Trace + Olivia Series Boxed Set (21 page)

Finals were kicking my butt.

Then again, I had thought the same thing last year, and passed with flying colors.

I walked out of the classroom, breathing a sigh of relief. Finals were done, but tomorrow I had to go home.

My phone rang and I pulled it out of my pocket. “Hey, Avery,” I answered.

“Are you almost back to the dorm? It’s time for our girl’s day,” she sing-songed.

“I’m walking back now,” I cradled the phone between my ear and shoulder as I adjusted my grip on the books in my arm.

“Drop your stuff off and then meet me at my car,” she commanded and hung up before I could reply.

“So, bossy,” I snapped at the dead line.

I left my books and backpack at the dorm, and while I was there, I pulled my hair back in a ponytail, desperate to get the long strands out of my face.

My phone rang again and I wasn’t surprised to see that it was Avery calling.

“I’m coming,” I growled into the phone.

“Just checking. I was afraid you might have chickened out on me,” she chimed.

“Nope, I’m leaving the dorm right now.”

I hung up and speed walked outside before she came after me.

“Took you long enough,” Avery laughed when I slid into her red Beetle.

Buckling my seatbelt, I snapped, “You are so impatient. I had to drop off my stuff.”

“I’ve learned that patience never gets me what I want,” she chortled.

“What is it, exactly, that you’re subjecting me to on this girl’s day?” I asked.

“We’re getting our nails and toes painted,” she grinned.

“Avery!” I groaned. “You know I hate getting my nails done! The last time I went with you that guy made me bleed!”

“It was one time, Olivia,” she shook her head. “I highly doubt he’ll cut you again.”

“We’re going to the same place?!” I shrieked.

“Well, duh, I always go to the same place,” she merged into the right lane as the strip mall came into view. I saw the sign for the nail place from here and squirmed in my seat.

“Honestly, Olivia, you act like I’m sending you in front of the firing squad. This is supposed to be relaxing and I wanted to talk to you. I feel like we’re both either studying, or out, these days. You go back home tomorrow and I won’t see you for a whole month.”

“You’re right,” I sighed as she parked in front of the nail salon.

We stepped inside the small salon and the smell of acetone permeated the air.

Avery explained what we wanted done and one of the ladies working there got two of the pedicure chairs ready.

“Pick your color,” she pointed to rows upon rows of nail polish.

Avery didn’t think twice before picking a shade of red.

I picked out a bright sky-blue.

I took the seat next to Avery and rolled up my jeans. Placing my feet in the warm water, I handed the color I had chosen to the nail tech.

“How are things with Luca? Are you guys…serious?” I glanced over at her. I didn’t want to make her uncomfortable by probing…then again, I didn’t think
anything
made Avery uncomfortable.

“We haven’t put a label on our relationship but neither of us are seeing other people,” she shrugged. “I really like him.”

I grinned. “It’s about time and it sounds pretty serious to me. Normally, you’re like a guy, and the minute the chase is over, you’re done.”

She sighed. “I am normally like that,” she smoothed her hands over her jean clad legs. “Luca is different. Most guys don’t
want
to get to know me. They’re happy to fuck and leave,” she shrugged, not at all concerned that the people around us could hear every word she was saying. “But not Luca. I thought he’d be like all the others, but he wanted to get to know me, and Olivia…I found myself opening up to him, and that’s not something I do.”

“I’m happy you’ve found someone, Avery,” I reached for her hand and gave it a light squeeze.

“I am too,” she smiled but it didn’t reach her eyes.

“What is it?” I asked. “You look worried about something.”

“It’s just…how long can it last?” She looked over at me with wide green eyes. I had never seen Avery look so upset before.

“We never know how long anything can last. We have to decide if it’s worth the risk,” I explained.

She nodded. “He’s worth it.”

A weight had settled in my chest and it wouldn’t go away. I didn’t want to go back home. I didn’t want to deal with my father and I didn’t want to watch my robot mother.

The summer months I had spent at home, had drained me completely, and I knew the next four weeks would take their toll as well.

What was supposed to be a break for students, wouldn’t be for me. I would spend the whole time on edge, waiting for my dad to blow up.

I zipped my suitcase closed. We had only been back on campus for a week, after Thanksgiving break, and now I had to leave again. I wished I could hide in my dorm.

“Hey,” Avery said softly behind me, “you can come stay at my house. My parents probably won’t even be there.”

I turned around slowly to face her. Avery knew about the verbal abuse, but I hadn’t told her about my dad yanking me by the hair. “Thank you for offering, Avery. Really. You don’t know how much it means to me, but I can’t impose myself on you like that.”

“It’s no trouble at all, honestly,” she moved her bags closer to the door. Avery’s family lived local to the college but she insisted that she stay on campus. When I asked her about it once, she said that she couldn’t stand being in that big house by herself. It reminded her of how alone she really was.

“I’ll be fine,” I took a deep breath.

“Will you?” She asked with a raised brow and tilted her head.

“Yeah, of course,” I replied, praying she would drop it.

The truth was, I would have loved to stay with Avery, but since my dad was expecting me home, staying wasn’t an option.

“Alright,” she sighed and hugged me. “Call or text me, anytime.”

“I will,” I hugged her tighter.

She pulled away and grabbed her bags.

The door clicked closed behind her and I was alone.

I sat down on my bed. Everything was packed and I really needed to get on the road. It would be late when I finally arrived at home but I couldn’t make myself leave just yet.

The door opened and I didn’t bother to look over. Avery was always forgetting things. “What did you forget this time?” I laughed.

“I didn’t forget anything.”

“Trace,” I gasped and looked up to see him standing in the doorway. “How do you keep getting in here?”

“Avery let me in,” he grinned crookedly. “I was afraid you had left already but your car was still here.” He came in the rest of the way and closed the door behind him. “I wish I had seen more of you this week, but I knew you were busy with finals.”

“Yeah,” I sighed.

I knew Trace and I were dating, but I had wanted to leave before I saw him. This was making it even harder to go. I didn’t want to say goodbye to him. If we were still together, by the time classes ended for the year, I was sure it would kill me to leave him.

“Hey,” he breathed, his eyes narrowing as he strode across the room, and pulled me off of my bed and into his arms. “Don’t look so sad.”

“I don’t want to say goodbye to you,” my voice cracked.

He pushed me back a little so he could stare into my eyes. “This isn’t goodbye, Olivia. This is just…see you later. Okay? I’m not going anywhere.” He swallowed thickly. “I can see in your eyes that you think I’m going to be gone when you come back, but that isn’t true. I’ll be waiting for you.” His lips skimmed over the curve of my ear. “I like spending time with you and—” his lips lightly brushed against mine, “—kissing you. I like hearing the small little gasps you make when I touch you in certain places.” To prove a point, his fingers glided down my neck, and over the curve of my breast, eliciting a gasp from me. Grinning, he added, “Plus, we still have things to cross off that list of yours.” With a husky chuckle, he whispered in my ear, “I’m especially looking forward to the pole dancing.”

“I’m sure you are,” I gasped, my eyes fluttering closed as he pushed my shirt off my shoulder, and kissed the skin beside my bra strap.

“I really hope this,” he plucked at the strap, “comes off.”

He stepped back, grinning boyishly.

I swayed unsteadily and his large hand gripped my waist to keep me from falling.

I expected some cocky remark about his effect on me, but instead, his lips crashed against mine. I leaned into the kiss, standing on my tiptoes to reach him better. His tongue flicked against my lips, seeking entrance, and I was happy to oblige. He growled low in his throat as one of my hands sought his hair and tugged lightly, while I fisted his shirt in the other.

He wrenched his lips from mine, breathing raggedly, and panted, “That’s me
not
saying goodbye.”

Before I could recover, he walked away from me, and out the door.

Holy hell, I think liked
not
goodbyes.

My mom and dad were asleep when I arrived home. I half expected my dad to still be awake, pacing the halls, waiting for my arrival. I let myself in and went straight up to my room to go to bed, leaving my suitcase in the trunk of my car.

It was morning now, late morning.

Dad never let me sleep in.

I stepped out of my room and looked around, expecting him to come running at me, with a shaking fist, cursing me for sleeping in.

But nothing happened.

I quietly descended the steps, looking for him.

I tiptoed into the family room and saw my mom sitting there, drinking a cup of coffee, and watching a news show.

She never watched TV or drank coffee when
he
was around.

“Dad’s gone,” I stated.

“Some church thing,” she smiled pleasantly and patted the spot next to her on the striped couch. Whenever he was gone, she became a whole new person, more vibrant and alive. “He won’t be back until late tonight, we’ll probably be asleep. There’s some breakfast left over if you’d like some or we could go out and get lunch.”

I smiled brightly. My dad would never let us eat out, so on the rare occasions that he was gone, my mom would treat me to lunch out.

“Lunch would be great,” I beamed.

“Good,” she patted my knee, “and I can’t wait to hear all about school without your dad around.”

“I’ll go shower and get dressed,” I stood. “Where do you want to go for lunch?”

We always had to drive out of town so that one of dad’s church members didn’t see us.

“I’m not sure yet,” she sipped her coffee. “We’ll think of something while we drive.” Her eyes widened and zeroed in on my arm. “Is that a tattoo?”

“Oh,” I looked down, “yeah.”

“I like it,” she smiled. “But you better not let your father see it. You know how he is.”

“Yeah, I know,” I grumbled with a dramatic sigh, rubbing my still sleepy eyes.

I went outside, and carried my suitcase in, before getting ready.

Since I was home, I dressed in a worn pair of jeans, and a sweatshirt. Avery would have a conniption if she knew, but I wasn’t trying to impress anyone.

“Ready!” I called as I bound down the steps.