It’s not exactly a hardship, but it’s also not the same as being there. It’s not the same as having Lebron practically sweating on you as he runs by.
And when I watch the game at home, I have too much damn time to think.
I haven’t been able to think about anything but Olivia since she left my house yesterday afternoon. Dinner with Jamal and Kelly was a nice distraction this evening, but now I’m alone again, and all I can think about is her.
Gorgeous body.
Sassy mouth.
The constant lust is almost annoying now.
Rather than sit around and be sexually frustrated, I should just call her.
So, I do.
I dial her number. After two rings, it goes to voicemail.
I scowl at the screen and see a text come through from Olivia.
Olivia: Did you want something?
Me: Yeah, I want you to call me.
Olivia: Why? People don’t call. They text.
I scoff and redial her number. It rings once.
“Come on, pick up.”
Rings twice.
“Pick up, or I’ll spank your gorgeous little ass.”
It rings three times, and then she picks up.
“Uh, hello?”
“Why are you avoiding me?”
She’s quiet for a moment, and I can almost picture her narrowing her eyes at me.
Even that turns me the fuck on.
“If you behaved like a normal person and simply texted me, I wouldn’t be avoiding you.”
“Do you have issues with talking on the phone?”
“Doesn’t everyone?” she counters, making me grin. “So, what’s up?”
I sigh and mute the TV, watching as Lebron dunks the ball.
“I was just wondering what you’re up to, that’s all. And, yeah, I could have just texted, but then I wouldn’t be able to hear your sexy voice, and that would be a shame.”
She goes quiet again.
“Did you hang up on me?”
“No.” I hear the smile in her voice and relax just a little. “I’m not up to much. I worked late and then came home, made dinner for the crew, got cozy, and was reading a book.”
“Who’s the crew?”
I settle back in my chair, enjoying her already. Her voice is soothing—like liquid chocolate.
“I share a house with a few of my cousins,” she says. “And we take turns cooking dinner. Except for Drew. When it’s his turn, he orders pizza or something, which is fine with me because I’m pretty sure he could burn boiled water.”
“Who are the other cousins?” I just want to keep her talking.
“Stella and Erin. Drew is the only boy. And, technically, he lives in the guest house, but he comes into the main house to eat our food and hang.”
“Aside from my family, I’ve never lived with roommates,” I confess.
I’ve never needed them.
“I like it. It’s never boring.”
She’s quiet for a moment, and I try to picture what she looks like.
“What are you wearing?” I ask her.
“Don’t be a perv, Vaughn.”
I laugh and tap my screen, engaging the video chat option. After a few seconds, Olivia’s gorgeous face comes on my screen.
And she’s not at all what I expected.
Her hair is up in a bun, she’s wearing a hoodie, and her face is clean of makeup. She’s also wearing glasses.
“Not exactly glamorous,” she says.
“Better,” I reply and rub my fingers with my thumb. I itch to touch her. To kiss her.
“I did say that I got cozy.”
“Did I imply that I think you’re not hot right now?”
She raises a brow and then shrugs a shoulder. “No. I suppose not. What is that you’re wearing?”
“Lucky T-shirt.” I hold the phone away so she can see my shirt. “I always wear it when the Lakers play.”
“Lakers fan, huh?” she says with a grin.
“To the bone,” I agree. “I’m usually there in person when I can swing it.”
“Instead, you’re in Seattle and talking to me.”
“It’s not a bad trade.” She grins, and I have to take a deep breath. Jesus, she just gets right under my skin. “You might be the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen in my life.”
That grin fades, and she looks somewhere over the phone.
“Why does that make you uncomfortable?”
“It doesn’t.”
“Don’t lie to me,” I whisper. “It’s no secret that I’m incredibly attracted to you, Olivia.”
“Liv,” she says. “You can call me Liv.”
I’ll call her Olivia. I like it.
“If I make you uncomfortable, just say so. No hard feelings.”
She blows out a breath and shakes her head. “It’s not that. And I won’t pretend that I’m not attracted to you, too. Because, clearly, I am. You haven’t made me uncomfortable or done anything that I didn’t want you to do.”
“I’m really not creepy.”
She laughs, and my stomach loosens. My dick, however, tightens.
“Creepy dudes don’t know that they’re creepy.”
I smile at her. “True. So, here’s more truth for you. You turn me the hell on.”
Those green eyes shine with interest. “Yeah?”
“Yeah.”
“Well, that’s not necessarily a bad thing.”
“It is when you’re not here.”
She bites her plump lower lip. God, does she know that she’s being fucking coy? I want to bite that lip.