"Is Rachel dating one of her teachers?" he growled, leaning into her.
"Huh? What? I don't know," she lied, looking around nervously.
He sighed and scrubbed a hand over his face. "You're a horrible liar, Olivia." His breath tickled her neck, causing a sudden heat to rise in her.
"I know nothing," she insisted, sitting down in Rachel’s seat. She stared down at the granite bar top in front of her. At least if she stared at the bar, she didn't have to gaze into his blue eyes or see that sexy stubble. Oh my God what is wrong with me? She should get far, far away from him. Tyler was here somewhere.
"Of course not. So how long has that been going on?" he asked causing her to look up at him. He obviously wasn't going to let it go.
She sighed. "He's not her teacher." That was the truth—he used to be her teacher.
"You didn't answer my question. Isn't there some rule about teachers and their students,” he murmured, gazing at her intently.
Olivia shivered under his scrutinizing glare. "It's not that bad," she defended, trying to play it down. "I mean she's in grad school, Derrick."
"He's not like, ridiculously old is he?"
Olivia laughed out loud. "No." Marc was probably a little older than Derrick.
"Is he here?" he asked, a serious tone in his voice as he turned on his stool to survey the crowd. His knee accidentally brushed hers, causing tingles to shoot through her.
It’s just his knee get a grip. She looked around curiously; the hotel ballroom was crowded. "I don't know. There are a lot of people here," she answered, honestly.
"I don't like the idea of some older guy taking advantage of my little sister," he snarled, taking a sip of his beer.
"So, you look down on guys who sleep with younger women?" she laughed, hoping he would get the joke.
He opened his mouth to say something, and then caught on to what she was saying. She was younger than him—Rachel’s age or maybe even younger. But he hadn't taken advantage of her and he certainly wasn’t her teacher. "You know what I meant. He's in an authoritative position," he said, trying to recover.
"Oh," she beamed, her brown eyes full of light. "Does it count if he's not her teacher?"
He was about to reply when he saw a guy making a beeline straight for them. The man’s eyes fixated on Olivia’s back. He'd never met or seen Olivia’s boyfriend before, but judging by the way he was walking toward the brunette, this had to be Tyler. The guy stepped between his and Olivia’s barstools, wrapped an arm around her, and kissed the top of her head.
He saw red, wanting nothing more than to shove the man away from his girl. But she’s not your girl. Derrick suppressed the urge to rip the guy’s arm off of Olivia and punch him in the face. Derrick gripped his beer bottle tighter, trying to keep from doing anything stupid. He was going to have to start drinking something stronger.
"Hey, Olivia, I've been looking all over for you." Tyler greeted.
"Tyler," she stammered as she shifted uncomfortably in her seat. He watched as her gaze flicked from her boyfriend to him and then back again. She took a second to recover before she put on her sweet smile. "Tyler, this is Derrick, Rachel’s brother," she introduced. Pink tinged her cheeks and she cleared her throat before continuing, "Derrick, this is Tyler, my boyfriend.”
"Right. Nice to meet you," Tyler said, offering his hand. "Tyler."
Derrick accepted his hand as he glanced at Olivia. She fidgeted, her fingers twining in her long brown hair and swirling it around her digit. Her boyfriend didn't seem to notice her unease. In fact, Tyler didn’t seem to be paying either of them any attention. The guy looked like he could care less about being here.
They fell into an awkward silence and he took a sip of his beer. He would definitely be taking full advantage of that free bar tonight.
***
Olivia sat awkwardly. The music boomed behind her, but a deafening silence enveloped her. Her stomach twisted and she wiped her sweaty palms on her jeans. Being stuck in between the two men in her life was excruciating and she couldn’t think of a single thing to say to ease the tension. She was thankful that Tyler was too busy ordering a drink to notice the unease. She just wanted to escape from the situation.
"Hey, Olivia."
Her friend’s voice snapped her back into the moment. "Elena," she gasped, jumping off the stool and hugging her friend. "Help," she whispered into her ear.
Elena pulled back, giving her a confused look. "This party is great, Olivia. You and Rachel did a good job."
"Thanks," she said, holding her friend’s arm and refusing to let it go. She was not going to be stuck here with Tyler and Derrick by herself.
Elena smiled, shifting her eyes from Derrick to her before introducing herself. "I'm Elena."
"Derrick," he said, holding out his hand. "Rachel's brother."
Elena beamed at Olivia, clearly connecting the dots.
If only there was a hole Olivia could crawl into and die.
"I've heard about you," Elena teased, causing Derrick to smirk.
Olivia wanted to kill them both at that moment. Elena was supposed to help her, not make it more unbearable.
"I'm going to the ladies room," she blurted, glaring at Elena with her eyebrow raised.
"Me, too,” Elena replied all too quickly as she threaded her fingers with Olivia’s and led the way to the bathroom. She maneuvered them through the crowd quickly and didn’t stop until the heavy bathroom door had shut behind them.
Olivia let out a long, relieved breath, thankful that horrid moment was over. As the fog cleared from her brain, she began to wonder if leaving Derrick and Tyler alone together was a good idea. It will be okay. Derrick won’t say anything to Tyler anyway.
"Wow, he is hot,” Elena gushed, pulling Olivia from her thoughts.
"I can't go back out there," she groaned, going to the sink and staring at herself in the mirror. How did this happen to me?
"Olivia," Elena said, quietly. "Talk to me."
"I just don't know what to do. I feel like Tyler and I keep drifting further apart. I can't stop thinking about Derrick, and it doesn't help that I'm spending time with him either. And now they're both out there together. Ugh," she screamed in frustration. "I can't believe Rachel invited him."
Elena studied her for a long moment. "I know you love Tyler, but are you in love with him?" Elena asked slowly. "Because that makes a difference."
Olivia bit her lip as she thought about Elena's question. Of course she loved Tyler, but was she in love with him? The fact that she couldn’t answer the question automatically told her the answer.
The bathroom door swung open. Rachel walked in shaking her head. "I thought I saw you two come in here. I can’t believe Greta outted my relationship with Marc to Derrick.” Rachel turned to Olivia. "How did he take that by the way?"
Olivia shrugged. "He asked some questions, but I don't think he was too mad," she answered honestly. Somehow, they had gone from his questioning of Rachel's relationship to flirting. That always seemed to happen, no matter how innocent it all started.
"Oh, he's mad. Trust me," Rachel sighed. "I shouldn't have invited him here."
Elena frowned. "Why did you invite him?"
"It's your fault," Rachel said pointing at Olivia.
"What? Why?" she asked as heat crept over her face. Why is it my fault Rachel invited him? Oh no. Does she know about us?
"He likes you, Olivia, and I haven't seen him hung up on anyone since Brandy. I'm so tired of him picking up all these skanky girls from the bar. He deserves happiness," Rachel replied.
Olivia frowned. Who is Brandy? Why do I care? Why is Rachel trying to play matchmaker? I have a boyfriend. Wait what did she say? Derrick likes me?
Elena was the first to speak. "Who's Brandy?"
Olivia looked at Rachel, interested in the answer even though she shouldn't be. Rachel shook her head sadly. "My brother's wife."
Horror filled her. She slept with a married man, estranged or not, that was jus
t so wrong. "Derrick’s married?" she squeaked out.
"Oh, no, not Derrick. My other brother, Elliott," she huffed. "The little bitch was with Derrick first, but then she moved on to Elliott. At one point, she was seeing them both at the same time, that is until Derrick caught them." Rachel rolled her eyes. “It’s a shame, too. We all used to be so close."
***
Derrick wanted to strangle his sister for inviting him to this party. Next, he’d strangle Olivia for abandoning him with her boyfriend. Sure, it was probably awkward for her, but now he was stuck here with the guy who got to spend every night with the woman he wanted. He envied Tyler, and he wondered if the other man knew how lucky he was to have a girl like Olivia.
Finally, Olivia and Elena emerged from the bathroom with Rachel in tow. What was it with women and bathrooms? What could they say in a bathroom that they couldn't say in the company of others?
Olivia marched toward them, showing a lot more confidence than she had when she’d left.
Tyler got up from his stool and placed a hand on her elbow. "Hey, Olivia, I'm going to get out of here. Are you coming?"
Derrick swallowed trying not to watch, but he couldn't help himself. He didn’t want her to go home with Tyler. Olivia bit her lip, her eyes flicked to him for half a second before going back to her boyfriend.
"We haven’t even cut the cake yet," she argued. “I’ll walk you out, though.”
Tyler contemplated her a moment before nodding and guiding her out of the ballroom.
***
Olivia walked out into the cool night air and folded her arms across her body trying to keep the warmth in. For mid-November it was really cold.
"You sure you can't come home with me, Olivia? I don't think anyone would notice. We haven't spent the night together in forever,” Tyler pleaded.
She bit her lip and looked at the cement. She hadn't spent the night with Tyler since Derrick. It wasn't like anything was happening with her and Derrick either. She just—well she didn't know what was going on with her. Her whole life had all of a sudden gotten really confusing.
"Olivia, come home," Tyler insisted.
"Elena’s my best friend—our best friend. It’s her birthday and we haven’t even cut the cake yet," she reminded him. Not to mention, it was still early. It was barely after ten.
"Is this how it's going to be all the time? How are we ever going to have a life together with this college life of yours?" Tyler snapped, anger blazing in his brown eyes. “At some point you’re going to have to grow up.”
"It's not like it's every night," she said, defensively. “And I am still in college.”
"I want us to be together, to spend time together like we use to,” he said, staring at her intently.
"And I want to enjoy life. This is my last year of school. Let me enjoy it,” she replied.
"You can’t enjoy it and spend time with me," he yelled.
"And you can’t meet me in the middle? Why can’t you work and enjoy the nightlife? You don’t work tomorrow," she insisted.
"Because I want to go home. I don’t want to spend my night watching drunk kids grind on the dance floor," he snapped taking her hand. “Come home with me, Olivia.”
"I can't," she said, pulling her hand away, "Elena is my best friend and this is her party. Please understand that."
Anger scorched its way over his face, tingeing his cheeks dark red. His brown eyes narrowed at her. "I proposed to you, asked you to move in, offered to let you drop out of school. I would give you anything. I want to put us first and you keep refusing me. And don’t even get me started on your little mishap with that random guy. I can't do this with you anymore. Stay here with your bestie Elena or leave now with me. Either you put us first or… or we’re over."
Tears pricked her eyes. He wanted her to choose between him and her friend. She thought back to Elena's question about love and knew what she had to do. She loved Tyler, she really did, but she wasn't in love with him. He couldn't be in love with her either. You didn't give someone an ultimatum if you loved them.
"This isn't right Tyler. You can't make me choose. I've known Elena my entire life; I’m just asking to stay until the cake is cut. And I don’t want to drop out of school and be a stay-at-home wife. That’s not who I am. I can't be in a relationship with somebody who doesn't accept me and encourage me to do what I want."
"Fine, I hope your career is worth it," he said, glaring at her for a minute before storming off.
Olivia hugged herself and sat down slowly on the cold cement stairs. She was numb, but not because of the cold. They were really over. In some ways it hurt, but in other ways she felt like she could finally start living.
Chapter Seven
Olivia rolled over and grabbed her phone off the nightstand. Tyler again. How many calls was that now? She jammed her thumb down on the ignore button and turned over in an attempt to go back to sleep. It was just like Tyler to say something mean and hurtful after drinking and then try to make it up to her. She wasn't doing it this time, though. What they wanted were two completely different things. It was over with them.
Her phone rang again, the loud shrill vibrating off the wooden table.
"Seriously?" she cursed, contemplating chucking her device across the room. Olivia fisted her hand around her cell, envisioning it smashing to pieces against the wall when a knock sounded on her door. "What?" she grumbled.
The door opened and Rachel’s head popped in. "We’re supposed to be at the spa in thirty minutes."
"Oh." Crap. I completely forgot. They had planned a girl’s day just the three of them for Elena's birthday. "Give me a minute," she said, scrambling out of bed and looking for something to wear.
She emerged five minutes later with her hair pulled up in a loose bun and wearing her comfy sweats and a blue hoodie. "Coffee?" Rachel asked, holding up the steaming pot.
"Please," she said, grabbing a cup from the cupboard.
Rachel poured the steaming liquid into Olivia’s waiting mug. “I can’t help but notice that you came home at a reasonable time last night. Am I to assume you didn’t go home with Tyler after all? You disappeared after you walked him out.”
Olivia looked down at the floor. "We kind of broke up. I’m sorry guys. I just wanted to be alone." She’d known for a while now that their relationship was in a downward spiral, but officially ending things was hard. There had been a certain finality last night.
“Are you okay?” Elena asked, putting a comforting hand on Olivia’s shoulder.
Olivia nodded, letting out a long sigh. She was okay.
“Good for you," Rachel said, raising her mug in the air.
"Rachel," Elena chided.
"What? It's for the best. They've been in a rut for almost a month now. It is for good this time right?" Rachel asked.
"Yes," she said firmly. She was not going down that road again.
"Well, this will make our Thanksgiving get together awkward,” Elena said, taking a sip of coffee.
"It will be fine," Olivia shushed her friend. "We were friends long before we dated. It might be hard at first, but it will be okay."
Rachel put her mug in the sink and rinsed it out. "Why can’t we just un-invite him?”
“Because it would be rude,” Olivia spoke up. “And he doesn’t have anywhere else to go.”
Rachel scrunched up her face in displeasure, but didn’t argue. Instead, she let out a long sigh and looked down at the sink. “I've been meaning to ask, do you mind if I invite Derrick? Our family is all on the West Coast, not that he would want to see them anyway, but I would hate for him to be alone for the holiday."
Olivia groaned inwardly. How many awkward Derrick and Tyler moments could she take? But she did want to see Derrick again—just not with Tyler around.
Her pocket vibrated as Tyler’s ringtone shrilled. She groaned, fumbling as she retrieved her phone. "Seriously? Just give up already," she muttered as she hit the ignore button and silenced her phone.
"I t
hink Derrick should come," Elena said with a smile as she met Olivia’s eyes.
Great! Just what I need—Elena teaming up with Rachel and Derrick. Although, if I’m not with Tyler, what’s holding me back from another relationship? He’s your best friend’s brother. You just broke up with your boyfriend. Oh and don’t forget he doesn’t do relationships. A relationship with Derrick clearly wasn’t in the cards for her.
***
Derrick gripped the steering wheel tightly as he drove down the snowy road. Maybe moving to the East Coast wasn’t the best idea. Cold and snow weren’t his thing. But a certain brunette was. He grinned as he saw Olivia’s familiar form trudging along the sidewalk. He slammed his foot down on the breaks, bringing his SUV to a crawl as he eased over to the side of the road. “Hello,” he called as he approached.
Her head whipped around to see him, her eyes widening a moment before she smiled. “Hi,” Olivia’s melodic voice chimed.
“Hi,” he replied dumbly.
“What are you doing over in this part of town?” she asked, wrapping her arms around herself as she continued to walk.
He gently pressed the accelerator, keeping pace with Olivia. “It’s Thursday. I’m picking Rachel up for dinner. You want a ride? You look cold,” he commented.
Olivia met his eyes and he raised his brow waiting for her answer.
"It is freezing outside," she said clenching her jaw to keep her teeth from chattering.
He brought his car to a complete stop and turned the heat on full blast. "Good thing I came along then. You look like you’re about to freeze to death."
"I should have chosen a school in a warmer climate," she said, hopping into the car and leaning into the vents.
"Where are you from originally?" he asked curiously.
"Small town in Ohio."
"Why did you decide to go to school so far away?"
"Duh, Patterson is one of the best schools in the country," she grinned.
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