“I guess she was less happy when you were dancing on the pole though?” Olivia asked sarcastically but Tiffany didn’t respond.
“I told my daddy that instead of a wedding cake, I want some good ol’ peach cobbler.” Tiffany licked her lips. “And we’re going to get them from Clanton, not Georgia. Cos Clanton, Alabama has the best peaches. The absolute best.” She took another gulp of her drink. “I still consider myself an Alabama girl, even though I’m in California.”
“Well Alabama does make the best girls in the world.” Derrick was laying it on thick and I couldn’t stop myself from smirking.
“So Olivia,” I held my glass up. “Having fun?”
“It’s okay.” She shrugged and looked around the bar. The private karaoke rooms were all booked so we were hanging out in the public area with the locals. We’d all signed up for a song, but our names hadn’t been called yet. “Not exactly where I expected to end my night.”
“Yeah, but your dreams can still always come true.”
“What dreams?”
“Your dreams of ending your night in my bed.”
“You don’t have a bed.” She scoffed and then she caught a sight of the wide smile on my face and her eyes narrowed. “What did I say that was so funny?”
“Well, I’m thinking you’re picking up on the vibe between Derrick and Tiffany?”
“What vibe? They’re practically hooking up right here in the bar.”
“Yeah exactly. So that leaves me in a bit of a pickle.”
“What’s the pickle?”
“Derrick and I were sharing a room.”
“And?” She shrugged. Was she really not getting this? Or was she going to make me beg.
“So, I don’t really want to be in the bedroom with the pillow over my face and ears as Tiffany and your brother go at it.”
“Eww.” She made a face. “Okay, what does that have to do with me?”
“Can I stay at your place?” The expression in her face suddenly changed as she realized what I was asking.
“No way, Tyler. Sorry, but that’s just not going to be possible.”
“So you’re going to make me sleep in the streets?”
“You’re not going to be sleeping in the streets. Just get another hotel room.”
“I already split the cost of the room with your brother.” I raised an eyebrow. “I’m already out a few thousand.”
“You’re a lawyer. You can afford it.”
“Are you really going to treat me that way, Olivia? Your favorite childhood friend.”
“Don’t flatter yourself.” She folded her arms. “But fine, you can stay one night, but you’ll be sleeping on the couch.”
“That works for me.”
“And you have to wear pajamas.” She pointed at me. “I don’t want you walking around in the nude.”
“Fine, but I just want to let you know that I don’t mind if you walk around in the nude.” I grinned and as she turned away and shook her head. A feeling of euphoria spread through me. I was finally going to be alone with Olivia. At night. And we were both consenting adults. Anything could happen. But she doesn’t know everything, Tyler. That annoying little voice spoke up in my head and I tried to ignore it. I didn’t want to think about anything other than having fun and doing a little work this weekend.
“You make sure my little sister gets home safe, you hear?” Derrick gave me a hug before turning to Olivia. “Love you sis, I’ll see you tomorrow?”
“Yes.” She hugged him back. “Hopefully with no other company?”
“I can’t promise that.” He grinned and stood back and took Tiffany’s hand. “You ready to go?”
“I’m ready to see that fancy hotel room of yours? I put on my tiger print underwear special for the occasion.”
“Well, I can’t wait to make you roar.”
“Derrick!” Olivia shouted. “This is so inappropriate for me to hear.”
“You got to learn about the birds and the bees some day, Chubby Checker.”
“Tyler, come on, we’re out of here.” She grabbed my arm and pulled me down the street with her. “Has my brother gone absolutely crazy? I mean, I know he’s a guy and guys have no standards but is that really the best he can do?”
“I’m taking it that you’re not really into her then?”
“Understatement of the year. I mean she seems sweet enough, but can she be any dumber?” Olivia was still holding onto my arm as she huffed and puffed and I quite liked the feel of her hand pressed into me.
“I’ve met dumber girls then her, so yes, she can be dumber.”
“Figures that if anyone could date a girl dumber than my brother, it would be you.”
“Hey now, spitfire, I never said I dated the girl, just that I knew a girl that was dumber.”
“And you didn’t date her?”
“Well define date for me please.” I grinned down at Olivia’s pert little nose. “Do two dinners at Red Lobster and Olive Garden count?”
“Well were the dinners dates? Did you sleep with this girl?”
“I plead the Fifth. Let’s just say that I didn’t consider them dates.”
“So you slept with her and took her to dinner so you wouldn’t feel bad about it?”
“Judging me harshly, are you?”
“I’m not judging you at all, Tyler. You can do whatever you want to do. It’s your life.”
“And you’re just a player in it?”
“What?” She frowned.
“Don’t you know that saying, the world is a stage and we are all just merely players? It goes something like that.”
“Oh you mean Shakespeare? The quote actually goes, all the world’s a stage, and all the men and women are merely players. It’s from As You Like It.”
“Yeah, well you knew what I meant.”
“Yes, I suppose I did.”
“Do you live close to here, Olivia? Or should we catch an Uber?”
“I’m about a ten minute walk from here.”
“That’s not bad.”
“But it is going to be all uphill as soon as we made a right on Mason Street.”
“Aww, do you think I can’t handle it?”
“I don’t know what sort of shape you’re in.” She poked me in the stomach and I grabbed her hand.
“I think you’ll find I’m in great shape.”
“You’re feeling a little boney.” She giggled. “I thought you were all muscle.”
“I am.” Or I was. I’d been working on building up my muscle and I was surprised that she’d noticed that I’d lost some of my definition. She was the only one who had noticed and said anything to me. But then again, Olivia had always been an observant woman. “So thanks again for letting me stay. I know it most probably went against your better judgment.”
“I wouldn’t say it went against my better judgment, but my space is small. You’re a big man. And Derrick’s even bigger. If you’d both been there, we would not have gotten on very well.”