Page 30 of The Recovery Coach
The Reeses and Greenes didn’t stay long because the house got crowded fast.For the next five hours, Hazy’s teammates and their partners and kids filtered in and out.He introduced each new person to Livy, warning the single guys off hitting on her every time she left the room.It was like they couldn’t help themselves.Every idiot had some smart-ass flirty comment for her.Some flew over her head.Others she clocked and either ignored or clapped back at.Lover, surprisingly, was the worst offender.
Livy and Lover had become such fast friends, bonding over their mutual fussing.He didn’t understand how to read the situation.Livy was a relationship girl.The idea of her hooking up with some random guy made him nauseous.Even if the random guy was his best friend and deserved any attention Livy bestowed upon him.
And Lover didn’t date.Or do one-night-stands.Or even hit on anyone.Hazy knew he liked women.Knew he felt attraction toward people.Lover had the desire to date, he just couldn’t execute.Livy shouldn’t be his first foray into relationships.It had the potential to destroy them both.And Hazy.
The way Lover poked fun at her and initiated light-hearted touch melted Hazy’s brain.For someone who didn’t know how to flirt, he was doing a damn good job of it.
How was the same man who got tongue-tied and turned the shade of a stop sign when a pretty girl approached him at a bar casually running his fingers up Livy’s arm and making innuendo?
On Livy’s end it made sense.She’d always given as good as she got.Whether it was flirting, or roasting, or any game of chicken, she’d always outdo her opponent.
His curiosity was killing him, but he didn’t want to make assumptions or cause Livy and Lover to be uncomfortable with each other.He figured if anything happened between the two of them, they would tell him.
Chapter 11
Olivia
ThreedaysafterConnorgot out of the hospital, he sat in his favorite spot on the couch and searched every streaming platform known to man for something to watch.The Freeze had a game, so Valentine hadn’t stopped by in the morning.Olivia had grown used to his presence and missed him, but appreciated the opportunity to monopolize Connor’s time.She sat next to him and propped her feet on the coffee table.
As soon as she sat down, the smell of body odor overtook her senses.Raising her arm, she sniffed, coming away with only the smell of her deodorant.She leaned into Connor and sniffed him.The horrid smell filled her nostrils.
“Oh God, you reek.”
Connor laughed and raised his arm, shoving his pit closer to her face.“C’mon, it’s not that bad, right?”
Olivia giggled and squirmed away, making retching noises.“Yes, it’s that bad,” she said.
“It’s the smell of man, baby.Doesn’t get much better than this.”He fanned the stink in her direction.
She smacked him lightly with the back of her hand.“Ew, yes it does.How long has it been since you showered?”
He had to think about it, which was information enough for Olivia.She hopped up and held out her hand.“I’m not hanging out with you anymore until you shower.”
He groaned but grasped her hand and used the leverage she offered to stand.Olivia handed him his crutches.“Fine, but the doctor sent a novel’s worth of instructions.Why do you think I’ve been putting it off?”
“I’m sure it’s easy.”
“I doubt it.The idea of asking for help bathing made me want to run off a cliff.”
Olivia froze, realizing in real time that when she’d agreed to help Connor out, she hadn’t thought it through.Of course she wanted somebody taking care of her best friend.He went through a horrific accident.And who would be better to look after him than her?She adored him.Would do literally anything for him.
But seeing him naked might make her spontaneously combust.Even if he smelled like ass.She’d gotten glimpses over the years.His anatomy wasn’t a mystery.Seeing it up close and personal, however, likely wouldn’t be the best scenario for keeping her feelings platonic.
Connor stared at her, and her face flamed.Clearing the lump in her throat, she whirled around.“You’re paying me to help you,” she said, doing her best to put on a professional front.
She led the way to his bathroom, using the time to get her face and feelings under control.The sound of his crutches hitting the hardwood floor with every step let her know he followed.
By the time they arrived to her doom, she got her blushing in check.She faced him.“So where is this book of instructions?”she asked.
Connor wobbled by her and closed the toilet seat before lowering himself onto it.He sighed.“Fuck, I hate that getting from the couch to the bathroom wears me out,” he said.
“I’m sorry it sucks.But you’ll feel so much better when you’re clean.”
“The bag of stuff from the hospital is on my desk.”
Olivia left him to catch his breath and found the bag.When she returned, Connor had stripped off his shirt.Shirtless Connor she could deal with, even though his abs were perfect and she might drool if she stared too long.He spent more time shirtless than clothed.
She dumped the contents of the plastic bag from the hospital onto the counter.A single sheet of paper drifted out last.“This hardly counts as a novel.”
