Read Online How to Liv by Megan Keith - Free Book Online Page A

buy me something.  We’ve only just met.”
    “Right.”  He sighed.  “Well can I at least buy you a drink?”
    Ally and Rachel returned right then with a tray of drinks.  Ally handed me an icy blue slushy type cocktail which I raised up to Joel.
    “No, I see you’ve got that covered.”  He chuckled.
    “Bottoms up girlfriend!” Rachel said, raising her cocktail glass and clinking it against mine.
    “Enjoy!  You’re only thirty once!” Ally chimed in hitting her glass against both of ours.
    “Thirty, hey?” Joel asked as he sidled up to me.  “Happy birthday Liv.”
    His voice sent chills through me; he sounded so sensual and was only inches away.  I felt the warmth of his breath on the side of my face.
    “I’m just going to get myself a drink,” he announced, before sauntering off towards the bar.
    My eyes automatically followed.  I lifted the cocktail to my mouth and took a large gulp.  It burned going down, it was so cold.  Whatever it was, it was really yum.
    “Who is that ?” Ally asked, leaning into my side, her eyes also focused on Joel, eyeing him off like a piece of meat.  “He’s hot!”
    “ That is Joel,” I replied with a sigh, eyes still trained on him.  “Please don’t embarrass me,” I pleaded softly.
    “I won’t,” she huffed and I turned to her with a stern look on my face.  “Cross my heart,” she said, actually crossing her heart and batting her eyelashes at me.
    I looked back toward the bar just as Joel turned his head to look at me.  A sexy smirk was on his face “spank you for sleeping with me” his words from last night echoed in my mind, for the umpteenth time today.  I felt heat flash through my body and I quickly doused it by sculling the entire blue cocktail in my hand.  It gave me a brain freeze and the buzz started soon after.  Oh boy, was I in trouble!
    Moments later, Joel returned, drink in hand with his eyes on me.  I loved the way he was looking at me as he took a sip of his drink, looking up through his dark lashes - very sensuous.  Ally nudged me with her elbow, refocusing my attention.
    “Joel, this is Rachel, and my sister Ally,” I said, pointing to each in turn.
    “So you’re the one that woke Liv up last night?  Thanks, you saved me from having to listen to her snore,” he joked at my expense, the sexy look in his eyes now trained on my sister as he shook her hand.  I felt a bolt of both jealousy and hurt, but swallowed trying to squish it down.
    “You normally watch movies with girls over the phone like that?” she asked, her eyes twinkling seductively at him.
    “Nope.  That was definitely a first.”
    Joel’s eyes came back to mine.  They held a warmth in them that I had not seen before.  His focus was now solely on me and not my sister.  I breathed a sigh of relief.  Maybe he was immune to my sister’s charms?  I could only hope.
    “What are you on about?” Rachel spoke up, not liking that she wasn’t privy to the basis of our conversation.
    “Come with me Rach and I’ll fill you in.  I think our Libby needs another drink already.”  Ally laughed, looping her arm through Rachel’s and dragging her away to the bar.
    “So, how come Rachel got to give you a present, but I’m not allowed?” Joel asked.
    “Well that’s because Rachel and I have known each other since we were kids.  She’s like family.  Ally and Rach have been best friends since grade three.”
    “So, it’s because I have only known you for a week?”
    “Yep.”
    “But it feels like I’ve known you longer,” he whispered, taking a step closer to me.  I was glad that he felt that, too.  “Plus you did invite me to your 30 th birthday party, so I am entitled to buy you something.”
    “Nope.   No gifts.  And technically, this is not a party, these people are mainly friends from work, and this is just our usual Friday night drinks.  I just hijacked it.”  I shrugged.  “They didn’t buy me gifts and neither should