Page 33 of Need You to Choose Me

“I would have been here sooner, but I was dealing with something,” he apologizes. He opens his arms. “You going to hug me, or what?”

I’ve seen his private parts.

Felt them too.

And he’s acting like nothing happened.

I don’t hate it. I step into him and feel his arms wrap around me, squeezing once like he always does. It doesn’t feel forced or uncomfortable, and I find myself smiling when I pull back. “You didn’t have to come. I told my brother I could handle things here.”

He drapes an arm over my shoulder and tugs me into his side. “I don’t mind. Truthfully, I could use a little break from…things.”

Ah. Things. “Things, huh?”

Before he replies, my father appears at the door. “Who is this, Olive?”

Candi pops up behind him. “Oh, hello. Olive, why haven’t you invited your…friend in?”

Friend. Snort.

It’s Bodhi who answers. “She wasn’t expecting me,” he explains, extending his hand out to my father. “I’m Bodhi Hoffman. I play hockey with Sebastian.”

“Oh!” Candi chirps. “How wonderful. He isn’t here, unfortunately.”

My father’s shoulders ease when he announces who he is. He shakes Bodhi’s hand with an easy smile. “Hoffman. Yeah, I remember. I’ve seen you play. It’s good to formally meet you.”

“You too, sir.”

Sir. Double snort.

Dad goes to Sebastian’s games once in a while, but he’s never been introduced to the team the way Mom and I have. I take pride in that.

Candi pulls on my father. “Luke, let Sebastian’s friend come in. We were just about to eat lunch.”

How quickly it went from my friend to Sebastian’s.

Bodhi doesn’t drop his arm. “I’m actually here to see Olive. But if you have soda and some food, I’ll happily stick around.”

This time, I actually snort aloud. Dad eyes me as if he knows I’m seconds away from making a comment. As we walk inside, I say, “Candi isn’t a fan of soda. Apparently, it’s bad for you.”

Bodhi pats his stomach that I know for a fact is rock hard. There’s not an ounce of body fat on the mammoth of a man still holding onto me. It’s unfair. And hot. “Very few things in life are good for you. My kryptonite has always been Mountain Dew since I was a kid.”

I swear Candi gasps. Literally gasps with her hand flying to her chest like she’s clutching her invisible pearls. “Do you know how much sugar and caffeine is in that?”

Dad pats her arm, glancing apologetically at Bodhi. “Candi, let’s not berate our guests about all of that.”

“Yeah,” I chime in sweetly, curling an arm around Bodhi’s waist. “Wouldn’t want anyone to think you’re rude for commenting on their dietary habits, huh Dad?”

His brown eyes shoot to me in warning, telling me to silently behave. My only response is to smiler wider.

Candi doesn’t stop though. “No, really, Luke. I did a science fair project in high school comparing sugar content in all thepopular sodas. Mountain Dew had the highest sugar content, and don’t get me started on the caffeine and chemicals. It’s banned in certain countries for a reason.”

“When was that project due, five years ago?” I inquire.

Bodhi’s arm twitches around my shoulders. I pinch his waist making him squirm when my father sighs heavily. “Olive…”

My smile doesn’t waver. “What? She looks so young. It’s basically a compliment.”

Candi perks up. “It’s my skincare routine. The secret is beef tallow. Makes me look forever twenty-five.”

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