Page 28 of Tag

Cloe did the honors instead. “When did you get the right to use her nickname?”

She blinked, clearly taken aback. “Oh! Sorry. I always hear Olivia call her that.”

Olivia laughed. “Because Miss Girl and I are friends. We met in our senior year at Hemlock High, and she's been stuck with me ever since.”

I tilted my head with a grin. "I think being stuck is something we both agreed on."

Olivia Martinez was unforgettable. Bold, unapologetic, and vibrantly loud in the most delightful way. She was a gorgeous, curvy woman and embraced everything about herself. I could vividly remember the day we met—in PE class. She told me her name while adjusting her sports bra in the middle of the pacer test, declared herself my new friend, and then proceeded to tell the gym teacher all about himself for making us run in the heat. I’d liked her immediately.

Olivia caught my expression and winked, her lips curling into a mischievous grin. “You’re lucky I picked you,” she teased, flipping her shoulder-length hair. “Could’ve chosen someone basic.”

I rolled my eyes. “Yeah, yeah.”

Realizing I might have come off as a bit harsh to the other girl, I turned to Meghan with a warm smile, trying to soften my tone. “Why do you ask, though?” I asked, curious despite myself.

She shrugged. “Girl code. He’s hot, so I had to know if he was still off the market.”

Hotwasn’t exactly the word I’d use to describe him, but I got where she was coming from. Still, this could have been clarified by anyone else.

Olivia jumped in with a playful glint in her eyes. “You know if those two broke up, everyone and their mama would know. And a certain sexy little quarterback would be first in line to tap in.”

Cloe burst into laughter at the incredulous look on my face. I could feel my annoyance bubbling up, and I wasthisclose to tossing her over the nearest balcony.

“Ashton and I are good,” I lied with practiced ease, trying to deflect any further probing. “So you don’t have to worry about any of that.”

Olivia smirked. “Hey, I’m just saying. If you ever end up single, you know who’s waiting in the wings.”

I wasn’t going to entertain that claim. With how things were between us right now, the last thing I needed was to add public speculation. Ryder and I always had a certain chemistry, an undeniable dynamic. That didn’t mean everyone needed to start connecting the dots I was desperately trying to ignore.

“You know he’s my best friend, right? I love him too death, but we’ve never been anything more.”

“Exactly why everyone’s waiting for it,” Olivia pointed out. “Best-friends-to-lovers. That trope never gets old.”

“Uh, what about Brooke?” I tossed in, trying to keep us grounded.

Meghan scoffed. “Brooke Stanton, right? How did that even happen? Ryder barely let me su—.”

She cut herself off, but I’d already caught the implication. My jaw dropped. Cloe reached over, gently pushing it shut.I lightly slapped her hand, laughing, though my brain was spinning.

“He never told you? “Meghan asked, more intrigued than embarrassed.

“No. I don’t get a play-by-play on every girl Ryder’s slept with.”

Why did I feel like I’d just had this same conversation?

Meghan grinned. “Oh, we didn’t actually sleep together. I went down on him for like five seconds before…” She leaned closer, conspiratorial. “He passed me off to his brother.”

Cloe laughed. “I had no idea they got down like that, but who am I to yuck a yum?”

“Do you mean pass off as in, like a hot-potato handoff?” I asked, stunned and a bit disgusted. Not at her, but the fact that they shared someone, because like Cloe, I had no idea they shared on such a level.

Meghan shrugged. “Hey, Cade’s a great backup.”

I didn’t like the way she worded that. “I wouldn’t call him a backup. He’s his own person and more than second to Ryder.”

Cade was undeniably gorgeous, but picturing him the way I did his brother was a no-go. He and Ryder shared their dad’s good looks for sure. I’d told them once how fine he was, their mom too. Neither had been impressed with the observation.

“She’s right. I can’t stand them being compared like show dogs,” Cloe stated flatly.

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