“Liv, so good to see you,” I turn and give her my customer service smile. Emma could’ve warned me she’d be here so I could have avoided a confrontation. “I thought you were living in Wisconsin?”
“I moved back about six months ago because I needed a fresh start for my family,” she says.
I remember the rumor going around that her husband was sleeping with his secretary, but the way she’s spinning is that he was a workaholic who never had time for her and their kids. I’m a hypocrite if I buy into the rumor mill of a small town.
“How many kids do you have now?” I ask politely, looking around for my exit strategy.
“I have two. My daughter, Chloe, and Cora are becoming the best of friends. My son is two years older than them. His name is Aiden. How about you? Do you have a husband? Do you have any kids of your own?”
“No, neither. I’ve concentrated on my career, and it’s starting to take off right now.”
I’ve hated that I always need to defend my personal life by pointing out my professional life. I should be confident about my choice to be single over the years.
“How nice. I thought I had heard you were pregnant years ago. It was not long after we graduated.”
I don’t know how, but I manage to stand there straight-faced. My pregnancy was a closely guarded secret, and after the accident, very few people knew that my baby had died. Did Emma say something to Olivia? I can’t imagine that she would’ve been well aware of our contentious relationship. “I was, but I lost the baby,” I tell her, hoping she can take the hint and let it go.
“Oh no, that’s so sad,” she says in the least sympathetic voice I have ever heard. “I saw you come in with Foster and Talon. Did I hear right, and you’re dating both of them?”
“Yep,” I answer, waiting for the slut shaming to begin.
“That’s…interesting. I didn’t know guys would tolerate a relationship like that. And Cole?”
“Not involved,” I answer.
“I’m not surprised. He’s not the type to pass a girl around with his friends like that. I should get his number. Did you know we had something going on when we were in college?”
My stomach clenches. Cole had always insisted that he couldn’t stand her every time I caught her hitting on him behind my back. An arm slides around me to rest on my back, and I look up to see that it’s Cole himself.
Olivia instantly brightens, “Cole, it’s been too long.”
“Hi, Olivia. How’s your husband?” Oh, he’s coming out swinging. His mom is one of the biggest gossips, so it’s no surprise he knows of her situation. I wonder how much of our conversation he overheard.
“I’m divorced. I was asking Blake if you were still with your girlfriend. Maybe I can get your number and go out sometime?”
“I’m not looking to date right now.”
“Not as a date, obviously. Just as friends.,” she backtracks.
“I have all the friends I need. Have a good night,” he tells her and turns me with him to walk away.
“I don’t know why you were ever friends with that bitch,” he says to me when we get far enough away not to be overheard.
“Honestly, neither do I. I have no idea why she was so horrid to me once we hit high school,” I tell him.
“She was jealous. She knew she never had a chance with me if you were in the picture. She could never compete.” he tells me bluntly.
Before I stop myself, I exclaim, “Did the two of you hook up in college?”
“Fuck no. I’ve never had an interest in Olivia. She’s always been annoying and doesn’t have a single thought in her head.”
Emma comes up to us, holding a tray. “Jello shots?” she asks.
I’m not driving and have no kids to look after, so I take a few from the tray. Cole raises his eyebrows at me.
“What? I think I deserve a bit of fun. And I just had to confess in almost public that I’m part of a throuple.”
Cole doesn’t argue. He reaches over and grabs a couple more before returning to our table.
