Page 4 of Reconciling With the Rival

Oliver: Good God, not this again.

I laugh as I pick up my drink in front of me. I love my friends and all the chaos they bring, this conversation being no different. It’s weird to think about how long I’ve known Hads, Paige, and Amelia for. They’re some of those relationships that feel like we’ve known each other for a lifetime, but we all became friends in our time at Grand Mountain, so it has only been a few years.

Those days are long behind us, though. Hads and Grant just graduated, and Amelia, Paige, and Oliver have been out of school for a year. I've been out for two, and I need time to slow the hell down.

Us girls met through books. I sat down with Paige in the library and started chatting about the book she was reading. I had just finished it, and we must’ve talked for hours. That led to us creating a book club on campus, to which only she and Amelia showed up to. A year later, Hads joined, and the rest is history.

Books brought us together, but the bond we created over them will last a lifetime.

When I turn around and head to my table, I make eye contact with a really cute woman sitting at the end of the bar.Damn, she’s fucking hot.I check her out before I go back to my seat, and Alissa joins me a few moments later. “I forgot to ask how yourfreelance stuff is going. Didn't you have a project or something the other day?”

My main job is working for the top marketing firm in Virginia—Loft Media. I love my job there, the atmosphere and the people. This is all I’ve wanted to do since I started my degree. I’ve been at this job for around two years, but I do some freelance work on the side. I’ve taken my love for books and transformed that into marketing for independently published authors on social media platforms. It’s another good source of income, and I love doing it.

“It’s going really well, actually. I created an entire campaign for this author surrounding her new release next month, and she loved it. I swear, I thought she was going to cry when I showed it all to her.”

“That’s amazing, Ells. I know how hard you work, and I’m glad it’s being appreciated.” Alissa smiles at me as she grabs my hand and squeezes it. Emotions fill my chest, but I shove those down before they become anything.

“Fuck, Liss. Now is not the time to get sentimental.”

“I know. Oh, and there’s a girl at the end of the bar who's been staring at you since I sat down.” I look over, and sure enough, the girl from earlier pushes off the bar and starts walking over. Alissa slowly rises out of her chair and points toward a guy at the bar. “I’ll be over talking to that beautiful man if you need me.”

“Have fun,” I say as I sip my drink.Fuck, this girl is gorgeous.

“Is this seat taken?”

“Yes—by you.”

We start talking—Aubrey and I—and just as I think this is about to go somewhere, my phone buzzes. “Sorry, one second.” When I pull my phone out, my face falls a bit.

Lizzie: Can you take me to dance on Thursday? Dad’s car is in the shop, and I can't get a ride with Sabrina.

Lizzie: Don't tell Dad I told you about his car either. He said he’s taking care of it, but he won't have it by Thursday, and he’s working late.

Ella: Of course I can. What time?

Lizzie: Six thirty.

Ella: Okay, I can leave work early.

Lizzie: Are you sure? I’m sure I can figure something out.

Ella: Anything for you, sis. Don't worry about it. I’ll be there.

Lizzie: Okay. Thank you.

Ella: See you Thursday.

Lizzie: Love you.

Ella: Love you more!

“Is everything okay?”

“Yeah, but I have an early day tomorrow. So, here’s my number,” I say as I lock eyes with her. “You should use it.”

Aubrey takes the business card I hand her, smiles, and pockets it in her handbag. I smile, suddenly not feeling in the mood anymore, before I look over at Alissa. She smiles at the guy she’s talking to before I see her hand turn into a thumbs down.That one’s a no-go.

I clear my throat before I go over there and give the guy an Oscar worthy performance of some fake scenario. Whenever one of us gives the help signal, it’s the other person's job to get them out, and my favorite part is coming up with a reason to get her out of here. Putting on my best panic face, I go up to them. “Alissa, we have to go! Your brother is stuck in a mouse trap and he can't get out!”

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