Total pages in book: 55
Estimated words: 51624 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 258(@200wpm)___ 206(@250wpm)___ 172(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 51624 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 258(@200wpm)___ 206(@250wpm)___ 172(@300wpm)
I watch them walk over to us. I don’t miss the way the man’s eyes look at me—cool, accessing, and clearly showing his dislike. I frown. Something about him is familiar, but I’m used to that look. It doesn’t faze me at this point.
“Livy! I didn’t know you were coming out today. The three of us could have met up for dinner,” Winnie responds, breaking the ice, which seems to have settled in the room.
“Hey, Winnie,” Olivia says hugging her. Winnie immediately sits down beside her, and Mr. Asshole sits beside me. He holds himself stiff, which makes me want to laugh. I don’t, but instead I look at Olivia, giving her a reassuring smile. She just glances at me, but she returns it. That’s enough for now.
“Lake had a doctor appointment. I had a therapy session, so we just decided to go together,” Olivia explains. Her words shouldn’t upset me, but I can’t deny hearing her describe our day out the way she did isn’t annoying. I don’t let it show. I knew getting close to her was going to be a long, winding road. Doesn’t mean it’s not frustrating though.
“Lake,” Winnie says, her voice weighing my name. I already know her man finds it lacking. I lean back against the booth seat, as if I don’t have a problem in the world.
“Hey,” I respond.
“You look familiar,” the man says.
I turn my head to look at him. “I doubt it. It’s obvious you and I don’t frequent the same places,” I answer with a smirk.
“What’s that supposed to mean?” he asks, obviously upset with my answer.
“You don’t see many suits muckin’ stalls,” I explain. Olivia instantly giggles.
“Lake’s got you there, Blade.”
Blade grunts. I wink at Olivia and her cheeks blush the prettiest pink I’ve seen. She really is beautiful.
“I’m going to go to the restroom for a minute,” Olivia whispers.
“I’ll go with you,” Winnie says at once. I watch as the women walk away. Blade gets up and takes the seat Olivia was in and stares straight at me.
“Afraid it will hurt your reputation if you sit too close to me?” I ask.
“You need to stay away from Livy,” Blade replies.
“Luckily, I don’t agree. I also don’t give a fuck what you think.”
“You might not, but Livy will. If I tell her to stay away from you, then she will.”
It upsets me that he’s probably telling the truth. Olivia is skittish, and she doesn’t know me. Hell, I don’t know myself. Still, I have a feeling that Olivia wouldn’t like this asshole telling her what to do—or who to see.
“You could try it,” I answer with a shrug. Somehow, I keep the genuine fear I feel from showing. At least I hope I do. I don’t know how Olivia got so deeply under my skin, but she did. I’m pretty sure I knew she would from the beginning, and that’s why I tried to believe the worst of her with Ray. Now, that might come back to bite me in the ass. “I wonder how Livy would feel about you trying that, though.”
His face hardens. “Her name is Olivia.”
I smirk and say nothing. We continue to stare at each other—neither of us giving an inch. My gaze doesn’t move off of him, even as the girls make it back to the table.
“What’s going on here?” Olivia asks.
“Ask your buddy,” I tell her, still staring at Blade.
“I’m asking you,” she snaps.
I finally make myself stop looking at the prick and gaze at her soft, worried face. “Blade was telling me I wasn’t good enough for you and to stay away.”
“I never said you weren’t good enough,” Blade growls.
“You’re right, but I’m pretty sure it was implied,” I shrug. Livy slides in beside me and grabs my hand. She links her fingers through mine and makes sure the two people across from us see it.
“Back off, Blade. Lake and I are friends. He’s a good man.”
“You can’t possibly know that, Livy. Cross told me this guy doesn’t even know who he truly is himself.” I freeze and Blade—the bastard—gives me a cocky grin.
“So?” Olivia laughs.
I can see Blade is surprised. Shit. It shocks me. I didn’t think she’d like Blade sticking his nose into her business, but I didn’t dare think she’d clearly take my side. The way she’s still holding my hand says she’s doing exactly that.
“Livy, you’re still healing. You’re fragile right now. People will try to take advantage of you,” he says.
I roll my eyes, letting out a huff of breath. “If you think Livy is fragile, you obviously haven’t been paying attention.”
I see Winnie smile before Olivia shifts sideways to look at me. “You think I’m strong?”
“Hell, yeah. I know we’re just learning one another, Livy, but you’re a survivor and despite everything you’re dealing with, you’ve taken time to worry about me. That’s rare.”