Page 87 of Tequila Tuesdays

Olivia nodded. “Maybe we can take a trip to the shelter and have her at least look at the cats there.”

“Good idea. Let’s plan on it Tuesday or Wednesday during my lunch hour.”

“Do you work on Monday?” Olivia asked, sipping her latte.

“No. Sunday is Christmas Day, so the official holiday is Monday. Why?”

“What are you planning to do?” she asked.

“Not hang out with you and Ava.”

She gave me the stink eye. “You can’t abandon me just because I’m moving over to her house.”

“I won’t. Why do you say that?”

She squinted her eyes and pointed at me. “You plan to spend next week playing grab ass with Damien, don’t you?”

“What? No!” I scratched my right eyebrow.

“Youare lying, right to my face. You just scratched your eyebrow.”

I shook my head. “No, I did not. And if I did, it doesn’t mean anything.”

“Big fat lying liar. Scratching your eyebrow is your tell.”

I rolled my eyes at her. “My tell? What are you, a professional poker player? And you need to stop. I’m not going to abandon you.”

She rolled her eyes. “Sure, Lying Liar McLie Face.”

I reached over and flicked her forehead.

“Ooouch! Why do youdothat?” she whined, rubbing her head.

“Because sometimes you act like a five-year-old. Iamgoing to spend some time with him over the next week. I can’t be with you all the time, we’d murder each other.”

“Fine,” she grumbled. “But you need to come over to Ava’s house sometimes—besides just Christmas Eve. I’m not sure I’ll still be sane and functioning by the end of my trip if you don’t.”

“I’ll hang out with you,” I promised.

“And Ava,” she added.

“AndmaybeAva. She gets under my skin, and I have a lot of pent-up resentment for that woman. But I’ll try.”

Olivia got serious and studied me. “Har, I know you do. And God knows you have more than enough reason. But sometimes I worry you’re hurting yourself by holding onto all that. You need to find a way to let it go.”

I looked out across the back patio area. “I’m not sure I even know how.” I worried again that Olivia was getting dragged into the middle of my conflict with Ava.

She nodded and took a sip of her coffee. She looked sad, and I didn’t know how to make it better.

I tried to change the subject. “Have you been seeing anyone in North Carolina?”

“No. But what’s going on with you and Damien? He’s the first guy you’ve brought around since Ryan.”

I looked down at the crumbs on my plate. “He’s different. He’s kind and patient, and his friends and work colleagues like and respect him.”

She smirked. “Yeah, and he’s hot, has a great bubble butt, and a dimple. That doesn’t hurt either, does it?”

I pointed a finger at her. “Quit looking.”

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