Page 56 of Scoring Lessons

Livvie girl

*sent screenshot attachment*

Me

Oh, no. You got me. How will I ever live?

Livvie girl

My brother just told me you’re with Mariana. I’ll let you go. And tell her I said hi!

Livvie girl

Also, bring me some potato salad. I will egg you in your sleep if you don’t.

Me

Please. You wouldn’t dare.

Livvie girl

*sent picture attachment*

My fingers moved on their own, saving the selfie and putting it as a profile picture on her contact page. Her hair was piled up in a messy bun, a few wild strands breaking free to frame her freckled face. One eye shut in a playful wink as her tongue peeked out through a wide grin, as she clutched a carton of eggs in her hand.

It was a simple, silly picture, but there went my heart, wanting to beat right out of my chest.

Livvie girl

Sleep with one eye open, player.

I shook my head as I stifled another laugh and dropped the phone back on the table.

My mother’s eyes gleamed with knowing mirth. “How’s Olivia?”

I squinted. “How do you know it was her?”

She shrugged casually. “You couldn’t wipe that grin off your face even if you tried.”

“That still doesn’t explain how you know it was her.”

“Motherly instinct,” she replied casually, with a cheeky grin.

I grabbed my fork with a skeptical arch of my brow. “She says hi, by the way,” I mumbled. “And wipe that look off your face, Mariana Hayes.”

She took a bite of her ribs and chewed thoroughly as she settled me with a feigned-innocent look and batted her eyelashes. “Whatever do you mean, my sweet child?”

A short breath of air escaped my lips. I loved my mother, but the way she tried to meddle in my love—and the lack thereof—life was concerning. “You think I don’t know what you and Elena used to do to try to get Olivia and me together when we were kids?”

Elena was Anderson and Olivia’s mother. We were neighbors from our early teenage years until our senior year of high school.

“Oh.” She slumped her shoulders. “You knew about that?”

“You weren’t exactly subtle.” I let out a knowing chuckle. “Funny how your back was always hurting when Olivia needed to be picked up from volleyball practice and Elena was stuck at work.”

“What can I say? The universe clearly has something up its sleeve, because look at the two of you being roommates now.”

“Mom.” My tone held a gentle warning. “I’m only helping her out while she gets back on her feet. Moving to a new city is hard, you know that.”