Main Attraction

Chapter 14

"Rebecca Fucking Daniels asked you to record an album and you said MAYBE?!" Tessa screeched.

"Keep your voice down." I hissed, "I don't want the whole world to know."

The two of us were sitting in her office during our lunch break. I was just telling her about how I skipped work the day before. She was taking it okay, "I'm sorry but being a singer has been your dream since you were two! What the hell are you thinking saying maybe?"

"I'm thinking that I have Melody to think about. Not to mention Reid and Will. I can't just do whatever I want anymore."

Tessa sighed as she leaned back in her chair, stabbing a piece of chicken with her fork, "Being an adult sucks. You're so crazy talented and yet no one is going to know."

I blushed at her compliment. "Well, Reid thinks I should do it."

"I knew I liked him." Her grin practically lit up her face, "Why don't the two of you come over to dinner on Friday? It's about time that I finally get to ogle at Thor."

"I swear, if you keep calling him Thor, you're never going to meet him." 

"I'm going to meet him next week anyway. Unless you haven't told him about your birthday next week. Oh my god Liv, you totally haven't mentioned it!"

"Fine, I haven't mentioned it. I've been avoiding the whole birthday thing." I sighed leaning back in my chair. I'm not a huge birthday person. Never really have been.

"That's it." She reached over and stole my phone. Next thing I know she's tapping away and put my phone up to her ear. "Reid! Hi, this is Olive's best friend Tessa... no she's fine... Yeah, she's sitting in front of me but she's a little chicken shit sometimes... Alright, so I'm inviting the two of you over for dinner with my husband and me on Friday... Okay, perfect... Don't have to worry about a thing... Okay, also Olive's birthday is next week, the twenty-second to be exact... Yeah, she's weird with birthdays, we usually have a small cookout at her parent's place... Oh for sure, ooh and invite your family too. Olive was telling me how much she loves them. The more the merrier... I'll let her parents know... yeah I'll pass you over now."

She handed me over the phone and I could already feel a blush starting to form. I put the phone up to my ear, "Hey babe."

I could hear his silky chuckle pass through the phone, "Hey, so your friend seems nice."

"Yeah, she can be," I said, sticking my tongue out at Tessa for good measure. She doesn't have to know he said she was nice. "You really don't have to go on Friday, or to the family thing. It's really nothing, just a few friends and my parents."

"Do you not want me there?" He asked. I could almost hear a glimmer of fear in his voice. I remembered his fear of people leaving him. God, I wish I could slap his ex for what she did to him. He didn't deserve it.

"No, I'm just not one of those people who likes their birthday. It's a whole thing, but I'd love for you to meet my family. This has absolutely nothing to do with you and everything to do with me."

"How about we talk after work about everything? I was going to make curry tonight if you and Melody want to come over?" He asked.

"Sure, why don't I pick the kids up from school today? Give you less to worry about."

"Thanks Oli, I've got to go, but I'll see you tonight. Love you."

"Love you too." I hung up the phone and looked at a smiling Tessa, "I really hate you sometimes." She just laughed and went back to her lunch. Typical.

*****

That night after dinner we had Will and Melody read quietly in Will's room. Reid and I sat in the living room together with some music playing so they couldn't eavesdrop. Reid pulled my legs onto his lap before taking my hands in his. "Okay, so do you want me to go to your birthday thing?"