Lovers and Friends

Jealousy

"You into trying something new?"

"I trust your food instincts. You haven't failed me yet." Olivia smiled at that response from Nick and looked back down at her menu. She'd reached out to him yesterday after her late night revelation and asked if they could meet for dinner. "Let's try the pork gyoza with our ramen."

"Whatever you say, boss lady," he responded.

Once the waiter left with their order at a local ramen spot, Nick turned to Olivia. "What you get into this weekend?"

Guiltily, Olivia's mind flashed to her waking up on top of Spencer less than 48 hours ago. "Not much. How was San Diego?"

The soccer team had played there this weekend. "Kinda lit."

Olivia felt jittery, debating whether or not she should just rip off the bandaid.

"Hey, Nick. I was kinda hoping we could talk tonight...." She forced herself to stop fidgeting with the chopsticks and look up at him. "I know we haven't really said what we're doing but I realized that I'd actually like it if we just stayed friends." She glanced down. "And maybe that's all you wanted all along and I'm making a fool of myself—" She heard him laugh and looked at him again. "But you just... deserve honesty. So."

He watched her for a moment and smiled. "I appreciate your honesty, Baker. Really. And... to be honest, I really did and do like you. But now that I'm starting on the soccer team, shit's a little crazier than I expected and I probably can't handle a girl right now." They smiled at each other silently for a moment. "So—" Nick paused to pick up one of his chopsticks and hold it towards her. Smiling, she picked up one of hers and tapped it to his. "To friends?"

"To friends," Liv answered. That had been easier than she expected. And she was glad, Nick really was cool.

They pulled away as the waiter came with their pork dumplings. Liv scooted the plate towards Nick. "Go ahead, newbie."

He rolled his eyes and popped one in his mouth. She watched him nod, impressed. "Damn, that's good. You're good." He held out his fist to her to bump and she bumped it with a laugh.

A throat clearing interrupted them. "Oh, hey y'all!" Oh, no. With dread, Olivia turned to see Taylor guiding Spencer over to their table, her hand wrapped around his bicep.

"Hey, you two," she tried to sound as cheery as possible and made brief eye contact with both Taylor and Spencer to avoid suspicion.

This was her first interaction with Spencer since he'd texted her yesterday morning, not long after Bri's wake up call.

Did you walk back to your dorm by yourself in the middle of the night???

She could practically feel his annoyance through her screen.

I'm fine

Olivia

Again feeling his irritation through the screen, she wasn't sure if it was to her leaving alone in the middle of the night or if his irritation was about what she had decided to run away from in the middle of the night.

She didn't want to know the answer. And so she didn't text back.

And now here he was in front of her the next day with his girlfriend.

"Aww, are y'all having date night? That's adorable," Taylor's voice was sugary sweet. "We're doing the same thing!"

"Y'all have to try the pork gyoza. Liv always has the best food recs. Never fails," Liv focused on the Houston drawl of Nick's voice to distract from the gaze she could feel burning into her.