Page 2 of The Nice List

“Yes.” Alexis sighs. “That’s Cory. He’s flirting with you to get under my skin because I’m with Maddox instead of him. I’m sorry, Livvy.”

I tense at her use of my shortened name. Everyone calls me Livvy, but Alexis always uses my full first name, Olivia. She only calls meLivvywhen she’s in big sister mode. It would usually soften me to her opinion, but not this time. Right now, I’m thinking that my big sister is a little self-centered. Like she thinks the only reason a guy like Cory would flirt with me is togetherattention. Even when he’s all but ignored her since I got here.

I roll my eyes as I lift the mock cocktail in front of me and take a sip to hide the scoff I want to let out.

A deep chuckle pulls my attention to Cory as he sets a frosted beer mug in front of Alexis. “You look just like your sister when you roll your eyes like that.”

My sharp inhale at being busted causes the sip to go down the wrong way, making me cough roughly. I feel the heat of embarrassment rise in my cheeks, but I ignore it as I take another sip to ease the burning in my throat, humming at the sweet cherry flavor of the drink.

I glance between Alexis and Cory as I catch my breath. She looks irritated. He looks…turned on? Which turnsmeon.I’m in so much trouble.

Chapter 2

Cory

Fuck.I shouldn’t be picturing my ex-fling’s little sister choking on my cock right now. But that’s all I can think about. Especially when she takes another sip of the drink that I made for her and moans at the flavor.

Her doe eyes meet mine and I realize they’re light brown instead of gray like her sister’s before they darken slightly as I hold her gaze.

She shakes her head like she’s coming out of a daze as she lets out the cutest giggle. “Sorry. I guess even a virgin cocktail is too strong for me.”

“Oh, I doubt that,pretty girl,” I tell her with a smirk. “I bet you can handle a lot more than you get credit for.”

“No, she can’t,” Alexis snaps. “Olivia is a good girl through and through.”

Oh, I do believe that,I think as Olivia’s smile falls slightly at her sister’s barely veiled jab. Not wanting her smile to disappear completely, I hold my hand out to her. “It’s nice to finally meet you, Olivia. I’m Cory.”

Just as I’d hoped, her face lights up as she takes my hand. “Oh, only Alexis calls me Olivia. I’m Livvy to everyone else.”

I tighten my grip on her hand as I lean across the bar to mock whisper, “Well, not everyone. You’ll always bepretty girlto me.”

Alexis scoffs before turning on her barstool as half of the college football team enters the bar…including her new boyfriend, Maddox.

“There’s my sexy Lexi,” he shouts as he strolls up to her before taking her face in his hands and kissing her. He pulls back and turns toward her sister. “Hey, Livvy. You liking Thorngrove so far?”

“Hey, Maddox.” She turns her head to give him a bright smile. “I don’t know. I came straight here to meet Alexis since I was late getting into town. I haven’t seen anything else in town yet.”

Maddox turns toward me and his brow pinches when he notices me still holding Livvy’s hand. I give it one last squeeze before letting go as Zack calls out for me to get back to work.

The bar is filling up with customers ready to watch the Tennessee Tornados play in the last NFL playoff game tonight. If they win, they’ll be headed to the Super Bowl next month.

An hour later, I glance over to see Livvy looking bored out of her mind as Alexis rants and cheers at the game with everyoneelse. I tell Zack that I’m taking my break while all the customers are occupied as I throw on my leather jacket. Catching Livvy’s eye as I walk past where she’s sitting, I nod toward the end of the bar. When I hear her tell Alexis that she’s headed to the restroom, I decide to wait for her to enter the hallway leading to the restrooms before following her path.

I can’t control my smirk at the little gasp she lets out when she comes out of the women’s bathroom to see me leaning against the wall, waiting for her.

“I’m headed out back to take a break. You wanna join me,pretty girl?” I ask as I point to the door at the end of the hallway.

She glances back toward the bar for a second before shrugging her shoulders. “Sure. I doubt Alexis will miss me with the Tornados playing anyway.”

I lead her out the door to a covered patio with a second bar that’s only used for overflow when the T.U. teams are playing a home game. Tonight, everyone is inside with their eyes glued to the huge screen behind the main bar. So, we’re all alone.

I lean against the bar and pull out my box of Marlboro Menthols, watching her as she looks around the space.

When she turns back toward me, she scowls at the box in my hand. “That’s a very unhealthy habit, you know?” Her scowl turns to a sheepish grin as she steps toward me and puts her hand on mine to stop me from putting the box back in my pocket. “Can I bum one?”

This good girl wants to be bad and I’m here for it,I think as I flip the lid open on the box and hold it toward her with a grin.

She takes a cigarette from the box and puts it between her lips before looking at me expectantly.

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