Finding Olivia (Trace + Olivia #1) by Micalea Smeltzer Page B

hair.
    Avery’s eyes widened and her mouth formed a perfect O. “What happened?”
    Luca glared at Trace and then met Avery’s eyes. “Surfing accident, the scar’s about six inches long. I lost a lot of blood and almost lost my life. After that, I didn’t have the passion for the sport anymore, so I quit,” he shrugged, pulling his hair down to hide the scar once more and replaced his hat.
    “Wow,” Avery gasped.
    I wondered if she was saying wow about his surfing accident, or at the fact that he spoke a whole freakin’ paragraph.
    The waitress came with our food but Avery was too busy staring at Luca to notice.
    I rolled my eyes, choosing to ignore them.
    I tried to eat my dinner as quickly as possible. I wanted to go. I felt so incredibly awkward, more awkward than I normally felt. I was able to talk to Trace easily now, but something about having extra company there, scared me. I was afraid I’d say something to Trace, Avery would overhear me, and proceed to tell me that I should talk about something else.
    I really needed to stop being so insecure.
    Trace’s eyes twinkled and his lips quirked with barely contained laughter.
    “What?” I asked, automatically reaching up to touch my face.
    Oh, shit.
    I had BBQ sauce all over my mouth. I pulled my hand away, staring at the stickiness now covering my fingers.
    I bit down on my lip, trying not to cry. This was so embarrassing!
    “Here,” Trace tossed one of the wet wipes at me.
    That only made me want to cry more. I felt like a child.
    I was really beginning to hate that I was so shy. Avery would have brushed this off as if it was nothing. But I couldn’t do that.
    I ripped the packet open and hastily wiped my mouth and finger s clean, vowing to, never-ever-not-in-a-million-years , eat BBQ wings again. Nope. Never.
    “Hey,” Trace leaned across the table, “it’s okay.”
    No, it most certainly was not okay. I was about to cry in front of a room full of strangers…and Trace.
    I nodded, avoiding his scrutiny. I stared at the basket of chicken. I’d only eaten two of them, but suddenly , I wasn’t hungry. In fact, I was pretty sure I would never be hungry again.
    I pushed my basket away and covered them with a napkin.
    Trace watched my movements, not missing anything, before doing the same and motioning the waitress over.
    She scurried quickly to the table. “Is there something I can get you?” She looked down at the food we’d barely touched. “Did you not like the food?”
    “We’re not very hungry,” Trace explained with a grin. Pulling his wallet out of his pocket he handed her money. “This should cover our meals,” he pointed to himself and me, “and a tip for you.”
    “Alright,” she accepted the money. “If you didn’t enjoy your meal I can speak to my manager and-”
    Trace held up a hand to stop her. She tucked a piece of blond e hair that had fallen out of her ponytail, behind her ear.
    “That’s not necessary,” he told her.
    “Okay,” she said softly, skittering away, but glancing back over her shoulder at Trace.
    “Did you drive?” He asked me.
    “No,” I shook my head. “Avery brought me.”
    “Good,” he grinned, tapping Luca on the shoulder. “We’re gonna head out. Get Avery to take you home.”
    Avery grinned like the cat that ate the canary. “Don’t expect me back tonight,” she informed me.
    I rolled my eyes. Avery was cocky enough to be a guy. There was no one else on the planet like her.
    Trace stood and shrugged his lean shoulders into his leather jacket. I raked my eyes over him, I’d been too nervous earlier to see what he was wearing. Surprise, surprise, he wore a purple plaid shirt.
    “Come on,” he reached for my hand and led me outside.
    I noticed that there was an area for people to eat outside but it was currently closed for the winter months.
    Trace led me to a black car that definitely wasn’t the one he’d been driving.
    “New car?” I asked, as he used a push button to unlock it.