8. Easton
8
EASTON
She was trying to run away from me again.
She pulled a flashlight out of her bag and started biking towards the lighthouse.
I wasn’t letting her get away this time. I knew I was being too overbearing, too everything , but I could tell Olive was upset about something. She was always standoffish and skittish, but tonight she seemed exceptionally fragile. Whatever deodorant she was wearing masked her scent, but I would bet anything that it was all twisted and bitter right now.
I jogged after her, easily keeping pace. She glanced over at me and her expression made my heart stop. Fuck, Olive looked close to tears. She quickly turned back to the street and biked faster. I wasn’t much for cardio, but I would run to the ends of the earth if I were following Olive.
She was fumbling with the flashlight, managing to keep balance as she turned it on and clenched it in her hand.
I swore as I realized why she had it. “There aren’t lights along the path.”
It wasn’t a question, but she gave me a little nod, anyway.
She had been riding back and forth to town in the fucking dark? That was unacceptable. As we neared the small path to the lighthouse, I placed a gentle hand on her shoulder. She inhaled sharply and slowed her pedaling.
“I don’t like the idea of you biking in the dark. How about I take the flashlight and run next to you? That way, you don’t have to focus on holding it.”
She stared straight ahead, but her lower lip trembled as she spoke. “Why would you do that?”
I’d never wanted to hug someone so badly, but I had the feeling that she couldn’t handle that kind of affection right now.
“I need to get my workout in,” I said. “You know, I was the star cross-country runner of Starlight Grove High.”
She blinked, briefly meeting my gaze. “You were?”
I snorted. “Fuck no. I played hookey from gym class as often as I could.”
Her lips quirked into an almost-smile.
“I know you don’t need a knight to rescue you, but just let me pretend. It will make me feel a lot better to know you got home safely.” That sounded good, right? Because what I actually wanted to say was, how about I follow you around at all times and implant a tracker under your skin just in case we ever get separated?
I was killing this whole taking things slow thing.
Olive let out a little huff and it was the cutest fucking sound. “Fine.” Her tone didn’t give anything away, but I spotted the little smile on her lips and the pink of her cheeks.
I bowed with an exaggerated flourish. “Excellent, my lady. Let us go forthwith.”
I took the flashlight from her and pointed it down the pitch-black path. Stanley was going to get an earful about this tomorrow. As I kept pace with Olive, all the times Lars, Finn, and I had run down this path together in our childhood came back to me. I’d forgotten how we’d always had a stash of flashlights to light the way. It hadn’t seemed like a big deal back then, but this was Olive . She was precious. And she deserved a lit path to her home.
My chest tightened at the thought of my pack brothers. I needed to tell them we’d won the grant.
The grant I had applied for without telling them .
I was sure they would be excited about it. Well, pretty sure. That annoying voice of reason in the back of my head said that this wasn’t how we ran our business—we made decisions together. But even if they were initially irritated, they would understand once they met Olive. She was perfect for us, the omega we’d been waiting for. This restoration project was going to bring us together, I was convinced of it.
The gentle roar of the ocean waves beckoned us to the lighthouse and we arrived much too quickly. Olive got off her bike and crossed her arms like she was trying to hold herself together.
I tried to give the flashlight back to her, but she didn’t take it.
“You need it to get back,” she said softly.
My heart was going to explode at her concern for me. “The three of us will come by tomorrow to start planning the restoration. I’ll bring the flashlight back then.”
She shifted her weight and looked down at the ground. I couldn’t stop my eyes from taking in her lush, curvy hips. They would look even better with my fingerprints pressed into them.
I cleared my throat. “Does 11:00 a.m. work for tomorrow?”
She shrugged and nodded at the same time. I caught a hint of her scent—twisted and stressed—and I couldn’t stop myself from brushing my fingers down her face. When she didn’t move away, I gently tilted her chin up so she met my gaze.
“Sweet dreams, Olive.”
Her lips parted and I wanted to kiss her more than anything in the world, but I’d already pushed my luck tonight. I would practice patience for her.
I stepped back, giving her a soft smile, and gestured at the door. She seemed dazed as she unlocked it and slipped inside.