Page 24 of The New Year's Party
“You guys can fight over who gets the marital-sized mattress and who has to be separated,” joked Phelps. There was a queen-size blow-up mattress shoved into one corner, a child’s bed shaped like a huge plastic car, and a sleeping bag next to it. “Hall bathroom’s freshly cleaned, Olivia, if you want to change.”
“Thanks,” she said, crossing her arms over her body and looking down at her feet.
Phelps had no idea how to read her sudden shyness. Sure, it had been five years, but... they weren’tstrangers.
“Unless you’re opting out of the fancy clothes and stickingwith sweats,” he said in a gentlemanly tone, “which, by the way, lookfabulouson you—”
“I’ll bring our stuff in so you can change,” said Bennett, abruptly leaving Phelps and Olivia alone in the hall.
“So... how’ve you been?” Olivia said, awkwardly tightening her arms over her chest, like she’d just felt a chill.
“Never a dull moment,” he quipped. “Are you and Bennett... Everything okay? Do I sense the shadow of a little argument in the air, or is it my overactive imagination?”
Olivia faced him, pale and serious. Her voice lowered to a tight whisper. “I told him.”
Phelps stared at her. “You... told him.”
“Yes,” she said. Her whisper sounded like glass shards, broken and dangerous.
“Okaaaay,” Phelps said, nodding like he was really processing this information. “Youtoldhim. I... Wow. Okay.”
Mainly, of course, he was stalling because he had no idea what she was talking about. Clearly shethoughthe should know. He mentally reviewed Bennett’s past couple visits. What was going on in their lives that she might be referencing? Genetic testing because of that leukemia risk... Oh, fuck, was one of their kids genetically predisposed? And then Rosie was in that temper-tantrum stage and Olivia didn’t believe in time-outs, which he knew via Bennett had caused a few disagreements...
“Do I hear guests?” came a high-pitched female voice from elsewhere in the house. “Phelpsy?”
He smiled in what he hoped was a soothing way. He’d have to ask Bennett later what was going on, on the DL. “Hey, we’ll have time to talk later, okay? Come meet Allie. She’s the one responsible for giving this place an upgrade fromLe DumptoLe Party.”
Olivia, arms still crossed over her sweatshirt and looking frankly miserable, followed Phelps back through the livingroom, through the party streamers and into the warm kitchen, where Allie was bending over the stove. Damn. The girl was 100 percent heart-shaped ass. He cleared his throat. She straightened up.
“The first guest,” said Phelps with a flourish as Olivia ducked under the streamers he was holding to the side for her.
“Hi! I’m Alessia! But you can call me Allie.” She moved forward and hugged Olivia, who was stiff as a board. Phelps headed to the freezer to pull out the vodka he’d chilled. Best way to counter stiffness was with an equally stiff drink.
“Are you two...” he heard Olivia saying.
“Together?” said Allie with a laugh. “God, it’s too soon for that! Second date, he puts me to work cleaning his house.” She laughed again. “No, I’m kidding, I offered. I couldn’t let you lovely people suffer the state it was in. Don’t worry. I’m a kindergarten teacher. I’m used to cleaning up sticky spots and mysterious stains!”
“Well... thanks,” said Olivia.
“I bow to the expert,” said Phelps as he set the vodka and vermouth on the counter. Now for a chilled martini glass... “She will be richly rewarded.”
Allie went on tiptoe next to him. “Mmmm, if drinks are happening, make me one, okay? But don’t you dare give out the Jell-O shots! Those are for later, and I am personally handing them out!”
“She made Jell-O shots,” Phelps said toward Olivia in mock horror. “Next she’ll be suggesting beer pong. Hey, I’ll show you the rest of the house in a minute—I know you’ve been here before, but therehavebeen upgrades to the basement in the form of a dartboard and—”
There was a knock at the door.
“I’ll get it,” said Phelps, and honestly, he was relieved to leave Olivia’s presence for a minute.
He had always had a thing for her. Who wouldn’t? She waseducated. She was mysterious. She looked like a thinner version of Elizabeth Taylor. But right now, frankly, she was being annoying. Sure, she might be going through something, but they wereallgoing through something. That was fucking adulting. And part of adulting was also knowing how to lay your troubles aside and party like it was 1999.
Oh, well. You know what? He’d loosen her up. Even though she wasn’t high maintenance, per se, the woman did have layers, and for good reason. He’d put aside his annoyance and make it his personal mission tonight to melt the ice queen. After all, he’d done it before, and he could do it again.
Chapter 11
Jenn
I can’t believe we’re still doing this party after what I saw on Will’s work computer, but if he’s going, I’m going—sorry, you don’t get to just cast me off like that. I’m actually holding back tears as we make the almost three-hour drive. Will tries to talk as we pull onto US-31, but I turn on the radio, put my feet on the dashboard, and gather up my knees so I can lean my chin on them. Ihatecrying. There’s a trickle in my nose and I can’t tell if it’s snot or blood, so I stuff a tissue against my face.
