Page 73 of The Recovery Coach
“Deal,” he said.
They used the rest of their evening to brainstorm date ideas and little ways to push Connor’s buttons.Before their date ended, they had an entire month of dates, hangouts, and public appearances planned.It was the most planning any of Olivia’s partners had ever done for her, which Olivia recognized was depressing as fuck considering her and Valentine’s actual relationship status.
They stayed out late, all part of Valentine’s grand idea.When they got home, Olivia half expected Connor to have abandoned any hope of their returning and gone to bed.But he waited up for them, a trashy reality TV show blaring through the house.
Olivia and Valentine kicked off their shoes and joined him on the couch.Part of Valentine’s scheme included reducing the amount of physical contact Connor and Olivia had.Connor was a slut for snuggles.He’d take them from anyone, anywhere.Withholding them almost felt cruel.
When Valentine sat as far from Connor on the couch as he could get, and pulled Olivia into his lap, the frown Connor gave them was a dagger to Olivia’s heart.
“Hey,” Olivia said.
“Hey,” Connor answered.
The silence stretched between them, a weird vibe blanketing them in a way Olivia had never experienced with Connor or Valentine, and she doubted they had ever experienced with each other.
Connor chuckled.“Sheesh, this is awkward, isn’t it?”
Valentine shrugged, jostling Olivia.“Not really,” he said.
At the same time, Olivia said, “Yeah.”
“Who am I supposed to debrief with first?”Connor asked.“Because on the one hand, Lover has never taken a woman out, and I’m dying for every detail.”
“You’re not getting any details,” Valentine said.
Connor ignored him.“But on the other hand, Livy finally went out with someone good enough for her, and I need to know how it went.”
Olivia climbed out of Valentine’s lap and sauntered to the kitchen.“Well, I brought him home… so it obviously went okay.”
She poured two bowls of Fruity Pebbles and grabbed a Charleston Chew from the freezer.She tossed the candy to Valentine, who effortlessly snagged it out of midair.Then she handed Connor his cereal before snuggling into Valentine’s side.
“You can’t call it ‘bringing him home’ if all you plan to do is watch TV and have a midnight snack.”
“Who said that’s all we plan to do?”Valentine asked, giving Connor a cocky smirk.
Olivia elbowed him, and he laughed.
Connor glared at Valentine.“Not funny.”
Valentine rubbed the sore spot Olivia had left on his ribs.“It’s a little funny.”
They spent the next hour hanging out as usual.After Valentine left for the night, Connor asked, “Will there be a second date?”
He sounded grumpy.
Olivia bit her lip, smothering the optimism Valentine had instilled in her.“Yeah, there will be.”
Chapter 26
Hazy
LivyandLoverwereten days into their newfound relationship, and Hazy was at his wits’ end.He wanted to be happy for them, but seeing them together had him stressed.
Every night they hung out or texted.Presents for Livy arrived in a constant, overwhelming stream.Lover treated her like a goddamn princess.If it were anyone else, Hazy would have accused him of love-bombing her.But Lover didn’t do anything half-assed.
Seeing her fly through the new dresses he’d bought her, and doing her hair for date after date was taking its toll.His happy place had become a dreaded chore.Dolling her up for another man to enjoy was hell.He pushed through the nausea, savoring those few minutes he got her to himself.
Somehow, someway, the universe had given him the two most perfect people for him, and he’d managed to fumble them both.Because that was the situation.Being a couple made them happy and isolated him.
