Page 113 of Scoring Lessons

I never really thought I deserved Olivia. Not really.

But I wanted to show her how badly I wanted to earn the chance to. To fight for her like no one ever had.

I pushed off toward the other side of the rink, the music shifting into something with a heavier beat, the disco ball still making its slow rotations overhead. I could see her from here. The purple heart glasses. The way her jumpsuit hugged every curve. The way she was half-listening to whatever Bradley was saying while her fingers drummed lightly against her cup.

Parker appeared at my elbow. “But maybe don’t cause a scene.”

I turned with a frustrating groan. “You’re confusing me here, man.”

He jerked his chin across the rink without moving his head. Anderson was crouched down by the rink’s edge, trying to coax Daisy onto the hardwood. “Just be smart about it. Don’t do anything that’s going to pull focus.”

I exhaled. “You’re oddly good at this.”

He waved a hand with that superiority I’d expect from a man like Parker. “Those who can’t, teach.”

“Can you let me go get my girl now?”

He stared at me for a long moment. “That was incredibly cheesy,” he said. “But, for the love of God, yes. Go.”

I rolled my eyes and got to them in record time.

So much for not pulling focus, idiot.

I got close enough to hear him say, “I’d love it if you could show me around Chicago sometime.”

I draped an arm around Olivia with as much casualness as I could muster. “She just moved here herself. She won’t be able to show you around much.”

“That’s true,” Olivia said with a laugh, then her eyes settled on me with a What are you doing? look.

“I think we’ll manage,” he replied through a chuckle.

“Hire a tour guide if you’re dying to learn so much about the city.” I shot him a cold, hard smile. “I hear the boat tours are great.”

He frowned, then he completely ignored me and faced Olivia. “I’ll call you.”

“Sounds good,” she replied before he walked away. When he was out of earshot, she glared at me. “Pee on me next time, why don’t you?” Her tone was dry.

“You gave him your number?”

She shrugged as she took a sip of her drink then swallowed. “He’s new in town. He has no friends.”

“Why are you talking to him anyway?”

“That’s the guy from the bookstore.”

“Ah, the very helpful guy,” I replied, trying to sound indifferent and like the green monster wasn’t trying to eat me alive with each breath I took. “That makes more sense now.”

She frowned. “What’s your problem?”

“He sounds like a dick.”

“He only said like two things in front of you.”

I pressed my tongue against the inside of my cheek. My hands rested on my hips as I tried to come up with a reply. “It was enough for me not to like him.”

“You’re acting weird.”

“No, I’m not,” I challenged. “He’s not good enough for you,” I added, for absolutely no fucking reason.