Page 96 of The Triple Play

40

GRIFF

If Liv had any trepidation about everyone we know finding out about our relationship, there’s no sign of it in the days following the game.

The Thunder’s team and staff have all been cool, and aside from Juniper pretending to pout because Cal knew before her, no one’s had anything bad to say.

And since our home games are broadcasted online, her brother is also aware of what’s going on in Cedar Creek. KJ saw it all unfold, and our phones immediately blew up with text messages from him. Not angry ones, though. Once he made it clear he didn’t want to hear any details, and that he’d kill us if we hurt her, he was cool with it.

Same with Foxxy’s family, who also watched the game. They had questions, sure. Mostly about whether there was anything romantic between me and Foxxy, which we quickly shut down, leaving no room for doubt.

But no one seemed to judge us.

Honestly, I think that was the biggest relief for all of us. The people that matter to us know we’re together, that Foxxy and I love Olivia, and that this is serious.

So serious that the day Foxxy and I get home from our latest away trip, the first thing we do after leaving the stadium is head to Liv’s lab.

When we get there, we don’t bother knocking. Foxxy announces our arrival as we walk through the partially open door.

“Honey, we’re home!”

But it’s not happiness and excitement that we see. Liv is sitting at her desk, staring morosely at her computer screen. When she lifts her gaze to meet ours, her eyes are rimmed in red, as if she’s either about to cry or has been already.

“Pixie, what’s wrong?” Foxxy breaks into a jog, crossing the lab space in a hurry, with me right behind.

She brushes her cheek with her hand and stands up, giving us a watery smile. “Hi, guys.” She throws her arms around Foxxy, then me. I don’t let go, crushing her to my chest, as if I can somehow protect her from whatever’s happened.

“Baby, talk to us. Why are you upset?”

She pulls back slightly and turns to the computer with a sniffle. “I didn’t get the funding.” She moves out of my arms and sits back down in front of her computer, propping her chin up on her hand and staring at the screen glumly. “Without that grant, I’m basically jobless come the end of summer.”

Well, shit. I don’t know how to protect her from that.

Foxxy drops down into a squat next to her chair, using his good hand to tip her chin in his direction. “We’ll figure something out, Pixie. Employed or not, you’re still our girl. And you’re the smartest person we know. There’s gotta be an answer.”

She leans into his touch and sighs. “I don’t know, Denver. There’s only so many places I can get a job with my credentials and expertise in this area. What if I…” She gulps. “What if I have to move?”

Oh, hell no. I pull her up to stand, then take her seat and tug her back down into my lap. She folds herself against my chest, and Foxxy crowds in on the other side of her, kissing the top of her head. Together, we cocoon her, surround her with everything we can offer, even if that is only our love and affection. And I’m filled with relief when I feel her start to relax into us, ever so slightly.

“Olivia, I have some—” The door to the lab flies open as an older Asian man walks in. “What’s going on here?”

We spring apart, Olivia’s face a portrait of horror. “Dr. Cheng, I’m so sorry. I… We…”

The newcomer holds up his hand to interrupt her. “Olivia, stop.” Her mouth shuts, but her cheeks are bright red, her hands clenched at her sides. I catalogue her panic as my brain works to figure out who this guy is.

Fuck. Wait. Cheng. That’s her… Ah, shit. That’s her boss.

“Breathe, Olivia,” he continues in a calm voice. “It would seem I’ve interrupted a private moment, and for that, I owe you an apology, not the other way around.”

Wait, what? I glance over at Foxxy to find him looking at Olivia. He lifts his gaze to mine and raises his eyebrows. He’s just as unsure on what to do as I am.

“No, please, I must apologize,” Olivia starts again, her voice shaky. “We shouldn’t have been acting that way on campus. It wasn’t professional of me, and I truly am sorry. My partners were consoling me after I received some unwelcome news, but we should have considered our surroundings and acted more appropriately.”

“Thank you for that explanation and apology, Olivia, and you are correct that it would be best for you to keep any outward displays of affection with your…partners…out of the workplace.”

He does hesitate slightly on the plural partners, but I’ll give the guy credit, that’s as much of a reaction as he shows.

Out of the side of my eye, I see Olivia’s shoulders drop. “Yes, sir. I understand.” Her hands finally unclench and I breathe an internal sigh of relief.