Page 53 of Lucy Loves Him Not
“I should be taking notes.”
“Well, your summer sounds like a rollercoaster, sis.” She joined me in the living room.
“You don’t have to tell me,” I said, the ice cubes jingling in my glass.
“Victor fills me in on all the office gossip, by the way.” Olivia’s eyes were suddenly mischievous.
“What office gossip?” I had seen some of the staff hanging around Victor’s desk giggling while Adam and I were working in his office.Were the giggles about us?
“People seem to think you and Annoying Adam are flirtatious.” I grimaced at the old nickname for Adam.
“Ha. Ha.” I fake laughed. “Is that office gossip or you and Mom gossip?”
“Both,” she said gleefully. “But Victor says that’s the word around City Hall.”
“Adam…” But I had nothing else to say. Adam. Adam. Adam. That was all there was. Adam, always on a loop in my mind.
She nodded. “I know you’ve had your misgivings about him. I mean, I’ve seen the angry fireworks show here in my own living room.” She waved her hand toward her couch.
“Don’t remind me.” I closed my eyes against the memory.
“I will say, Victor told me Adam really has been going to bat for the heart of the community. He’s a realist, but he’s also?—”
I interrupted her, “What is going on withyou and Victor?”
“I know you’re trying to change the subject.” She put her hands on her hips. “To answer your question, though, I’m just enjoying the company of Victor.”
“Victor the gossip.” I let out a little whistle.
“I’ve heard my name a lot.” Victor poked his head in the open backdoor that led from the living room to the backyard. “I wanted to announce that I’m here to help, by the way.”
“Thanks, bud.” Olivia skipped out the door to join him.
The rest of the day was exhausting, messy, and quite frankly, sweaty. My mom wound up joining us, but spent most of her time offering beverages and snacks. A couple of Olivia’s friends were there and we divided up jobs. I had gotten the task of pulling weeds.
I was wiping sweat off my forehead with the back of my hand when I heard a voice I knew too well. I spun around to find Adam talking with Olivia and Victor by the edge of her gate.
“Who invited you?” I said without thinking. All three of them turned to me. Mom gasped, “Lucy!” embarrassed by my impolite blurt.
“I did.” Victor laughed good-naturedly. “The guy is new to town and needs friends.”
Adam patted Victor on the back. “I appreciate the pity invite, Vic.”
“I was just surprised!” I had a hand on both sides of my face. “I didn’t mean anything by it!”
“You’re totally welcome here, Adam! I’ll take all the help I can get,” Olivia said in an assuring voice as they walked farther into the yard.
“Yeah, Adam!” My mom, Adam’s newest fan, walked over. “Come on inside for a glass of lemonade.”
Everyone took a lemonade break, crowding into Olivia’s kitchen. Adam and Victor were making jokes with Olivia and my mom while I chatted with a mutual friend of mine and Olivia’s. Adam’s eyes kept finding me, half of his attention split between me and his conversation. Fifty-fifty.
After the friend walked away to grab a drink, Adam was instantly by my side. “Sorry, I’m crashing another family thing.”
“No, no.” I shook my head. “I’m not upset you’re here.”I just forget how to talk like a normal person in your presence.“I was curious about who would’ve invited you and it came out wrong.”
“Okay, good.” His eyes read me like he was checking my vitals.
“I’m happy you’re here.” I smiled reassuringly at him. His shoulders visibly relaxed. I had an urge to put my hands on him, to feel other ways I could affect him.
