Page 6 of Scoring Lessons

The tension in the kitchen rose to a dangerous level at Isaac’s words. Donovan’s shoulders visibly tensed as he ticked his jaw, his piercing green gaze settling on his wife. “Is that true?”

This was a family matter I shouldn’t have been witnessing, so before they could notice, I slipped through the arched open space toward the back door that led to the patio.

The screen door creaked when I shoved it open. My body slammed into someone as I stared over my shoulder to make sure no one was following me. My beer slipped and splashed on me and whoever I ran into.

“Shit, my bad.” I lifted my gaze to the person and met a pair of cold, piercing blue eyes. The irises were streaked with pale gray, like fractured ice.

Olivia pulled out of my grip in one swift motion, like the feel of my hands alone bothered her. “Now I’ll be smelling like stale beer all night thanks to you, asshole.”

My lips turned up into a lopsided smile. “Hello to you, too, Livvie.”

She shot me a withering glare that stretched my lips into a full-on grin.

“At least you’ll smell like any bar in NYC. Except, you know, this beer was probably cheaper,” I casually commented as I dried the droplets of ale from my forearm.

Her head tilted, making her long, black hair brush her shoulders. “How long have you been saving that one in that tiny brain of yours?” she quipped, her tone dry as a desert.

“To save it, I’d have to think about you. And I don’t.” I mirrored her pose, my voice light as a feather.

“Are you two bickering already?” Anderson asked as he stepped closer to us with a sigh that screamed used to it.

“Your idiot friend spilled beer on me,” Olivia snapped, brushing at her damp, brown rock band shirt that had seen better days.

I crumpled my nose. “Probably did you a favor. You’ve had that shirt for as long as I’ve known you. It’s time to retire it.”

“It’s my favorite shirt.” She raised her arms, exasperated. “Why am I even explaining myself to you?”

Anderson held up a hand to stop my snarky reply and settled his gaze on Olivia, worry crossing his features. “It’s still not too late to move in with Kennedy and me, you know? You two will kill each other.”

I gave my best friend a blank stare. “I know I like to give Livvie⁠—”

“Olivia,” she cut in with narrowed eyes.

My gaze landed on her with a deadpan look. “O-li-vi-a,” I repeated, dragging it out with all the mockery I could gather. “I give her a hard time, sure, but I wouldn’t wish living with you two lovebirds on anyone.”

His brows furrowed. “What the hell is that supposed to mean?”

“You and Kennedy are in this nauseating honeymoon phase that makes me want to claw my eyes out. And I like love. Imagine how Olivia would feel having to witness it every single day.” My body shivered at the thought. Though she’d be happy for her brother, she would have hated every second of it.

She lifted her chin in defiance. “I’m a big girl. I can take care of myself.”

I held her gaze, unimpressed.

The word infuriating was too mild to describe Olivia Anderson.

After a few silent beats, she sighed and sank her shoulders in defeat. “As much as it pains me to admit it, he’s right. I’d rather take my chances with him.” She pointed her thumb at me with a meh, what else can I do? shrug.

His eyes ping-ponged between us in astonishment. “Damn, okay.”

The corners of her mouth hooked on a knowing smirk. “I know what you’re thinking. He occasionally ruins my night.” Another casual shrug. “But I can handle him.”

I cocked a brow. “Only occasionally? Oh, God.” I placed my hand against my chest in mock offense. “That’s terrible. I have to step it up.”

Her sharp blue eyes pinned me in place. A sardonic smile tugged at her cupid’s-bow lips, coated in a nude pink that somehow appeared impossibly soft beneath the shitty back-patio lighting. My heart stuttered in anticipation, because whatever was about to come out of her mouth was going to be snappy and direct. I lived for it. As much as she drove me up the fucking wall, a masochistic part of me was a sucker for these moments.

“Go right ahead. I have no problem becoming twice as annoying if you fuck with me, Wesley.”

My pulse spiked. The way she said my name was exhilarating. With a light rasp behind it, and a little bit of a bite like it bothered her. For that reason alone, I loved it more than I was allowed to.