Page 75 of Enticed
“Why did you do that?” Liv asks, confusion evident in her wrinkled forehead.
“Because I was afraid of what you would say, and I didn’t want to cause trouble if the only thing between us was sex. I don’t do relationships—you know that, Liv. But I think I knew deep down that it would be more than just physical, and that thought terrified me too. Heck, I didn’t want to know anyone’s opinion about us either, so it seemed logical to keep it between the two of us until we knew what was happening.”
Olivia shakes her head on a long sigh and adjusts Evelyn in her arms while I catch my breath.
“So we dated in secret and every time Cooper suggested we just come clean, I told him I wasn’t ready. I knew I was afraid of what you might say—but mostly, I was paralyzed with fear of how strongly I felt for him.”
“So it wasn’t just about sex then?” She tilts her head in curiosity.
“No. The only reason I said that was because I overheard you girls in the kitchen before you came outside. I heard what Amy said about my past and she was right—and it hurt thatyoucouldn’t even fathom the idea that I could actually be in love…”
“God, Clara. I’m so sorry you heard that. I never wanted to hurt you. I just needed you to be honest with me… with all of us girls. We’ve always been so close and lately it’s just felt like you’ve been so secretive. And then when I saw him holding you like that, I overreacted. Let’s be real—I’ve been a crab all day. Pregnancy will do mean things to your mind and make you react irrationally. I know that’s not an excuse, but I know that in a different setting I probably would have reacted differently. Hell, you could probably mount him in front of me right now and I wouldn’t care with how happy I am at this moment,” she chuckles and then looks down at Evelyn. “But you’re really in love with him?”
Tears trail down my cheeks while I look her straight in the eye. “With every fiber of my body. I went and fell in love with your stupid brother, Liv—and then I broke his fucking heart and mine too in the process.” I bury my head in my hands as I feel Liv rest her head on my shoulder.
“Clara,” she says after a few moments of silence. “Clara, look at me.”
It takes every ounce of pride left in my soul to meet her eyes and listen to what she has to say next.
“I’m sorry that I ever made you feel like you would have to hide a relationship from me with someone you love. And I’m sorry that I uttered those words. When I saw you and Cooper at dinner months ago, I honestly thought you saw him like you usually see all men,” she shrugs and I don’t argue with her. Sex was my initial thought about him, to be honest.
“But I also know that youarecapable of a relationship, and if there is anyone for you to choose to be with, I’m so very glad that itismy brother,” she smiles softly and suddenly some weight evaporates from my shoulders.
“Really?” I ask as I wipe the moisture from my cheeks.
She nods. “Absolutely. Look, I see where you were coming from, but in all of our years of friendship, I thought if something was truly important to you, you would have come and talked to me about it then…”
“Cooper told me I should, but I was too scared… I didn’t want it to ruin our friendship.”
“Did you really think I would be that upset? Especially if you guys were in love?” She tilts her head and the concern and love in her eyes tells me I read this situation so wrong.
I nod. “Yeah, I did. But it wasn’t just you, it was everyone else’s thoughts on the matter that scared me too.”
“Look. My brother is a giant pain in the ass, but I love him, and the more I think about it, the more the two of you fit. I don’t know why I didn’t see it before. But looking at how distraught you are over this makes it very evident that you care about him, and it makes me regret this all happened like this.”
“I do, Liv—I care about him so much. He saved my life—in more ways than one.”
Cooper not only saved me from death, he saved me from a life without love—and I don’t know which one means more to me.
“Then be with him. Fuck everyone else.”
“But the things that Amy said…” I trail off, still reeling from her words.
Liv shakes her head and then rests her hand on mine. “Amy is not in a good place right now. I agree, what she said was messed up, but you and I both know that’s not how she normally is. I think we all need to sit down and talk—there’s obviously some things that need to be cleared up.”
She’s right. Something in Amy’s life is changing her and I think we definitely need to talk to clear the air.
“So you’re okay with me fucking your brother then?” I smirk and joke, trying to bring the light-heartedness back to our friendship and turn around this conversation.
“Woah there, lady!” She throws her free hand in the air and the laugh that leaves my mouth takes a gallon of tension with it. “I don’t need visuals and details, okay?”
“Sorry,” I wink at her and then rest my head on her shoulder, staring down at the baby.
“Be happy, Clara. Make him happy again, and hurry up and have one of these little humans so our kids will have cousins to grow up with.”
“I love you, Liv. Thank you.”
“I love you too, babe. But you’d better make things right with Cooper, or then wewillhave problems.”