Trace + Olivia Series Boxed Set (8 page)

Trace’s eyes zeroed in on the piece of paper clenched in my hand and I knew there was no going back now. Even though I was tempted to stuff it back in my pocket and run away.

I took a deep breath, closing my eyes, shivering from fear and not the cool October night.

The things on my list were silly, none of them important, but they were things I had always wanted to do. I was beyond afraid that Trace would laugh in my face, and I honestly wouldn’t blame him if he did.

Trace grew quiet as he watched me work through my inner turmoil.

I pushed down the scared girl I was on the surface and plastered on the face of a confident woman.

I could do this.

I could show Trace my list.

It was time someone besides me knew its contents.

“There’s something I want to show you,” I whispered.

“What is it?” He asked, still looking at my hand.

“It’s a list…a list of all the things I want to do,” I answered, nervously fiddling with the piece of paper.

“
Okay
,” his brows drew together. “Like a bucket list?”

“No,” I whispered, “I call it my Live List. It has nothing to do with dying.”

“Okay,” he repeated, “what’s on it?”

Slowly, I unfurled the folded pieces.

I stared down at the list in my hand. No one but me had ever seen these words, and now, I was about to hand it to someone who was practically a stranger. I couldn’t explain what drew me to Trace and what made me trust him. Frankly, I didn’t care.

I had written my Live List the day before I left for college. Growing up in the household that I did, I was expected to be perfect. There were so many things that I wasn’t allowed to do. I vowed to live my life once I wasn’t stuck under my father’s roof. This list was the only form of rebellion I had. I never thought I would do any of the things on the list, even though I wanted to. I only made it for fun.

I read through it again before I handed it to him.

Get drunk

Fly in a hot air balloon

Go to the carnival

Go to a concert (even if it’s

someone I’ve never heard of)

Go to a party

Lose my virginity

Dance in the rain

Go roller skating

See the ocean

Learn to paint

Get a dog…or a cat…or a rabbit. Any pet will do.

Sing in front of real people. Avery doesn’t count.

Make more friends

Shoot a gun

Smoke

Get a tattoo

Learn to pole dance

Go skinny dipping

Pierce my belly button

Fall in love

“Here’s my list,” I handed it to Trace. “Feel free to laugh,” I sighed, even though I hoped he didn’t. Those things had seemed so important when I made this list and now they seemed so silly.

Trace’s eyes scanned over the wrinkled piece of paper. “You’ve never been to a carnival? Or a concert?” His piercing green eyes met mine.

“No,” I shook my head. “My dad wouldn’t allow it.”

“Not even roller skating?” He asked in disbelief.

“No,” I laughed. “I might have fallen and ended up with my legs in the air and my dad says that’s not a respectable position for a lady.”

Trace snorted. “Well,” he said, “you’ve got four things crossed off. The first three are…well…”

I blushed, knowing exactly what those three things were. “Yeah,” I groaned. “I kind of crossed those three off in one night.”

“Really?” He raised a brow.

“Yeah,” I laughed. “Avery dragged me to a party my first week here. There was beer, so naturally I had to try it, which led me to get drunk and thinking having sex with a stranger was a good idea. It was in the bathroom and it only lasted like two minutes. It wasn’t really pleasant. I don’t know why people seem to like sex so much.”

“Olivia,” he tilted my chin up, the green of his eyes searing my very soul. “I can assure you that sex can be very, very, good…when it’s with the right person,” his thumb brushed my bottom lip, sending a shiver down my spine. “And,” he leaned forward, his lips brushing my ear, the stubble on his cheeks grazing my sensitive skin, “I also know with firsthand experience, that it can last a lot longer than two minutes.”

He pulled away and grinned knowingly at me.

Butterflies fluttered in my stomach and I looked away from Trace, trying not to think about performing the horizontal tango with him and wondering exactly how long it would last. I bet sex with Trace would be amazing.

Olivia! Stop! He’s your friend!
I scolded myself.
Or not really your friend, but still! Stop it!

“So,” Trace began, “you got your belly button pierced?” He waggled his eyebrows, staring at my shirt.

“Yep,” I rolled my eyes.
Boys.

“Show me,” he grinned cockily.

I knew Trace didn’t think I would, so that’s exactly why I pulled my shirt up, making sure the bottom edge of my bra showed.

“Damn,” Trace whistled, and he definitely wasn’t looking at the piercing in my belly button.

“Are you staring at my boobs?” I asked with a smile and laugh in my voice, hoping he didn’t notice the blush spreading up my chest, to my neck, and cheeks.

I knew he was, but I wanted to hear him say it.

Trace ducked his head, his eyes landing on my stomach, before flicking away. “Sorry about that.”

Boldly, I said, “I’m not.”

Whoa girl! Where did that come from?

I had never said or done anything like that in my life…which was pretty sad, because that was tame compared to what most people did.

Trace grinned and went back to inspecting my list. “So, you want to learn to pole dance?”

I blushed at one of the more daring ventures I had scribbled down. “I’ve heard it’s great exercise.”

Trace flashed me his cocky grin, “And it’s great viewing pleasure for men.”

I pushed his shoulder and he laughed, but from the expression on his face, I knew he was imagining me shimming up and down a pole. Hopefully, I was doing a good job in his mind, because I knew that if I did cross that one off my list, I’d probably bruise my butt in the process.

“These are definitely doable,” he scanned over the list once more.

I was relieved that Trace hadn’t laughed at me and took my list seriously.

“I want you to help me cross all of these off,” the words tumbled out of my mouth. “I know you don’t know me that well, but I’ve been too scared to do them on my own. I don’t want to be scared anymore, Trace,” I bit my lip to stop the floodgate of words I was spewing.

“Of course I’ll help you,” he responded immediately, not even giving it a second thought. It had become obvious to me that he was just that kind of guy, always willing to help. He kept reading over my list, and I swallowed, wanting to snatch the piece of paper from his hands so he would stop scrutinizing it.

“Can I keep this?” He asked.

No!
I wanted to scream. But instead, the word that left my lips, was, “Sure.”

“Thanks,” he grinned, tucking it into his left breast pocket.

I looked down at the half eaten dinner sitting in my lap, looking pitiful in its container. I really hoped he couldn’t see how badly I was freaking out.

Now, not only had I told him about my father and my list, but I was letting him keep it? Had my common sense taken a hike? This was only the fifth time I had seen Trace and I was telling him things that even Avery didn’t know!

“It’s getting late,” Trace commented.

I looked up and realized night had descended upon us.

The sky was clear, thousands of stars gazing down upon us. They were so magical with the way they sparkled in the sky. When I was little, I always thought it looked like they were winking at me.

I found myself setting the food aside, and leaning back on the table, my legs dangling.

Trace did the same, cupping the back of his head with one hand.

“They’re so pretty,” I whispered, reaching a hand up like I could capture one of those white shimmering dots in my hand. “It amazes me that the stars we’re looking at right now, could actually be dead, but because it takes so long for their light to reach the Earth they’re still shining for us.”

“It’s an amazing world we live in,” he murmured, his free arm brushing mine.

My heart thundered in my chest.

Keep it cool, Olivia!
I scolded myself.

I gasped when I saw a shooting star. “Oh my God! I’ve never seen a shooting star before!”

“Make a wish then,” he whispered, turning on his side to face me, propping his elbow on the table, and his head in his hand.

I closed my eyes and wished for everything, anything, and nothing at all.

It had been two weeks since I had seen Trace in person, but we were constantly texting.

Every time a text from him popped up on my phone, I smiled goofily, or at least that’s what Avery told me. I wasn’t sure if she could be trusted though, because she was miffed that she hadn’t heard from Luca.

“Seriously,” she whined for the thousandth time today, “why hasn’t he called or text me?”

“Avery,” I laughed, spinning around in my chair to face her, where she sat on her bed. “I have never seen you so worked up over a guy before.”

“He was amazing, Olivia! I’ve never kissed anyone like that before! Excuse me if I want to see what else he has to offer!”

I snickered quietly. “I’m seeing Trace tomorrow. I can ask him about Luca, if you want me to.”

“You are? And you would do that for me?” Her eyes sparkled to life.

I hid my giggle. Normally, Avery would have told me that asking a guy’s best friend about him was breaking the dating code, but obviously she was getting desperate.

“Yep,” I replied to her first question. I had no idea what we’d be doing though. All Trace had told me was that we’d be crossing something off my list. Unfortunately, that sounded ominous to me, because he could have picked any of the sixteen things left. “And of course I would do that for you. That’s what best friends are for.”

She nibbled on her fingernail. “I’m not sure. I don’t want to seem desperate.”

I hated to inform her, but she had passed
desperate
a long time ago.

“You won’t seem desperate,” I replied, because that was the nice, best-friend thing to say.

“No, no,” she shook her head, a grin spreading across her face. “I have a better idea.”

“Oh Lord,” I muttered, turning back to my computer, and the homework that wasn’t going to do itself. “With that smile, I’m a bit worried for Luca’s wellbeing.”

“Don’t worry, he’ll be fine,” she giggled behind me. “After all, I need all his parts in tact and in perfect working order for what I want to do. I just need to find a really short skirt and some ‘fuck me’ heels. No guy can resist that.”

I knew there was no point in scolding her or trying to talk her out of whatever her plan was.

“Have fun plotting,” I muttered. “I need to finish this,” I pointed to my computer.

“Mhmm,” she mumbled, already scheming poor Luca’s demise. He didn’t stand a chance against whatever Avery was coming up with. When she set her sights on a guy, she didn’t give up, which is why I found it odd that she had waited this long for
him
to take action. Maybe she really did like him.