Page 113 of Fielder's Choice

“Yes,” Corinne states. “And I don’t think that’s a bad thing, but you’re partaking in sexual activities for the first time in your life. You’re indulging in your situationship with Lane, and based on the way you describe him, I don’t think you’d be the only one hurt if you don’t define this relationship.”

I allow myself to mull the words over.

Corinne is right. It doesn’t matter if we haven’t officially defined what we are. If Lane left right now, I’d be absolutely devastated.

I haven’t admitted it to myself yet, but I’m falling for him.

Hell, I might have already fallen for him.

Maybe it’s time to make this the real thing.

Hopefully, I can talk to him about that after Sage’s lesson tomorrow.

“Hey, Mom,” I say happily as I walk into her office.

“Liv!” she chimes, a bright smile on her face. “Doesn’t your lesson start soon?”

“I still have a little bit,” I reply, pushing myself up to sit on her desktop. “Lane and Sage should be here soon, though.”

“I like Lane,” my mom replies with a knowing smirk.

I can’t fight the blush on my cheeks. “Yeah, I like him, too.”

She chuckles. “I don’t like him the same way you do, sweetie.”

That pulls a genuine laugh from me. “No, I suppose you don’t.” I look at her more nervously now. “You don’t think he’s too much older than me?”

“No,” she shrugs. “Lane seems like a good man, and I can see how happy you are around him.”

“Yeah. It kind of scares me how much I like him, Mom.”

She puts her hand on top of mine and squeezes. “Love can be scary, Olive. But it can also make you feel whole.”

“I don’t love him,” I say quickly. “I haven’t even known him for three months.”

“Well, he’s falling in love with you,” my mom chuckles, and I snap my head back in her direction.

“What? Did he tell you that?”

“All he told me was that he likes you. But that’s not the way he looks at you.”

“What does that mean?” I ask, breathless.

“He looks at you the way Harvey looks at Michelle, the way Violet looks at Luna, the way your father looks at me. He might not be in love with you yet, but he’s getting there.”

“Oh,” I reply, trying to bite down my smile.

“You need to put that boy out of his misery and give him a label, Liv,” she laughs. “He’s not going anywhere.”

I look down at my feet nervously. “I’m going to try to talk to him today.” Saying that reminds me that I need to check the time, so I check the clock on the wall. “Oh shoot!” I say, jumping to my feet. “I’m five minutes late!”

I sprint from the office to the sounds of my mother laughing behind me.

I’m out of breath by the time I get to the room, and I’m surprised when I walk in since the lights are still off. I flip the switch and take a look around. As expected, the room is empty.

I walk out to the lobby, and when I don’t find them there, I head back down to my mother’s office.

“Hey,” I say, stepping back inside as she looks up at me in surprise. “Did Lane mention anything about being late today?”

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