by Dale, Tracy
When Dad explained his impromptu invitation, Liv would have sworn she saw her mother tense.
Go Mom! Liv cheered silently. Come ON family loyalty!
She could practically see Mom eyeing Ana's too-short shorts and tight midriff-baring, boob-enhancing tank top with disapproval.
Give her a dirty look! Liv willed.
Mom looked at Liv. "Did you offer our guest a drink?"
"A drink?" Loyalty? Loyalty! Where are you?
"I'll take that as a no. Ana, what would you like?"
While Ana replied in a sweet voice, Dad invited Connor to watch a game. Liv fully expected him to pass for Ana's sake, but he followed Dad with a careless, "I'll be in there."
Liv rolled her eyes.
Mom's lips twitched.
Ana looked confused.
Liv was tempted to say that her succulent charms were no match for sports, but Mom's presence paralyzed her tongue.
"Why don't you join them in the den, Ana?" Mom said, as she handed her a soft drink.
"Sure. Thanks."
Liv watched her perfectly rounded hips swing all the way to the den, where Connor sat, too absorbed to notice, even when she snuggled up next to him.
Ha!
"Liv," Mom said quietly.
Liv felt instantly guilty, worried her mother had somehow translated her inner dialogue. "Yes?"
She sat down across from Liv. "I'm sorry," she whispered. "I understand this is hard."
Liv looked away, disoriented by the compassion she had not anticipated.
Mom continued, "I didn't know your father invited her, and he doesn't know how you feel. He thinks you're all friends."
"I don't feel anything," Liv muttered. "He's nothing to me and she's just a tramp."
"Liv." Mom's disapproval was clear.
"Excuse my honesty." Liv waited for Mom to reprimand her further, but surprisingly, she said nothing. Maybe Ana's Eff Me pants persuaded Mom to my way of thinking. Good.
"If he means nothing to you, then act like it." Mom got up and started pulling vegetables from the fridge.
Liv sat there for a long moment. Is this what an epiphany feels like?
She suddenly got it. She had been telling herself Connor meant nothing, but she hadn't behaved as though she believed it. Mom's little insight had just made a believer out of her.
She crossed the kitchen and gave her mother a hug. "I love you, Mom. You are amazing. And don't let anyone tell you different. Just because you cook and clean for a living, doesn't mean you aren't one of the smartest women in the world."
Mom swatted at Liv as she pulled out of her arms. Liv grinned, and sauntered into the den. She was aware her barely rounded hips did not swing seductively, but she realized she didn't care.
She leaned down onto the side of Dad's chair and draped her arm behind his neck, with her head propped on top of his. "How was your day, Dad?" She noticed that Connor looked at her with surprise and curiosity, while Ana smiled with condescending amusement.
Dad did not look at her. "Good," he grunted.
"Did you work in the office all day?"
"How'd y'know?"
"You smell clean."
Dad's eyes flicked to her before he looked back to the TV. He grabbed her hand and held it. "Good of you to notice."
Liv giggled.
"Where's the damn--"
"Dad!"
"Darn dog?"
Liv cringed. "Neglected. Ever since--" She glanced at Connor and swiftly looked away. She noticed he had subtly stiffened.
"Ever since?" Dad prompted.
"I've been really distracted," Liv sighed. "Poor Darcy. He hangs out in my room all the time, looking sad. He doesn't get half the attention he used to."
"He's your dog, Livvy."
Liv growled softly. Dad chuckled. It all made Liv feel a warm sort of smiley sensation on the inside. Ever since Connor came into their lives, their routine had been upset. Liv hadn't resented it, but now that she was aware of it, she wanted to get things back on track.
Sit with Dad in the den: check.
Talk about Darcy: check.
Enjoy his distracted yet attentive conversation: double check.
"I'll take Darcy for a walk now," she said. "Connor? Ana? Want to come?"
Ana looked at Connor. "I'll pass," he said.
"Me too," she chimed.
Liv walked to the foot of the stairs and shouted, "Darcy! Walk!" Three seconds later she was hit by a blond hurricane.
Since dinner wasn't going to be ready for an hour, she decided to pamper her beloved dog. She whispered words of encouragement and affection the entire walk. Her running monologue was only momentarily interrupted when she passed Connor's house, and memories of That Day assailed her. But she moved quickly on and refocused her attention.
When she returned, Connor was setting the table.
"Have I entered the Twilight Zone? Or is this just the wrong house?"
"You weren't back yet and the table needed setting," Mom said.
Liv beamed. "Can he do the dishes after dinner too? I can arrange to be gone."
"Absolutely," Mom's eyes were twinkling.
Connor groaned. "I wondered if it would ever happen."
"Welcome to the family." Mom patted his back.
Dad walked in. "Woman, feed me."
Liv glanced into the den and saw Ana still sitting on the sofa, obviously irritated. "Do you want me to finish setting the table, Connor?"
"Why?" He frowned. "Don't think I can do it right?"
"Trust me, my offer is grudging," she said. "But I thought you might want to join your girlfriend."
Connor continued laying out silverware as though he was--pleased?--to have the chore. "She's fine." He bent almost possessively over the table.
"Uh sure. Okay." Liv went to wash her hands, and then she went into the den and sat in her dad's chair. "Enjoying the game?"
"Best thing ever," Ana said keeping her eyes locked on the television.
"They watch sports non-stop."
Ana finally looked at her. "I didn't know Connor spent so much time here."
Liv tried not to enjoy her obvious jealousy. She really did. "It was an evolution."
"What do you mean?"
"It just kind of happened. I don't know. Ask Connor. Maybe he'll remember how it all came about." She didn't feel guilty about the lie. It wasn't her story to tell.
"I will."
"Good." Seconds ticked by. "So, uh, were you sad to leave your Dad's?"
Ana shrugged. "Not really."
"Not even...that guy?"
"That was just a summer fling. I was really holding out hope for Connor, to be honest. And here we are." She smiled, her satisfaction plain.
I don't care. He means nothing to me. "Well that's great it worked out for you two. I know Connor's always been attracted to you so--"
"Wait. He has? How do you know? Did he say?"
"Yeah. That's not really surprising though, is it? You're rated in the top five on that list."
"Top five in the Best Overall," she drawled. "I love that list."
Liv clenched her teeth and wondered when Ana became someone she no longer wanted to be friends with. Had Ana changed? Or had she? "It's quite an accomplishment."
"Dinner," Connor called, effectively halting the conversation she no longer wanted to participate in.
Liv all but bolted into the kitchen. Conversation was stilted during dinner with Mom trying diligently to keep a smooth flow despite the obvious tension Ana's presence created.
As soon as Liv could manage it, she cleared the plates away and began rinsing the dishes.
"I thought I was going to do it," Connor said as he brought the straggling cups to the sink.
"Next time."
Connor stared at her. "You okay?"
"Fine. Why?"
He kept his voice low when he said, "You seem different."
"Things are different." Liv kept her head down, stayed focused on the dishes.
Connor started to load the dishwasher but he said nothing further. As soon as they were done, he pulled Ana to her feet and told everyone he needed to get her home.
Liv was relieved when they left. No matter how much she did not care about Connor and Ana and what she was certain they were doing in his truck before he dropped her off, it was still a strain to deal with, because now she didn't even like Ana.
At least the ordeal was over, and she highly doubted it would be repeated. The thought gave her peace as she went to bed that night. As she got ready the next morning, she thought happily that she would officially move on and refuse to think of the Connor/Ana/relationship situation that had so preoccupied her.
It was a satisfying decision. She felt empowered. In control.
Until Connor walked in, as pissed at her as he'd ever been, and demanded to know what she'd said to Ana to screw things up so royally.
* * *
CHAPTER SEVEN
Quick to Flip
"What did you say to her?"
"Good morning to you too." Liv took a sip of her homemade chai tea latte.
Connor stood in the middle of the kitchen, glowering at her. "What did you say to her, Liv?"
Liv arched her brows. "I have no idea what you are talking about. Would you like some breakfast?"
His thunderous expression gave way to a sigh. "Pancakes?"
"With blueberries and bananas." Liv got the impression that Connor's shoulders had drooped in defeat.
"That sounds fantastic." He propped his hip against the counter, entirely docile now.
Food equaled magic in Man Speak, apparently.
Liv began on the pancake batter. "So what happened?"
"She thinks we're all in love now, because of something you said."
A quick glance told her he was really irritated. "Aren't you?" She tried to say it casually.
"No." His tone said, Why on earth would you think that? "We've only been dating a couple weeks."
"Yeah but..." Liv chewed her lip. "But you've been having sex with her."
"Shh!" Connor looked around almost wildly. "I don't want your mom to hear," he whispered.
"She's still upstairs. What about Dad?"
"I'm pretty sure he knows." His smirk made Liv want to wipe the floor with his face.
"Did you tell him?"
"No, of course not. But he kind of had--" Connor stopped, looked awkward then laughed. "He had The Talk with me."
"No way! Are you serious?"
"Do you honestly think I'd joke about that?"
"You joke about everything."
"Well okay, but I'm not joking about this. It was after work last week. He heard me mention Ana to the guys and asked me afterward if I was keeping things wrapped."
"Wrapped?" The utter wickedness of Connor's grin had Liv blushing with understanding. "Oh. Right."
He pushed her hair aside. His thumb grazed her cheek and a low whistle slipped from his lips. "Look at that. Red as a candy apple."
"Shut up." Liv slapped his hand away and turned to the oven. "So what happened with Ana?" She carefully poured the pancake batter into perfectly round discs.
"She told me you said something about how I always liked her and wanted to be with her or some shi--ah, crud--like that."
"That is not what I said."
"Then she starts getting all sappy saying we were destined to be together because she felt the same way and that she loves me. Love, Liv." He stared at her, as if waiting for a suitably appalled response. When she didn't say anything, he leaned down until his face was even with hers. "L O V E."
Liv bit her lip, but a giggle escaped. "I think I caught that part. So what's the big deal? I know people don't have to be in love to sleep together, but you have to at least care about her. Right?"
"I--" He backed up a few steps. "I guess, yeah."
"You guess?" Liv flipped the pancakes then turned to face him. "She's your girlfriend. You've gone all the way with her--"
Connor's laughter was mocking. "You sound so innocent. All the way," he repeated in a dramatic falsetto.
"Well excuse me if I don't sleep around."
"You better not." His tone abruptly became serious. "I mean it, Liv. If some guy starts screwing around with you, I'll flatten him."
She wanted to kiss him. Just reach out, pull him in, and lip-lock. He sounded so chivalrous and caring... Instead, she pulled the pancakes off the stove, piled them on a plate, and added the blueberries and bananas she had promised.
"You're an angel." He took the plate.
Liv picked up her Chai and joined him at the table. "Gave up trying to drink coffee?" He smirked before he shoveled half a pancake in his mouth.
"We are so not done talking about Ana," she said. "I want to know how I supposedly screwed things up."
"You made it complicated."
"I did? I don't think so. All I said was you always thought she was attractive. I even said it wasn't surprising, since she's on that list."
He gave her a baleful look at the list reference. "That's it? You didn't say anything else?"
"No. We hardly spoke at all. Honestly."
"Yeah, I noticed that."
"You did?"
"She was kind of weird about you."
"How?"
"When I brought her over. The whole car ride she was acting all mad that I hang out with you as much as I do."
"Have you told her why?"
He looked away, but she caught the flash of humiliation in his eyes. "She doesn't know about Keith. I don't want her to know."
"You don't have to worry, Connor. I won't tell anyone," Liv said softly.
"I know." He cleared his throat. "Anyway, that's not the only reason why I hang out with you. I like bobble heads."
"You-- Agh! You are so annoying. I am not a bobble head!"
He almost fell off his chair laughing. Liv tried to take the rest of his pancakes away but he grabbed the plate and turned a puppy dog expression on her. "Don't take my pancakes. I'm sorry, Lucky--"
Liv hit him.
"Ow! Okay, I'm sorry. Seriously."
"Fine." She gave him the plate back. "But get back on track. Why are things so messed up with you and Ana now?"
He made a face. "Now it's all serious with her. I didn't want anything complicated--"
"Then why did you sleep with her?"
"She offered. What guy would turn that down?"
"A noble one, maybe."
"Total myth, Liv. They only exist in those Disney cartoons you like to watch."
"I do not! Ugh! Okay, no. I won't let you distract me. I happen to know there are plenty of guys who wouldn't just jump into some girl's pants even if she invited them there."
Connor sighed. "Fine, but I'm not one of them."
"Guess that makes you a man-ho."
"You think?" He sounded far too intrigued by the idea.
Liv rolled her eyes. "That is not a good thing, Connor. Not. Good."
"Okay, okay. I'm just messing with you. Mostly. But I like Ana. We've known each other for a while, and it's not like she's my first so--"
"Whoa, wait. She's not your first?"
Connor groaned. "Liv--"
"How old were you?"
"Fourteen," he said after Liv had stared steadily at him for a long time. "You don't know her. She goes to a different school. And before you ask, there was another girl when I was fifteen. Brandy, remember her?"
Liv nodded.
"We never hung out at school, but she came over to my house all the time and we...you know."
"So Ana is your third?"
His expression was sheepish, but he nodded.
"Wow! You've been around the block a few times."
He stood up to put his plate in the sink. "Anyway, Ana thinks things are serious between us now and it's freaking me out. I told her I wasn't ready for anything like that, but after her little chat with you, she thinks I'm just scared to talk about my feelings or some crap like that."
Liv sm
iled. "Well obviously you're a sensitive guy underneath it all and you just need the right girl to bring it out. And oh look! Ana is just the girl for the job. How fortuitous."
"Fortuitous?"
"I love that word. It's so underused, don't you think?"
"Uh, no. Anyway, do girls really think like that?"
"About setting a guy's inner poet free? Pretty much."
"Do you?" Connor looked both alarmed and entertained by the idea.
"Not a whole lot. I mostly accept what's at face value, but I also think if a guy falls for a girl, he does change at least a little. With her anyway."
"Oh yeah?" He appeared to contemplate her statement, but then a teasing light sparked in his eyes. "Who are you hoping will fall for you, Livvy?"
Liv gave him her best look of death, but when it only seemed to amuse him more, she sighed pitifully. "Great. As if you didn't have enough nicknames for me. So, is this about Brody? I thought you were too busy shoving your tongue down Ana's throat to notice." She almost cringed the moment the words were out of her mouth. It was the only snarky comment she'd made to him about his girlfriend, but she knew it was too much to hope he wouldn't notice.
"Whoa, sheathe those claws, pussycat."
"I am not being catty--"
"Sure sounds like it."
"What? It's true! You and Ana are freaking disgusting to be around." Once the words started, they kept going like an Energizer Bunny. "You don't talk to anyone, you don't interact at all, well, besides with each other. I saw her grab your--your--monster the other day! And--"
Connor's booming laughter stopped the tirade she was really warming up to.
"Mo-m-monster?" He laughed so hard he had to wipe tears from his eyes. "Oh man. Who told you about David's name?"
Liv glared at him, annoyed she hadn't been able to say all the words that burned on her tongue. "Chelsea."
Mom walked in just then "Good morning, Connor." She smiled, clearly enjoying the air of humor that surrounded them. "Care to share the joke?"
Connor instantly went pale. "Uh... Oh, uh..."
"I see," Mom said. "Yes that is a riveting account, Connor. Hilarious even."
"He is amusing, isn't he?" Liv found she could smile. "See you after school, Mom." She went to her car, with Connor tight at her heels.
"That was so not cool," he grumbled. "You left me out to dry."
"You deserved it." She stared pointedly when he stayed beside her car door, effectively blocking her from getting in. "Did you want to ride with me or something?"
