Page 20 of A Good Book

I nodded, biting my thumbnail. “Yeah. Maybe I should call him back and ask.”

“No! You can’t do that. Ben and I will go, and if she’s not there, we’ll make up an excuse to leave. But if she is there, we’ll stay until you’re ready to leave.”

Keeping my nail trapped between my teeth, I nodded several more times.

“Now. Let’s find something in my closet that might fit you.”

“My knees have to be covered, and I can’t show cleavage.”

Olivia blinked several times. “Oh sweetie, this year is going to be life-changing for you.” Pity dripped from her words.

What could I say? Nothing. So I smiled, excited and fearful of the life changes headed my way.

“I don’t dress like Holly Hobbie,” I snorted as her previous comment finally registered.

“Okay, maybe not the bonnet,” Olivia said. “But the long dresses and brown shoes are a match. All you need is a pair of bloomers.”

As much as I wanted to feign offense, I couldn’t stop giggling because at home, I had at least four Holly Hobbie dolls in a box on the top shelf of my closet.

Two hard knocks vibrated our door. Olivia opened it.

“Ready?” Ben asked.

“No. Sorry.” She rested a hand on his chest. “I got distracted by Gabby’s big news. Let me run down and use the bathroom and fix my makeup.” Olivia grabbed her bag and headed down the hallway.

Ben stepped into the room and closed the door. “What news?”

At the same time, I asked, “Where are you two going?”

“Subway for dinner,” he mumbled, sitting in Olivia’s desk chair as I snatched my box of Wheat Thins. “Wanna come?”

“On your date? No thank you.” I popped a cracker into my mouth.

“It’s dinner, not a date. But I suppose you still don’t know the difference.”

I stuck my tongue out at his little jab.

“What’s your big news?”

“It’s about Matt, so I don’t think you want to hear it.”

He perked up. “Matt, huh? Haven’t heard his name in weeks. Do tell.”

“He’s having a party at his house tomorrow night, and he invited me.” I fished out another cracker. “He invited you and Olivia too.”

“No thanks.”

“Olivia said you two would go, then stay if I need you or leave early if I’m good.”

Ben chuckled, lacing his fingers behind his head, which made his shirt creep up just far enough that I could see his abs. I tried not to look at them because it made me think about him and Olivia doing things that involved numbers.

“For your information,” he said, “Olivia doesn’t speak for me. She’s not my girlfriend or my secretary.”

“Well, I’m still your best friend, so you’ll go for me.”

“You haven’t asked me to go.” He smirked.

“Will you go?” I mumbled while chewing my cracker.

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