“Uh, why did you invite Kai?”
“I can’t believe you’re asking me that. He’s your best friend. He’s home for another week or so. And his sister just died. Did I mention it’s your birthday too? Oh speaking of … your cake’s in the oven. I need to go check on it.”
Lydia goes back inside and Rosenburg jumps off my lap and follows her.
Vivian straddles my lap facing me with a nervous smile. “Are you mad?”
No, I’m fucking livid!
“At whom? You, when you didn’t know. Your mom, who didn’t know about me until today? Kai, because his sister died?”
She brushes her lips against my neck and kisses my ear. “So basically you’re pissed, but you don’t know where to aim the blame,” she whispers.
“Basically.”
“Vivvy! Get off that boy. I taught you better than that. How rude of you to invade his personal space.” Lydia brings out a tray of beverages.
Vivian rolls her eyes and climbs off my lap.
“Can I offer you a drink, Oliver?” She holds the tray out in front of me.
“Yes, thank you.” I take one of the small Dixie cups filled with red liquid.
“Vivvy?” She offers a cup to her.
“Oh my God, Mom! You made Kool-Aid for us? We’re adults not seven-year-olds taking a play break.”
I take a sip to hide my grin. This is not just Kool-Aid!
“I know, sweetie. I’m just teasing you. Take a sip.”
Vivian hesitates then brings the cup to her lips like something’s going to jump out and bite her. “What is this?”
“Kool-Aid cocktail. It’s Tropical Punch Kool-Aid mixed with fresh lemon juice and dark rum.”
Vivian shrugs. “Mmm, not bad.”
Priceless. It’s the only description for this moment—the dog, the spiked Kool-Aid, the “personal space” invasion, and Vivvy. The crazy part is we’ve been here for only thirty minutes. Adding in dinner with my nemesis and Vivian’s college confessions to her parents is going to make this a memorable weekend.
Vivian
Oliver’s family is normal, I think. They have refined social skills, yet they are far from pretentious. Even the last night we had dinner with them and acted like a couple of tattling children they handled the situation with humor and love. My family … not so refined. I was raised by two hardworking and very loving parents. We struggled to make ends meet, but I never felt like I truly wanted for anything. My parents never fought over money in front of me. In fact, they rarely fought at all. So I have to give them a free pass when it comes to being overprotective and sometimes embarrassing.
“There’s my birthday girl.”
“Hi, Dad.” I give him a big hug as he walks in the back door. He’s the only other man in my life that makes me feel short. My dad is a towering six foot six with a shiny head that he’s shaved bare for the past ten years since he started going bald in his mid-thirties.
He releases me with his gaze falling over my shoulder. “And who is your friend?”
I step back and wrap my arm around Oliver’s back. “This is Oliver.”
Oliver offers his hand and my dad shakes it. “Nice to meet you, Mr. Graham.”
My dad, the gentle beast, smiles. “Call me Rod.”
Oliver nods.
“Rodney, Oliver is Vivvy’s boyfriend,” my mom calls from the table where she’s setting the dishes for dinner.
“Boyfriend, huh? Well what does your boyfriend do?”
Oliver grins. “I work with my brother. He owns a handyman business. This time of year it’s mostly landscaping jobs. In the winter he does snow removal and home repair.”
“A man who’s not afraid to get a little dirt on his hands and apparently can take a punch.” My dad nods toward Oliver’s face. “I like you already. You’d never catch pretty boy down the street doing manual labor or getting in a fist fight.”
My dad has never been a huge Kai fan. His opinion has always been there’s something wrong with a boy whose best friend since kindergarten is a girl.
“For your information, Oliver has a law degree from Harvard.”
Oliver lifts his shoulders, giving my dad a guilty smile. “Don’t hold it against me.”
My dad chuckles as he walks past him and pats his shoulder. “I won’t. But it makes sense now. Vivvy likes guys in fancy suits.”
I shake my head and wrap both arms around Oliver’s waist. “Shows what you know, Dad. I happen to be quite attracted to guys in boots.”
Oliver wets his lips and I can see the lust in his eyes as I feel something firm against my belly.
“I should go bring in our stuff from the car.”
I grin knowing he needs to get out of the house before he embarrasses himself in front of my parents. “Need help.”
“Nope, I’ve got it.”
Oliver heads out to the car while I snag the mixer beaters from my mom. “So, what do you think of Oliver?” I swipe my tongue over the frosting.
“He’s handsome, that’s for sure.”
I giggle. “I know.”
“I wonder if he’s too old for you. How old is he?”
“He just turned thirty—not too old for me.”
“I’m only looking out for you, Vivvy. I know how important your career goals are to you and someone Oliver’s age is probably looking for a wife and children. Something a twenty-two-year-old girl in college should try to avoid.”
God, if she only knew. “Oliver’s not planning on marrying me, or having children, or ruining my career.”
“Well that’s not great either. Why are you wasting your time with a guy who’s not planning on marrying you?”
I laugh and shake my head. “Jeez, Mom. There’s no pleasing you today.”
“Your mom just wants the world for you.” My dad bends down and kisses me on the top of my head.
“Done. Just so you both know, I’ve never been happier than I am with Oliver.”
The back door opens. Oliver has bags slung over both shoulders and in both hands as well. I may have over packed.
“Here, let me help you with those.” My dad offers, taking the bags from Oliver’s hands.
The gift bag from Alex falls on the floor. There’s a buzzing noise that gets louder as a … Oh. My. God! A vibrator rolls onto the floor.
Let me die. Right here. Right now.
As soon as I recover from my crippled state of embarrassment, I bend down and shove it back in the bag with the tissue paper while fumbling with the switch.
I’m crimson. My mom’s eyes are huge and her hand is cupped over her gasping mouth. Oliver purses his lips to hide his naughty I-can’t-believe-you-brought-a-vibrator smile. And thankfully, my dad has a confused look on his face. I’m quite certain he has never seen a vibrator.
“Uh … here.” I take the bags from my dad. “We’ll just … um … take these upstairs.”
Ducking my head, I bolt from the kitchen.
I toss the bags on the daybed in my old bedroom that my mom’s converted to her sewing room. Oliver presses his body against my back, brushing my hair off to one side. Soft lips caress my neck.
“Am I failing to meet your needs?”
I close my eyes and giggle. “I can’t believe Alex got me a vibrator for my birthday.”
“So it’s your first?”
“Yes … well … no.” I feel the red heat surface on my skin again.
He turns me toward him. “No?”
I shake my head, staring at my feet.
“Well we’ll have to check it out later.”
My head jerks up. “What? We?”
Oliver grins. “Sure, why not?”
“Well—I-I … ugh! Don’t do this to me at my parents’ house.” I brush past him and grab my purse. “I’m going to be a pathetic horny mess by the time we get back home.”