I should follow.
The kitchen is sparkling, a cheery butter yellow, one that my mom would probably throw a fit over, and I carefully set our bags on the ground.
“Pretty brave to show up here after everything.” The grim line of Olivia's mouth tells me this is not actually a compliment, and I wince.
“Yeah, look—” I start and she raises a hand.
“Don’t.” I watch as Ben squeezes her arm and she lets loose a breath. “If Will can get over it, so can I, I guess…but I don’t trust you, Spellman and if you so much as make herfrownagain—” she points at Sloane, her glare sharp enough to gut a more innocent man. “I will personally come to your house, chain you to your bed and set it on fire.” She smiles this innocent smile that doesn’t at all match the words that just came from her mouth.
“Okay killer, calm down,” Ben says and Sloane chuckles.
“She’s serious.” Sloane pushes herself on the counter, lightly tapping me with the toe of her boot.
Just as I begin to nod at Olivia we all hear the screen door creak open. Large heavy footsteps followed by light almost cat-like ones sound in the hallway.
“I was easy.Theywon’t be.” That evil grin is back as Olivia struts into the hallway, probably to warn Gen and Grant before they come in.
Sloane tenses on the counter and I wonder if I should be bracing myself too, but honestly, I only care about what one person in this room thinks about me and somehow, she’s on my side.
“What areyoudoing here?” If Olivia’s glare was violent Grant’s is murderous, his palms immediately forming fists at his side.
“I told him I’d owe him one.” Sloane’s tone is amused indifference which only makes her brother angrier. Again, that light tap of her toe against my side, as if to sayshe’s got this.
“Jesus Christ.” Grant’s grumble is low and guttural as he rakes his hands through his hair and I wonder how much it’s taking for him not to clobber me right now. Ben moves himself so he’s standing between us, like he too is waiting for Grant to pummel me and Olivia’s expression is almost excited.
“So what we arenotgoing to do,” Sloane slides off the counter, “is be rude.” She sidles up to Grant, placing a hand on his shoulder and, I don’t know if it is some sort of twin telepathy or what, but he seems to relax slightly. “I invited him.” She says it just to him, her eyes telling a story that I think only he will understand.
I put my hands in my pockets hoping to look non threatening but maybe to also hide that my nerves are picking up. It’s my girlfriend's brother after all—want him to like me. Eventually anyway.
“Hope I’m not imposing.” I give a meek smile as all eyes snap to me, all filled with similar amounts of suspicion and anguish. Except for Sloane’s. Hers are the reason I’m here, because she’s looking at me like she’s seeing the sun, like I’m better than I am. She looks at me like I’m already the person I want so badly to be. Something in Gen settles in that moment, like seeing the way Sloane’s looking at me is enough for her, and she rubs Grant’s arm.
“I know as much as you do,” she tells him, and he melts under the movement. It’s sort of hilarious to see how this tiny delicate little thing pulls all his strings. “But the more the merrier right?” She looks at me now, her smile bright and forgiving and a mixture of relief and sadness flood my chest, because I can see why Will loves her, and can also see why he doesn’t deserve her.
A knock on the door interrupts the tight tension of the room.
“Open up, sluts. Your favorite friend is here!”
I watch as a huge smile blooms on Sloane’s face. She jogs to the front door and, instead of the gushing I think we were all expecting to hear, its an eerie silence followed by hushed whispers.
“Are you sure this is the best time?” Her voice is rushed and panicked.
“It’s important. You all need to hear it.” The sharp tone is vaguely familiar and my stomach drops as I realize who it is.
Jean walks in first, a guilty smile on his face as he enters. “What? Not happy to see me?”
And then I watch as my brother enters the room. “I think it’s me that they are unhappy to see,” Ian tell them, that smirk on his face.
Grant and Gen both stiffen this time, anger pulsing between them and tightly wrapping around Ben now too ,which is concerning since he’s usually the more level headed of the group.
“Are you fuckingkidding me?” Grant all but booms and Ian doesn’t even bother to flinch, just gives Grant a bored look.
“Listen, I can leave after I say what I came here to say. But youallneed to hear it.” He looks at Olivia and there's something there, a history none of us are privy to. They were pretty good friends up until her and Ben.
“How about you go fu?—”
“Wait—” Olivia interrupts just as Grant begins moving toward Ian. “We should listen to what he has to say.”
