she noticed she still had a couple hours before she needed to get ready to meet Emma. She pulled her down comforter over her head and snuggled in for some uninterrupted, peaceful sleep.
* * *
Late as usual, Olivia collapsed in the chair across from Emma and, before saying a word, reached for the drink her best friend had already ordered for her. With her head still in a hangover fog, she realized too late that it was her usual mimosa and cringed as it went down her throat.
Across the table, perfectly made-up with her long, golden locks falling in smooth waves to her shoulders and her face bright and fresh, Emma raised an eyebrow.
Okay, so Olivia hadn’t been one to turn her nose up at alcohol. Ever.
Well, unless she was nursing a hangover, that is. Some people swore by having another drink the morning after an alcohol-fest, but the hair of the dog had never worked for Liv, much as she’d tried it during her college years.
Feeling frumpy next to her gorgeous—and always put together—best friend, she smoothed back her hair, attempting to tame the frizzies. She’d managed to fall back asleep after taking her aspirin, which was good because when she’d woken up again, she hadn’t felt like gnomes were using pickaxes to slowly break away at her skull. She’d also managed to sleep until she had only twenty minutes to get ready and meet Emma. She’d had only enough time to pee, brush her teeth and pull her hair back into a clip before rushing out the door.
Olivia reached for her water and took a tentative sip before settling back in her seat, finally looking up at Emma again. Yep, her eyebrow was still raised, and now she was leaning forward, one elbow on the table, her chin resting in her hand and a glint in her eyes. Classic gossip mode.
“So...” Emma said, dragging out the word. Olivia didn’t know what she’d heard yet—wasn’t sure if Ian had called her or not—so she simply sat there and said nothing. Her best friend knew how to play the game well, but, luckily, so did she. Emma smiled, a slow, evil grin spreading across her mouth. “I heard you danced on a couple tables last night.”
“Oh, Christ,” Olivia said, her hand coming up to cover her face. “Did I really? Please tell me that’s not true. I haven’t had a chance to call Ian yet and ask.”
Emma laughed loudly, the sound filling the space like wind chimes. Whenever Olivia laughed loudly, it always sounded like a hyena. “Actually, what I really want to know is when the hell you decided to take Ian as your date. Did I somehow lose BFF status and wasn’t aware?”
Olivia cringed and took another drink of water, sneaking a glance at Emma’s face. The playful smirk she wore proved she wasn’t really mad, but there was something in her eyes that showed she was still a little hurt that Olivia hadn’t told her. Since the age of twelve, they’d shared everything with each other.
But how could she share this? What had started as a simple proposition had somehow turned into a burning attraction for Ian that she’d never had before. Olivia didn’t know how her best friend would react to hearing that she had these feelings for her brother, and since Emma could read her like a book, Olivia wasn’t sure she’d manage to hide it. If she acted on her impulses, not only could it damage her relationship with Ian, but what would happen to her friendship with Emma?
“I’m sorry,” Olivia said genuinely. “It was sort of a last-minute thing he offered, and you’ve been busy with Brad or Brett or Brady or whomever it is this week, so I figured I’d just tell you today.”
Emma stared at Olivia for a few moments, studying her. Trying to keep a neutral expression on her face, Olivia glanced down at the menu in front of her, as if she didn’t order the same thing every week.
Finally, Emma spoke. “Well, at least he’s not spending his weekends with brainless bimbos anymore.” That was definitely one thing they agreed on. “But the