“I hope you really mean it. That you’ll have fun.” Livvy’s gaze meets mine and I see the concern there. Uh oh. “I’m worried about you. After what Tuttle did, you haven’t been the same.”
“I’ve been down and out lately, I can own it.” I sit up straighter. “He walked out of my life without an explanation, so I think I have a right to be upset.”
“Well, yeah. Of course you do.” Livvy frowns, ready to say something else, but I hold my hand up, stopping her.
“But I don’t want to talk about him anymore, okay?” I try my hardest to keep my voice gentle. “It’s just—pointless. There’s no reason for me to try and get his attention. And I really don’t want to include him in any of our plans. What we had is over. Done.”
She smiles faintly. “Good. I’m glad you feel that way. I wasn’t about to suggest you try to get Tuttle’s attention again, because I am so ready for you to move on. That guy doesn’t deserve you crying any tears over him. Forget that. Forget him. He’s a jerk.”
“Right.” I nod, trying my best to believe it. “You’re so right. I’m over this. Over him.”
“Awesome. Perfect. I love it.” Livvy’s eyes are sparkling and she looks awfully pleased with herself. “And I know just the guy to help you get over Tuttle once and for all.”
I frown, wariness easing down my spine. “Who?”
If she says…
“Eli.” Now it’s her turn to hold up a hand to stop my protest. “Hear me out. Yes, he’s young.”
“Olivia.” I never call her by her full name, and that definitely gets her attention. “He is only fourteen years old.”
“He’ll be fifteen next week!”
“He’s a baby.”
“A baby with a sexy smile and a great butt.”
“Gross! You’re into his brother, not Eli.”
“I can appreciate the ultra fine genes in both of those Bennett boys, can I not?” Liv bats her eyelashes, and we both start laughing. There’s been a lot of laughter tonight.
“There are only two years that separate you,” she says.
“I’ll be eighteen in March.”
“That’s a long time from now!” A sly smile curls her lips. “Maybe he’s the rebound guy, you know? He’s not looking for anything serious. He doesn’t even understand the word serious. He just wants to have a good time.”
“If a good time is code for sex, I’m not interested in having sex with a fourteen year old boy.”
“Fifteen. He’ll be fifteen next week, don’t forget that,” she stresses. “Besides, I don’t think he’s looking for full on sex. Fairly certain he’s still a virgin, at least according to Ryan.”
I make a face. “Ryan discusses his brother’s sex life with you?” I can’t imagine George having sex—ew—let alone talking about it with Livvy. And if she had a crush on my brother, that would be even worse.
Yes, I am a total child. So maybe Eli and I would hit it off...
“Ryan and Eli are constantly talking about dicks and asses and tits and banging and hand jobs and munching boxes. All of it.” Livvy sighs and I can barely keep in my laughter. “They’re boys and they’re absolutely disgusting. Yet they’re both oddly attractive when they talk like that.”
“You’re crazy.” I grab a ruffled pillow that fell off my bed earlier and throw it at her, smacking her right in the face. She throws it back at me, but I dodge it in time and it hits the wall instead.
“No, you’re crazy for not giving Eli at least a chance. He’s totally into you.”
I don’t understand why. First I have Tuttle chasing after me, now I have Eli. They could have anyone they want yet they both choose me. I seriously don’t get it.
“Why would he be into me? And I’m not looking for sympathy either. I just…” I shake my head, throw my hands up into the air. “It’s weird.”
“Here’s the truth—you’re really pretty and nice. You’re not stuck up, like so many of those other girls who chase after him—them. Oh, and that’s another thing. You don’t chase. Ever. I think guys find that attractive.”
“It’s not game-playing strategy,” I tell her. “It’s just something I—don’t do.” Because I never believe I have a chance, so why bother?
“Yeah, well, they like it. I think Tuttle liked it too.” She winces. “Sorry, scratch his name from this conversation. I know Eli likes how elusive you are, how you always tell him no when he’s dying for you to say yes. I don’t think any girls deny him, with the exception of you.”
Huh. Interesting.
“And I think that’s what the other one liked too. Everyone tells him yes. They fall over themselves for the chance to get with him, and you never did. Ever. They like the challenge.” She points her index finger at me. “You, Amanda Winters, are a challenge.”
I cover my face with my hands. “I don’t mean to be,” I whine from behind my hands.