“You’re only allowed this far.”
“Thank-you, sir.”
“Boy, you must have really messed up,” he growls at me with agitated breath.
“Sir if only I could expl…”
“Save it for her. Just know the women in this family are about as hard-headed as they come.”
The front door swings open, and Olivia rushes in.
“Liv—can you just expl…”
She stops me mid-sentence holding her hand up. “I’m here for Presley. Not you.”
*****
“Hey, Liv. Thanks for coming over. What was the big news you had to tell me in person?”
“Trey asked me out!” she squeals, all giddy, as she jumps up and down in place.
“What! I’m so happy for you guys. Do you know where he’s taking you?” My excitement for her is through the roof. She deserves this moment of joy, and I don’t want to let Robert and my problems interfere with what she and Trey are beginning.
“No clue, and thanks, but umm, why is Brice sitting in your living room looking depressed and like he’s been run over by a semi—multiple times. Is everything okay between you two?” She sits down on the bed and takes my hands in hers. “You can talk to me. I promise not to judge, unless you want me, then just call me Judgy McJugerson.”
I laugh a little; she always knows how to lighten the mood. “I don’t know what to think or who to believe. He has a hickey on his neck from Heather, and her thong was in his truck.”
“Oh, hell, no! Forget being all judgy, I’ve been waiting for the day I could murder her and not feel sorry about it. Pres, she’s a dirty little tramp; she’s slept with half the teachers in our school. You know he would never touch her, right?”
“I’m beginning to realize that.” I take a deep breath and fall back against my bed, spread out like a starfish.
“Presley, you have absolutely nothing to worry about. Brice is completely infatuated with you. In fact, Trey’s told me when it’s just the two of them, he can't stop talking about you. It’s one of the reasons he asked me out. He sees how happy Brice is with you, and he didn’t want to wonder what would have happened if he never asked me out. You two are seriously couple perfection.”
*****
Liv’s been in Presley’s room for almost an hour now, and I feel as if I’m the problem student waiting outside of the principal’s office. The front door opens again, and Trey walks into the house.
“Hey, man. What’s up? Where’s Liv at?”
I motion my head towards Presley’s room, and he starts walking down the hall, getting about halfway before turning back to me.
“Aren’t you coming?”
I take a deep breath, running my fingers through my hair. “I can’t.”
He looks at me as if I’ve lost my mind, but proceeds towards Presley’s room, closing the door behind him. Is it weird the thought of another guy in her room sets my entire body on fire? Sure, I trust him, and he’s not the kind of guy who would go after someone’s girl, and Liv is in there, maybe it’s nothing, but then again perhaps they’re all in there having a laugh at my expense.
*****
There’s another knock on my door, and Olivia jumps off the bed to answer it.
“Really Liv, I’m not ready to talk to him yet.”
“It’s not Brice. I texted Trey on my way over here and asked him to pick me up. I didn’t know about the Brice – Heather thing until you told me. I can stay if you want me to.”
She opens the door a crack and Trey steps in. I see the twinkle in his eye, the one reserved only for Liv. The way his hand immediately reaches out to touch her, almost as if he’s unaware he’s doing it. I want to be wrapped in Robert’s arms; I want to see my twinkle in his eyes instead of the uncertainty currently there now.
Confused, Trey asks, “Hey, you know Brice is here, right?”
“Yea.”
“And he’s out there sitting on the couch.”
“Yea.”
“Okay. Just makin’ sure. Seems odd we’re in here and he’s out there. Are you okay? I’ll kick his ass if I need to.”
I chuckle because that may be the nicest thing anyone has ever said to try and cheer me up.
“Trey, we all know in a fight between you and Brice, he could kick your ass without blinking an eye.” Liv has never been one to mince words, she calls things the way she sees them.
“Hey, now!”
“But I think it was a sweet offer, baby. It was all a big misunderstanding, and everything will be fine once you kick Heather out of our group.”
“Good! It’s about time she was gone. I was beginning to wonder why she’s even around. But why am I the one kicking her out? Marcus was the one who brought her.” What started out as a flavor of the week got attached and never let go. Now she wants to sink her barnacles into the next unsuspecting victim.
*****
A roar of laughter erupts from Presley’s room as the front door opens again, and in walks Marcus.
“What the hell are you doing here?” I throw my hands in the air and slam my head against the back seat of the couch.
“Hey, don’t get pissed at me. Trey told me to come over. I don’t even know why I’m here. Where is everyone?”
I nod towards Presley’s room, and Mrs. D comes around the corner with snacks.
“You must be Marcus. Follow me.”
I look at her dumbfounded and can't believe what I’m witnessing. Gramps is seated in his chair with an “I told you,” smirk on his face.
“You comin’, man?”
“Nope.”
“Uh, okay.”
*****
The door cracks open and in walks Mom with a fully loaded charcuterie platter, followed by Marcus.
“Umm, is anyone gonna tell me what’s going on and why we’re all in here, and Brice is out there?”
Liv speaks up while tossing a handful of almonds into her mouth. “Long story. Short story…Heather is no longer a part of our group, and you’re the one breaking up with her for us.”
“Okay. When did this get decided?”
“Today. When she tried to cause drama between Presley and Brice. You know me, Marcus, I am a no-drama type of girl. Personally, I’d love to cut her and be done with it, but Presley here is too damn sweet for her own good.”
“Alright, sounds good to me. I figured this was coming.”
“You did?” Liv seems shocked at Marcus’ revelation.
“Yeah. She told me the other day she couldn’t stand Presley and Brice being together. She kept saying how he was supposed to be hers and blah blah blah. I didn’t really think she would do anything though; thought she was talking shit like usual.”
*****
I can’t take it anymore. I begin to pace the living room while Gramps stares up at me from his paper, a cocky grin on his face. I’m not gonna sit here while they all bad mouth me behind my back. And now Marcus is in my girl’s room. Hell, no. This ends now.
I take off in the direction of Presley’s room, Gramps voice trailing after me. “Took ya damn long enough.” Laughter fills the air, and I feel like I got played.