Page 22 of The Nice List

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 theglass 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’sit. 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 withyou, 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.”

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