Long story short of it

 

Rico brought Liv along just because he could. He didn't want to say it, but he wasn't sure if he could go to Caitlin and Deano's alone. He knew he had to. He hadn't exactly said much since he found out his sister was going to have a baby. As it was, Caitlin hadn't exactly reached out to him. 

"I should just forget about it," Rico shrugged on the drive over. Liv held the basket of fruit and nuts.

"Look, you told Mario you would," Liv sighed. She gave him a stare that he better do what he said.

He gripped the stirring wheel a little harder. He knew Caitlin could care less if she saw him.

"We won't be there long," Liv reminded him that they only had an hour to kill before going back to the grocery store. Both were working extra hours.

Rico nodded. He guessed he could do this.

Of course, Deano let them in and Caitlin was lounging on the couch as if she really didn't even notice there were guests. She was snacking on popcorn. 

"What are you two doing here?" She finally asked.

"Reporting back to Mario, of course." Rico couldn't let her think that he cared because she didn't care either.

"Well, that's sweet of you," she was her nonchalant self. She told Deano to get them drinks and asked them to sit. Rico wanted to stand, but Liv pulled him down to sit next to her on the little loveseat.

"So what have you been up to? You two?" Caitlin eyed Liv as if she was ready to put her under a microscope. "Just how long have you been seeing my little brother?"

Rico sighed.

"Oh, I dunno." Liv shrugged giving Rico a look to help her out, but she went on to say. "Not that long. It feels longer because we work together." She held on to the fruit basket and Caitlin finally took it from her.

"That's good..just as long you aren't doing anything I would do." She smirked as she took an orange to peel.

Rico rolled his eyes at that. Liv did her best to keep smiling. 

"I'm just part of Rico's work family," Liv nodded. "We try to help each other out when we can."

Rico looked a Liv, thinking how overwhelmed she'd been all these weeks about getting in assignments and making sure her Cricket bill and Netflix were paid. Really, she could always surprise him. He wanted to hug her, but he knew she wouldn't let him.