Page 64 of The Recovery Coach
Livy hopped off the counter and rinsed her plate.“He asked me out.”
Hazy’s fork clattered to his plate.“Sorry, what?”he asked, sure he’d misheard her.That uneasiness returned to his stomach and chest with a vengeance.
“Valentine asked me out.We have a date tonight.”She reached across the counter to snag his plate.
He studied her face for a long time, his heart rate through the roof.Then he laughed.“Funny.You had me going there.”
Livy glared at him.“I’m serious.I’m going out with him tonight.”
“He would have told me.He would have asked for date advice.”Hazy’s voice came out breathier than it should have; the shock and devastation hitting him full force.
Livy turned off the water and leaned her hip against the counter.She folded her arms across her chest.
“Maybe if it was anyone else.But it’s me.You have a special relationship with both of us.He probably didn’t want to risk it.”
She cleaned the counter while he debated the merits of her hypothesis.
When she left to get dressed for the day, Hazy pulled his phone from his pocket and shot off a quick text to Lover.
What the hell, man?You’re taking my girl out without telling me?
Lover responded instantly.
She’s not your girl.With any luck she’ll be my girl *winky face*
He dropped his phone on the counter.Fuck.He shouldn’t be agitated.Lover was right.Livy wasn’t his girl.Plus, Lover was the best.He hadn’t had a serious relationship, but if anyone could bring him out of his shell, it would be Livy.He should behappyfor them.Hazy had no claim over Livy whatsoever.
Chapter 24
Hazy
Hazywoulddowhateverhe could to ensure his best friends were happy.Maybe the thought of his two favorite people being in any sort of serious, committed relationship made him want to hurl himself into the sun, but he adored them.They were perfect.They liked similar things.They had similar senses of humor.They were both stunning.Lover would be supportive of any life Livy chose, whether that meant staying home and taking care of babies or working until death.Livy understood the hockey lifestyle.On paper they fit.The concept of them as a couple provoked a deep sense of dread.
He knocked on Livy’s bedroom door a few hours before her date.
When she answered, he invited himself in and dumped his armload of fabric onto the bed.
“Here.”He handed her the blue dress Lover had picked out.“I had to estimate on sizing a little.”
“You got me dresses?”Livy asked, her voice breaking.She didn’t reach for the dress.
He waved it at her.“Yeah.If you’re going to do the whole dating thing, I thought you’d like to feel a bit more like...you.”
She sniffled as she accepted the dress.“You’re doing too much for me.”
Hazy said, “Don’t make it weird.I wanted you to feel confident and pretty.And your current wardrobe is not it.”
“God, it’s really not.”Livy tugged the fabric over her head.
While she put on her dress, Hazy went to work digging through her belongings.He tossed a pair of faux sheer, fleece-lined tights to her.
“You might be outside, and it’s fucking cold.”
She followed his orders without argument, which was unusual for her.Images of her obeyingotherorders flashed in his mind before he stamped them far, far down.
She tugged the dress into place and frowned.“I can’t wear a bra with this.”
Hazy laughed, vindicated.“I knew you would say that!”
