“Excited or something?” my father asked, grinning when his gaze landed on first my hand and then my bouncing knee.
“Very.” Why deny it? I’d been bouncing as hard as my knee since we got home from graduation. Alivia had a hair appointment with her mom. Chase was still in school until next week. So that left me with nothing to do but wait for this very moment.
When Alec pulled the stretch limo in front of Alivia’s building, Dad called Trey. “We’re downstairs.”
“On our way,” Trey’s voice came through the speaker.
Unbuckling my seat belt like a five-year-old arriving at the toy store, I said, “I’m going to wait for her inside.” As the car idled at the curb, I hopped out and walked into the lobby.
The concierge on duty’s head snapped up at my approach. “Mr. Shane. Congratulations.”
“Hey, Walter.” He extended a hand once I reached the desk he sat behind. “Thank you.”
“Exciting times for you and Miss Alivia. Ah… the summer after I graduated was one of the best in my life,” he admitted with a faraway look in his eye. “That was the year I met the Mrs. at the beach. We’re together fifty-three years this August.”
“That’s a long time.” I couldn’t imagine being that old.
“It sure is. And most of it was wonderful. Of course, learning to say two magical words helped.” A grin had his chubby face becoming even more animated. “Yes, dear,” he admitted without being asked, and then fell into a round of hearty chuckles that echoed around the marble-tiled lobby.
“I’ll keep that in mind.” The elevator’s dinging announced its arrival, holding Trey and Camilla. Dressed much like me in his uniform of black jeans, a black button-down, and black Doc Martens, Trey gave off a very different vibe from that of Camilla’s floral dress.
“Shane,” Trey said with a smirk.
“Uncle Trey,” I mimicked, causing the corners of his lips to twitch. “Where’s Liv?”
“She’s coming. Trestan accidentally got peanut butter on her dress.”
“Oh, that can’t be good.”
“You didn’t hear them arguing down here?” Camilla smiled as she followed her husband.
A few minutes went by before the other bell rang and Alivia stepped out of the second elevator.
“Holy shit.” I couldn’t stop my eyes from bulging. Sure, she looked beautiful as always, but she didn’t look like my Liv.
The short black dress stopped midthigh and may as well have been skin colored as it molded over her curves. Red heels had those legs going on forever, and on her wrist was the bracelet I’d given her.
But it was the other changes that made her almost unrecognizable. Normally she wore her wavy hair long and messy. Tonight, it hung in a silky straight curtain around her bare shoulders. The makeup she had on was a touch heavier around her eyes, and her normally pink-tinted lips were shaded in a much darker red that I imagined wrapped around my cock.
I couldn’t take my eyes off my girl. In fact, I was shocked silent, to which she misunderstood by saying, “You hate it.”
“No!” I was quick to respond before fingering a thick strand of hair. “You just look so different. Your hair…” Again, whatever it was she heard that was causing a frown wasn’t how I meant for her to hear it.
“I decided to straighten it and—”
“Forever?” I asked abruptly. Her mouth gaped before she folded her arms, pushing her tits up to reveal more of them. “Um… I mean… it looks great. Is it permanent?”
“No. It’s a keratin treatment.” I had no idea what that was and was afraid to ask. Nor would I give the slightest hint even if it was temporary how much I’d miss those wild waves. Instead, I pulled her into my arms. “Liv, you look smoking hot.” When she didn’t seem convinced and only nodded, I prompted, “Why are you upset?”
“I’m not. I guess this”—she waved a hand down her torso—“is way out of my comfort zone, and I’m regretting it now.”
“Why did you do it if you regret it?”
“For you,” she said as if it were obvious.
“Me? I think you’re beautiful even when you have that gross green shit you sometimes put on your face and you’re wearing mismatched pajamas.” Again, I received a disbelieving huff. “What?”
“Just forget it.” She grabbed my hand and dragged me toward the door. A quick glance at Walter revealed a sympathetic expression as he mouthed “Yes, dear.”
I had no idea what was going on. Hopefully, once we got to Granite, she’d loosen up a bit. This was so unlike her.
Thank Christ the drive across town went fairly quickly. I just hoped her mood improved by the time we got to the party. She did seem less tense in the car. I had to thank our moms for most of it, first complimenting and then distracting her from whatever had been on her mind.
While Alivia was deep in discussion with my mom, and our dads were rambling on about a drug test one of their signed musicians had failed, I shot a quick text to Kim to see if she knew anything. The responding text said more than just her “Don’t worry about it” implied.
Kim… tell me.
The bubble on my screen bounced a few times and then stopped.
KIM!
My second forceful demand resulted in a screenshot that appeared to be a conversation between Molly, Taryn, and some girl named Judy.
Can you imagine? Molly’s bubble said. He’ll be all smoking hot on the cover of magazines, and there she’ll be looking like she does. Does she even comb that mess?
That explained everything. My blood boiled so violently it practically blurred my vision, making it hard to read the new text from Kim, which appeared under the first one.
I hate this chick, and I only told you because I’m tired of her crap. I don’t care if Liv gets mad at me for it.
Have you seen what Alivia did? I asked.
No. I know she said she needed to make a change.
Well, you will soon see that change and now it makes sense.
Ever since Jett had asked Molly out, I hadn’t heard of any more nonsense involving that bitch. Stupid me assumed my solution of pushing them together would put an end to her bullshit. Well, there was no fucking way he would walk away with his little prize at the end of the summer if he didn’t handle her through it all.
How did you even get this screenshot?
Judy sent it to me and Liv. Molly screwed her over, uninviting her to a party at Jett’s place tonight. So I invited Judy to yours. I hope that’s okay.
Yep. I’d be having a conversation with this Judy chick at some point during the night.
“Who is that?” Alivia asked.
“Chase checking on where we are,” I lied, typing back to Kim: Don’t say anything to Liv about telling me. I’ll handle it.
How?
I’ll talk to Jett. This won’t come back to Liv. I’ll make sure of it.
When I looked up, crystal-blue eyes watched me intently.
Chapter Eight
Alivia
Nerves had me twisting the silver bangle he’d given me. I could tell he was keeping something from me. But then again, I was guilty of the same.