Page 38 of Animal's Reformation
Olivia broke contact with the biker and looked at her friend. “Did you order?”
“Don’t change the subject. Okay … Lucy’s dad is hot—I’ll give you that, but he’s off limits for two big reasons.” Harper moved in front of Olivia, blocking her view of Animal. “Number one—” She held up a finger. “He’s a student’s dad, and if you start messing around with him you’ll get fired, and number two—” She held up another finger. “He’s in an outlaw biker gang.C’mon, really?Even Kennedy wouldn’t risk her job over a hot dad.”
Olivia lightly swatted away her friend’s hand that was in front of her face. “You’re being a little overdramatic.”
“From the way you two were looking at each other, I’d say I wasn’t.”
“Looking at some sexy eye-candy isn’t the same as getting involved with him. Like I said, ‘overdramatic.’ Did you ever get the bartender’s attention? I think we have to show some cleavage.” Olivia laughed and stepped to the side of Harper, refusing to even glance for one millisecond at Animal. She’d acted like a lovestruck school girl instead of a mature woman, and that was unacceptable. There was something about her neighbor that made her behave out of character.
“Do you want another vodka martini?” Harper’s voice broke into her thoughts.
The sandy-haired bartender tapped his index finger on the counter. “What’ll you have, lady?”
Olivia blinked several times. “I guess I’ll go with a cranberry vodka.” The barman rushed away.
The two women chatted while they waited for their drinks, and Olivia kept her gaze focused on Harper the entire time.
“It looks like another band is ready to take the stage. The way they’re dressed, I’d say they’ll be playing hair metal songs,” Harper said.
Olivia looked over her shoulder and saw five guys setting up their instruments, then she glanced over to where Animal and the redhead had been talking and noticed they were gone. Jealously pricked, which was irrational.
“Here you go. Are these together?” the sandy-haired man asked as he placed their drinks in front of them.
“Separate,” Harper said.
“Do you want to open a tab?” he said.
“I don’t,” Harper replied as she looked at Olivia. “Do you?”
Olivia shook her head and handed him her credit card. Once they were all paid up, they headed back to their table. The band on stage was just about finished with its sound check when Olivia slid into her chair. Austin, the preppy-looking guy Kennedy had been talking to earlier had taken over Ivy’s seat and was conversing with her, and another guy, who looked like he’d been cut from the same mold as Mr. Preppy, sat in a chair next to Harper. He immediately extended his hand and introduced himself as Darcy to both Olivia and Harper. Her friend smiled widely while she just kept a straight face. Darcy turned to Harper and began talking with her.
“Austin has another friend. He just went to get him,” Kennedy said into Olivia’s ear.
“No … I’m not interested,” she mumbled.
“How do you know—you haven’t seen him. Anyway, no one’s asking you to make a lifetime commitment to him.” Kennedy picked up her glass and brought it to her mouth.
“I’m not in the mood to make small talk. The band’s going to be starting, and I really don’t want some guy shouting in my ear while I’m wondering what the hell he’s saying.”
“I’m definitely getting worried about you. Look at Harper—she’s enjoying Darcy’s company.”
The lead singer announced his band, then a burst of electric guitars and drums filled the place. Suddenly the room seemed too small, too hot. Olivia felt like she was suffocating—she needed some air. She stood up and pointed toward the bathrooms and Kennedy nodded, her eyes sparkling as Austin and another cookie-cutter guy came over to the table.
Olivia grabbed her purse and made her way to the door, weaving through the throng of people yelling to each other over the blaring music.
Outside, the air felt cold and sweet. She stumbled away from a group of patrons smoking cigarettes and leaned against the brick wall, drawing in a deep breath. Olivia looked up into the night sky studded with stars, and suddenly realized that she had never been with a man who treated her well. So afraid of being alone, she’d settled for men who’d paid her compliments and attention while mistaking their carnal lust for love. All the men in her life had been different variations of her father: a bully, philanderer, and egotist.
“I’m perfect fodder for the psych couch. A fucking cliché,” Olivia muttered under her breath, puffing out clouds that dissolved into nothing.
She shivered as goosebumps rose on her arms and rubbed her hands up and down them for warmth.
“Was the music too loud?” the deep, familiar voice murmured close to her ear.
Warm tingles shot through her traitorous body, and Olivia didn’t like it one bit. Lost in her thoughts, she hadn’t even heard Animal approach. She looked up and the soft expression on his face mesmerized her.
“You’re fucking freezing,” he said as his warm, strong arms slipped around her.
“I’m good,” she answered through chattering teeth.
