Connections Read Online Free PDF Page A

no.   I’m more worried that we’ll fight.   He always says these little digs and I blow up.”   Like the last time they’d seen one another.   And Alex sincerely doubted that the numerous months they’d been apart would change their attitude towards each other.   He looked over at Olivia and smiled, trying to ease the sudden tension in the car.   “But you’ll be there.   And you can distract me.”
    “You’ll be fine, Alex,” Olivia said with confidence.   He wished he could be so sure.
    The drive passed quickly as they comfortably chatted about the rest of their week.   But all too soon, they were pulling up to the road leading to Alex’s childhood home.
    Alex hadn’t been home for quite some time and seeing it brought up both good and bad memories.   Soon, the house came into full view and he heard Olivia say, “Geeze, Alex, you weren’t kidding.”
    He tried to see the house from her perspective and thought back to the moment when he’d first seen it.   It had seemed enormous to his seven year old self when they’d first moved in.   The cobble stone roundabout driveway curving around a marble fountain, the sweeping arches and columns of the front facade, the impeccable landscaping of his parents’ front yard now just seemed obscene.
    But if he’d learned one thing in his youth, it was that appearances were everything in his parents’ world.   However, he’d been raised on that philosophy.   And to some extent, he wanted to impress them, shamefully enough.
    Cars lined the driveway.   And as he slid in behind a sleek black Lexus, he was almost surprised his parents hadn’t hired a valet service.
    He killed the engine and met Olivia on the other side of his car.   He watched with a frown as she clutched her cardigan around her tighter.   “Are you okay?”
    She looked up at him with a small smile.   “I’m a little nervous.   I’m meeting a lot of your friends and family today.”
    He linked their hands together, feeling his chest pull tighter at her words.   Her soft skin felt heavenly and warm.   “It’ll be fine, darling.   You’re only meeting a few people who I care about and they’ll all love you.”
    He hadn’t meant to say the ‘l’ word, but she didn’t bring attention to it.   Instead, she let him lead her around the back of the house to where he figured his parents had everything set up.
    He wasn’t wrong.   A huge white canopy tent protected a table decorated with soft colored petals and intricate golden center pieces.   The chairs had matching gold bows draped over the back.   A small band was off to the side, serenading the guests that had already arrived.   Catering staff expertly weaved in and out of the dancing or chatting guests, offering champagne flutes and hors d'oeuvres.
    “Jesus,” Alex murmured, shaking his head.
    Olivia squeezed his hand lightly and he glanced down to her.
    “Are you sure this isn’t the wedding, Alex?” she asked, nervously playful.
    He laughed, “Obviously they weren’t kidding when they said everything had already been paid for.”   Shaking his head again, he scanned the crowd, looking for his aunt and uncle.   He spotted them hovering near the center table under the canopy.   Beth was seated casually in one of the chairs next to them with Derrick close by her side.   “Come on, I see Beth.”
    His aunt saw him first and he watched as she spotted Olivia next to him.   She gave a welcoming smile and reached out to kiss his cheek affectionately.   “There he is,” she exclaimed.
    “Sorry, we were running a bit late,” he explained, pulling Olivia closer.
    “There’s Livy,” Beth greeted loudly, smiling.   “I was so happy when Alex told me you two were dating!   That old witch never even let me try your cupcakes.”
    Alex figured Beth was referring to his grandmother and Olivia seemed to reach the same conclusion because she smiled and said, “I’m glad she liked them so much.”
    “Liv, this is