Page 69 of Tequila Tuesdays

Connor pulled me up and wrapped his arms around me. “Fuuuck me. Your mouth should be considered a national treasure.”

I barked out a breathless laugh and smacked his side.

Chapter 22

WhenIdroveupto the passenger pickup at the Palm Springs airport Thursday night, Olivia stood on the curb waiting for me.

I jumped out and hugged her, then lifted her up and spun her around.

“Harley! What are you doing?” she laughed.

“Just throwing my back out.” I set her down, then helped stow her luggage in the back seat. She gave Gary a few pets, then got in and looked me over. I’d been lounging around at home before picking her up, and I was still wearing my cut-off sweats and a ratty t-shirt.

“It looks like you’ve owned that outfit since high school.”

I looked down and shrugged. “I’ve ownedmostof it since high school.”

“Ha! I knew it!” Olivia leaned back and let out a long, audible exhale. “I’m so happy to be done with school for a while, and to be here with you. I don’t even care if we watch one of your shitty indie movies tonight.”

“You’re nicer than I am because Idocare about watching one of your horror movies.”

She turned to me. “It’s Christmas. Maybe we can pick something a little more uplifting.”

“I’m good with that. But I think Ava invited us over for dinner,” I reminded her.

Olivia grimaced. “Crap, I forgot. And I haven’t eaten anything since breakfast.”

Ava was a terrible cook, and she usually overcooked everything. We used to joke about it with my dad when he was alive. And then I’d taken over the cooking after he died. I wasn’t a great cook either, but I knew how to grill and that had probably saved us.

“Have you and Mom talked at all since Thanksgiving?” Olivia asked.

My shoulders tensed. “Yes.”

“About anything important?”

“I don’t know. We went to lunch the other day, and I’m still going over to her house a couple of times a week to make sure it’s clean and she’s okay.”

“Has she forgiven you for Gary’s defection?”

“She threw Gary away by not taking care of him,” I countered. Gary’s head swung up to look at me when I said his name. “And I mostly leave Gary at home now when I see her.”

We pulled up to my house.

“How do you think she’s actually doing?” she asked.

“I think she’s hanging in there, one day at a time.”

Olivia nodded and looked out the window. “What do you think about getting her a kitten for Christmas?”

I mulled it over. “I think it’d be better to get her a full-grown cat. They’re more self-sufficient.”

Olivia nodded. “There are self-watering and self-feeding bowls we could try.”

“Huh, it’s a good idea. Let’s think about it while you’re here. There’s a nice animal shelter in south Palm Springs, and I’m sure they have plenty of cats for adoption.”

“Mom said she’s seen a guy around your house lately. How come you haven’t mentioned anything?” she asked.

“It’s probably Damien. He’s an investigator and I’ve been working with him on a case. He’s going camping with us tomorrow.”

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