Prologue
Two Years Ago
Olivia,
Derrick tells me you’re coming home for Christmas. I’d love to take you to a show. The Nutcracker is going to be showing at the Bob Carr theater. Want to go?
Tyler
Hey Tyler,
I am coming home for Christmas. You missed me, huh? Not sure how I feel about The Nutcracker, but I wouldn’t mind hitting up the Christmas parade in Downtown Orlando. You know how much I love a parade.
Olivia
Olivia,
I do seem to remember you dressing up in many skimpy outfits, so I guess I love a good parade as well.
Tyler
Tyler,
Those outfits were not for a parade, but rather for nights out at the club with my friends. The only reason you saw them was because you were always in my house.
Olivia
Olivia,
I wasn’t complaining. I loved seeing you half-dressed. You can send a photo now if you want.
Tyler
P.S. I know you want to.
Tyler,
Send you a photo of what?
Olivia
Olivia,
Well if you’re taking requests. 1. Breasts 2. You touching yourself. 3. Your face.
Tyler
Tyler,
Are you out of your mind? Don’t answer that. I already know that you are.
Olivia
Olivia,
So is that a yes? :)
Tyler
Tyler,
In your dreams.
Olivia
Olivia,
You know that’s true. I can’t wait to see you by the way. I have something to tell you?
Tyler
Tyler,
What do you have to tell me?
Olivia
Olivia,
It’s best said in person. Unless you want to call me tonight and then maybe I’ll be persuaded to tell you.
Tyler
Tyler,
No, I’m not calling you for phone sex.
Olivia
Olivia,
What a pity.
Tyler
Olivia,
Unfortunately, I’m not going to be able to make the parade any longer. Have a great christmas.
Tyler
Tyler,
Raincheck?
Olivia
Chapter 1
Olivia
“Have you ever done anything really forbidden?” Birdy, my co-worker and friend asked me eagerly, her blue eyes wide as she whispered loudly and glanced towards our boss, Tate’s office.
“What do you mean by really forbidden?” I supposed I should have spoken a bit quieter, but it wasn’t like he was in the office. Tate was at some meeting with another tech company and Jagger, our other manager and our co-worker Magnolia were planning their wedding and had taken the afternoon off to look at wedding venues. But even if they were here, I most probably wouldn’t have whispered either. Our small office felt like a family and when you were around family, you tended to be loud and boisterous. Birdy and I had been working at Cool Credit for less than a year, but it felt like forever (in a good way). I was super grateful that all five employees, me, Birdy, Magnolia, Millie and Jane were all great friends and enjoyed spending time together outside of the office as well.
“You know, forbiiiiiiiidden.” Birdy stretched out the word forbidden as if that were an appropriate answer to my question. Sometimes she really tested my patience, but she was always entertaining, so I forgave her.
“Like jail-worthy forbidden or X-rated forbidden?”
“What’s X-rated forbidden?” Jane and Millie, my other two co-workers at Cool Credit jumped into the conversation as they made their way over to us from the kitchen. Jane had a box of doughnuts in her hand and I grinned at her as I grabbed one and bit into it.
“That’s what I’m trying to figure out. Birdy asked me if I’ve ever done anything really forbidden.” I wiped some crumbs off of my lips as I spoke. “And I’m trying to ascertain what she means by really forbidden.”
“Oh shit, Birdy. What did you do?” Millie immediately questioned her and all eyes were now on a blushing Birdy.
“Well, first of all, what’s with the $100 SAT word of the day? What does ascertain mean?” Birdy’s voice was whispery.
“Birdy, explain what you mean by forbidden?” I took another bite of doughnut. “You brought up the subject and we all want to know, how deep down the hole have you gone?”
“Oh shit, you didn’t hook up with your second cousin or something, did you?” Jane gasped and I laughed at the quick shake of Birdy’s head.
“Second cousins aren’t forbidden, but no.” She leaned in towards us. “I guess when I say forbidden, I mean kinda naughty, or well really naughty. Like if people knew, you’d be in a whole heap of trouble.”
“No, I’ve never done anything like that, but I sure as hell want to know what you did.” I laughed and I could see that the other girls were also fascinated by what she’d just said. “What are you not telling us, Birdy?” I stared at my friend, at her innocent expression and long light blonde hair and wondered if she was exaggerating. What could she possibly have done? I was about to ask her another question when my phone rang.
“Hold one second girls.” I said as I answered it quickly. “Hello.”
“Hey Chubby Checker, what’s happening?” My brother Derrick’s laughter resounded down the phone and I reminded myself to keep my tone polite and not call him an asshole.
“I told you to not call me Chubby Checker any more.” I growled into the phone and now all the girls were staring at me. “What’s up. Derrick?”
“Hey, just wanted to remind you that Tyler and I are coming to town tomorrow night.”
“Okay.” My heart beat erratically, but I was going to ignore that and the fact that my face was warming. I didn’t care that my brother was coming to visit me with his best friend. Nope, I didn’t care at all. The same best friend that had made plans to meet up with me two years ago at Christmas and then cancelled at the last minute. The same best friend that I hadn’t heard from in years.
“Will you be picking us up from the airport?”
“Nope.” I chuckled as if he’d said something really funny.
“Will you be sending a car?”
“Are you joking?” I laughed even louder now. “What do you think? That I’m made of money.”
“She said no to both.” Derrick spoke to someone else and I could hear a soft husky chuckle in the background.
“Who are you talking to?” I asked him, but then I heard a muffled noise and a smooth deeper voice spoke into the phone.
“Your worst nightmare.” The voice spoke and I knew immediately that it was Tyler and my stomach exploded with butterflies. Tyler Redwood was the bane of my existence, or at least he had been when we were children. He’d been in my life for as long as I could remember. He and my older brother Derrick had been best friends since they were six and I was four and I’d grown up having him around the house. When we were younger, he’d always treated me like a princess and then he’d turned 16 and became an asshole. He and Derrick ignored me and treated me as if I didn’t exist, which would have been okay, if he hadn’t turned out to be absolutely gorgeous and my first crush.