Paper Dolls [Book Five]

by Blythe Stone

  “Look who’s talking,” Olivia teased.

  We reached the door and I held it open as they all went inside. “After you,” I said, waiting for Vi. I felt her hand touch my stomach as she placed a kiss on my lips to make sure I was appeased as she brushed past me to go inside. I felt a little silly though. I could never curb my impulse to improvise.

  “This was a stupid idea,” Olivia whispered, her head shaking just a bit as her practiced smile decidedly stayed.

  “I know. I’m sorry,” I said. I had teed up a disaster and I felt helpless to do anything about it now.

  “Come on,” she said, pulling me inside behind her. I’d been holding the door still like some idiot.

  Skylar and Natalie seemed to be hitting it off. We let them go ahead and I heard laughter as they picked out their balls and their putters.

  “You never know,” I said, leaning over. “They could like each other and everything could be fine.”

  “Somehow I doubt that,” Olivia laughed, amused. “But everything WILL be fine,” she laughed. “I just wish we were still back on the sand,” she smiled wistfully.

  I just sighed and tried not to concentrate on the fact that she was right. It was probably going to get worse before it got better.

  “Tell me more about Olivia,” I heard Skylar say up ahead of us. She was talking to Nat.

  “There’s a lot I could say,” Natalie posed.

  “Maybe you shouldn’t say too much,” I said, popping up next to her having heard.

  “Maybe I can say whatever the hell I wanna say,” Natalie challenged me.

  “Uh-oh,” Skylar said, examining our exchange. “I’m noticing a little tension here.”

  “More like A LOT of tension,” Natalie laughed. “Avery just so happens to be fucking the love of my life. It’s a bit of a friendship killer.”

  “Oh,” Skylar said. I watched her eyes dart over guiltily to the place where Olivia was standing off in the distance and playing with her phone.

  “What was that?” Natalie said, looking between Sky and Vi.

  “Nothing,” I said, covering.

  “No, that was something. Wait. Are you. Does she love you?” Nat asked, looking straight at me and making the question impossible for me to dodge.

  “She’s one of my best friends,” I said. “And she does have feelings. Yes.”

  “But you’re taken,” Natalie said. “Okay, wow. This is weird,” Natalie said, looking off at Olivia and then back to me.

  “Yeah… Avery’s idea,” Sky said, looking right at me.

  “She’s uncomfortable,” Nat said, tilting her head to note on Olivia. “When she gets standoffish and quiet like that it’s because she’s uncomfortable.”

  “I know,” I said. She was my fiancé, not hers.

  “So you just stand here and talk to us anyway?” Nat was annoyed.

  “I’m trying to make sure everyone is good. This was my stupid idea for you two to meet.”

  “It wasn’t a dumb idea. It’s good. And as adorable as you are, we really don’t need a babysitter, lovey. You can take care of your girl. Its fine,” Nat defended me. “I know I want you to.”

  When I looked back at Olivia she gave me a smile and tucked her phone away. She walked close to join us.

  “What’d I miss?” She asked.

  “Absolutely nothing,” Natalie said, linking her arm with Vi’s.

  “But I missed you,” I said.

  “Awww,” Olivia teased lovingly.

  I saw Skylar register the physical contact between Olivia and Nat. Olivia pursed her lips as she stared at Skylar sort of blankly.

  “So… We golfing or what?” Olivia asked.

  “Avery thinks she’s going to win,” Skylar said.

  “Correction. I know I’m going to win,” I amended.

  “Yeah, well, I think Livia’s gonna win,” Nat said.

  “Livia?” Skylar asked. Nat and Olivia both looked up at her a little stunned.

  “What?” Olivia asked.

  “She calls you Livia. That’s a little weird.”

  “Why?” Vi laughed.

  “It’s not really short or anything. It’s just odd,” Skylar said.

  “Wow. You’re kind of a bitch,” Natalie laughed.

  “Hey!” I said, upset with her. “Let’s not get around to name calling.”

  “Calm down,” Natalie said. “I didn’t mean it like that. It was just a bitchy thing to say.”

  “It was,” Olivia noted, her eyebrows furrowed.

  “Sorry,” Skylar said a little peeved.

  I got a club and ball for Olivia and handed it to her with a shrug.

  “I’ll keep score,” Olivia said.

  I gave her a soft smile in return and tried to imagine it was just us. “Sure.”

  “Come on,” I said, taking Skylar’s wrist and pulling her along.

  “So, did you talk to that girl?” I heard Olivia ask Natalie.

  “Of course,” Natalie said. “But she was lame. Nothing like you. We talked for about 3 minutes before I made a conscious decision to ditch. She managed to mention the Kardashians, hipsters, and Global Warming all in a row. It was crap.”

  “And that’s bad?” Olivia laughed.

  “It’s not bad. It’s just…” Nat’s voice trailed off. They were walking so close and Nat was leading Vi. It was hard to watch.

  “What’s happening?” Skylar startled me by whispering sneakily right into my ear.

  “Shit,” I said, coming to. I guess I’d been a bit creepy in walking so close and eavesdropping. “Nothing,” I said, hanging back with her while Vi and Nat naturally set-up to play. I watched Nat take Olivia’s ball and place it down for her, setting her up to go first. She was good at being Olivia’s. It was hard to watch. She was really good.

  “Shall I help you?” Nat smiled softly, stepping behind Olivia and pushing her arms down Olivia’s lovingly, pulling Olivia’s body all the way back into hers until she was touching her everywhere, hugging her lovingly from behind, to help and lead Olivia through her first swing as if she were some novice. Together like that, they looked so much like a couple. I couldn’t help but stare. They both watched the ball as it went right into the hole without trouble. They were both so beautiful…

  After it went in Olivia and Nat both smiled and I watched Olivia turn and pull Natalie into a loving hug. They didn’t hug like friends. They hugged like lovers.

  From beside me I could hear Skylar swallow loudly. It didn’t help the churning in my stomach from seeing them like that. I wasn’t the only one who thought it was a little much. Trying to remind myself that it was just how they were. Their relationship was about touch and sensing one another. My hand tightened on the putter handle until my knuckles turned white.

  “They seem awfully close,” Skylar said.

  Olivia held on a little too long for my liking. When she pulled herself off of Nat and took a step back I watched her hug her arms in around her body and clear her throat awkwardly beneath my gaze. All kinds of thoughts went through my head. Did she still like it when Natalie touched her? Of course, that stuff didn’t go away just because you were in love with someone else. Deep down it scared the shit out of me.

  “Nat’s in love with her,” I said.

  “Yeah. I’m in love with you and you don’t see me all over you like that in front of your fiancé.”

  “You kissed me Skylar,” I reminded. That was worse, wasn’t it?

  I was getting a little peeved about her pointing these things out. It just reinforced the stupid jealous beast inside of me.

  “Oh,” she said, remembering. “Guess you’re right.”

  I walked up to Olivia and stood extra close. “That was a great shot, baby,” I whispered close, right into her ear. I needed to feel her right now.

  She obliged without question or protest, leaning back into me lovingly and she watched Natalie as she made the hole-in-one with great ease.

  “Yayyyy!” Vi clapped. Nat came back and sto
od on the side of us. Olivia took her hand and held it while she leaned back on me. That only made me feel like a third wheel. I wanted to tug her away and only have my hands on Olivia but I should’ve just let go so I wouldn’t do something stupid.

  “Guess I’ll go,” Skylar said, a little confused on how to be.

  Olivia’s hair smelt amazing and I realized I was breathing a bit heavy as she leaned back on me. Seeing Natalie over her shoulder just confused me because it reminded me of that dream I had. I was way too turned on and pissed off at the same time.

  “She’s hot,” Natalie said to the two of us. She said it so quietly there was no way Skylar had heard.

  “She’s single,” Olivia smiled. It might’ve been the most friend-like thing I’d seen them do today.

  “Hmm… I’m not sure it’s advisable for me to start up with another Huntington girl. Last one didn’t treat me so well,” Nat teased.

  “I get why you thought this might be good though,” Natalie said, mostly to me. She was openly staring at Sky, watching the way she held herself, the way she moved.

  Sky hit the ball and it went right in.

  “Yes!” I said, pushing Olivia off carefully so I could give Skylar a double high-five.

  “Oh God, they’re both dorks,” I heard Nat grumble and Olivia laugh.

  “Be nice,” Olivia warned.

  I put my ball down and hit it without thought. I was more interested in what Olivia and Natalie were saying to do more than look down at the ball and swing the club.

  The ball found the hole on the first shot and we were off to the next hole on the course.

  All four of us were too good for this stupid game.

  “How’d you two meet?” I heard Skylar ask.

  Nat and Olivia looked at each other and they both started to laugh.

  “Well,” Nat stated. “I was hosting a televised Academic Decathlon and Livia just so happened to be the captain of the winning team.”

  “She was the beauty, I was the brains,” Olivia teased.

  “Academic decathlon,” Skylar tried to picture it. “So what, you just sort of hung out after?”

  “It was a little more complicated than that,” Olivia laughed awkwardly.

  “Yeah, see. Livia had a bit of a staring problem during the tournament. It was pretty fucking obvious. And if you ever want proof I have the tape.”

  “YOU DON’T!” Olivia gasped, her face glowing red.

  “OF COURSE I DO!” Natalie teased. “I use part of it in my demo reel. Game show stuff is talent. And don’t think I haven’t watched that thing over and over since then. You were hot.”

  “God! You are SUCH an asshole!” Olivia gasped.

  “So she stared at you and you just asked for her number after?” Skylar asked, entirely enthralled by the whole ordeal.

  “Nat’s not really subtle,” Olivia laughed darkly.

  “Fuck you,” Natalie said. She was mad but she was still smiling. I knew that feeling well.

  “She pulled me into a closet and attacked me.” Olivia said truthfully.

  “I did not attack you,” they were being real close and cute. It pissed me off. “I pleasured you,” Natalie said.

  “Oh,” Skylar said, taken aback and shocked.

  “Uh-oh,” Natalie teased. “I think we just turned her on.”

  “I think you’re right,” Olivia laughed.

  I was just watching them talk and it was so freaking bizarre. It was the same story I’d heard before but now that Natalie was telling half of it and I could see them remembering together it made me feel outside. I hated that.

  “Natalie’s a bit like a storm,” Olivia said.

  I didn’t want to think about things like this. I’d already heard this story and it was still somehow shocking me.

  Olivia put her ball down and hit it. It bounced off the wall and came close to the hole but stopped short.

  “Booooo,” Natalie said. “See, this is why you need my help!”

  Olivia walked to her ball and knocked it in. Nat walked close to her, brushing her hand on Olivia’s as she passed. Those little touches and glances were the kind that lovers shared. Sometimes I wondered if that wasn’t what they still were in some respects.

  Olivia was tenser than usual, more stiff and frazzled, but more loose in conversation. The change was so noticeable it disturbed me.

  “You okay?” Skylar asked, seeing me sort of frozen.

  “What? Yeah,” I shrugged. This was my idea. I kept having to remind myself that.

  “She’s worried I’m going to grab her girlfriend and steal her away,” Nat was definitely being sarcastic. But she did notice my mood.

  “Am not,” I lied. “I’m more worried that you’re gonna cheat at mini golf.”

  “Right,” Natalie said, sounding more like Olivia than herself. “Unlike some, I have no need to cheat.”

  Nat went to take Olivia’s spot. On the way she made sure to touch Vi’s hips and carefully spin her back toward us. When Olivia arrived she seemed flushed. She knew I was watching. I fucking hated that Natalie could still turn her on.

  “You guys are really physical,” Skylar noted.

  I saw Vi’s face drop. “What?” She asked, sort of taken.

  “Nevermind,” Skylar said.

  “I’m gonna go get a drink,” Vi mumbled, leaving us standing there, leaving me confused.

  “Why are you letting this happen?” Skylar asked.

  “They’re just friends,” I said.

  “Bullshit, Avery,” Skylar scoffed. “That girl’s a fucking shark.”

  “I don’t need you to protect me,” I laughed. If I didn’t laugh I would snap.

  We all had weird dynamics. We were trying to figure things out.

  “Yeah well. I think you do,” Skylar said.

  “What are you girls fighting about?” Nat asked after she hit her ball in and returned.

  “How openly handsy you are,” Skylar challenged. “That’s kind of fucked up, ya know?”

  “What?” Natalie scoffed, looking down on Sky openly with this sorta queer look on her face.

  “Sky, don’t,” I ground out.

  “Don’t what? Tell her she’s being a fucking bitch?!”

  “Whoa?! What?! Who the fuck are you to say that?” Nat asked. She was completely offended.

  “You guys, stop,” I said. “This is dumb. Skylar, I trust Olivia and-” I couldn’t bring myself to say that I trusted Natalie.

  “If you fuck this up I will murder you,” Skylar said, dropping her club and physically pushing Natalie.

  “Oh, you did NOT just do that,” Natalie said, walking back and pushing Skylar back even harder. Nat was strong.

  I moved quick and cushioned Sky’s fall. There was a little lip of cement and Skylar really could’ve hurt herself. Rage came over me. I couldn't hold it back anymore. What if Skylar had hit her head? She could've gotten a concussion!

  “WHAT THE HELL NATALIE?!” I heard myself yell.

  “SHE PUSHED ME!” Natalie said, annoyed with me. “I’M NOT GOING TO JUST LET SOME BITCH PUSH ME.” She was trying to defend herself and really Sky had started this.

  “NATALIE! CALM THE FUCK DOWN!” I yelled. Why’d she always have to be so much trouble?

  “Fine! Fuck you guys,” Nat said, dropping her club and walking off to find Vi.

  It was dumb and avoidable, all of this was. Of course Skylar would be protective. I guess I never really gave myself enough time to think about the many ways this could blow up in my face.

  With Natalie gone I realized I was holding Skylar against me and Skylar hadn’t moved.

  “Oh,” I said, shifting. “Sorry.”

  “Don’t be,” Skylar said. She moved though and straightened her clothes. I didn’t want to be mad at her or even at Natalie.

  “You shouldn’t have done that,” I said.

  “Are you really going to be mad at me right now?” Skylar asked annoyed. “This was supposed to be our night. We haven’t hung out a
lone in months, Avery. You’re really starting to make me feel like shit, you know that?”