Chapter 26
26
TUCK
I t’s the Thursday after the weekend in New Hampshire, and I haven’t seen Olivia all week.
I’m at the ramen shop having lunch with Hudson. I feel like a dick, because I’ve hardly heard anything he’s said for the past twenty minutes. I’ve just been nodding along and giving non-committal grunts as he’s tried to carry a conversation.
Hell must have frozen over if he’s the chatty one between the two of us.
I just keep thinking about that morning with Olivia. How fucking incredible it was. And how much it would suck if it never happened again.
Which, considering how stingy Olivia’s been with replying to my texts, seems like a distinct possibility.
“Tuck, check it out,” Hudson says, at a rare moment when my attention’s drifted back to my immediate surroundings.
I turn in my seat, towards the back of the restaurant. Kazu is right behind the wooden counter, but he’s pouring a clear liquid into a shot glass. Without any change to his normal stoic expression, he throws it back in one gulp.
But as I look at him, I realize maybe his face isn’t quite that stoic. I can read something there. Not quite heartbreak, but something close. Maybe I’d miss it if I weren’t feeling the same thing right now. But because I am, I sense a kindred spirit in this moment.
“Hey, Kazu,” I call over to him. His eyes shift to me. I tilt my head back. “Why don’t you bring that liquor over here? I could use a fuckin’ drink myself.”
We’re the only customers here right now, so why not?
Kazu regards me silently for a beat. Then he nods, dipping his chin lower than the normal centimeter he doles out when acknowledging people.
Kazu reaches under the counter and picks up two more shot glasses, then grabs the bottle and walks over to us, taking a seat next to me. He pours himself, Hudson, and me a glass of what I now see is sake, and we all throw it back.
My eyes close as the liquid burns down my throat. Fuck, I needed that.
Kazu sighs. “Women are often inscrutable,” he says.
“You fuckin’ said it, buddy,” I reply.
Hudson shrugs. “They made sense to me.”
“She gives me a book,” Kazu says, pouring himself more sake, “and then suddenly, she’s going on a date with another man.” He throws back the shot. “Inscrutable.”
Hudson purses his lips, nodding his head in thought. “Well, what did you do after she gave you the book?”
Kazu looks at him blankly. “I read it.”
“What did you do for her after she gave you the book?” Hudson prods.
Kazu’s silent for a beat.
“Did you give her a book that you think she’ll like?”
“No,” Kazu answers, drawing out the syllable thoughtfully.
“You can’t just let her make a gesture and not return it with one of your own,” Hudson says.
“You gotta get her a book, bro,” I say, grabbing the sake and taking another shot. “Something that, like, relates to her in some way. Or a book that makes you think of her when you think about it.”
He nods slowly, his brain absorbing the idea.
“What about you?” Hudson turns his gaze on me.
My brow furrows. “What about me?”
“What’s your easily solvable girl problem?”
I huff a sarcastic laugh. “Easily solvable. Yeah, right.”
I haven’t told Hudson what happened with Olivia in New Hampshire. Haven’t told anyone, because she asked me not to. All I’ve been able to do is think about it—which I do just about every waking moment.
“Well, it’s obviously about Olivia,” Hudson says.
“Aren’t you a fucking detective all of a sudden,” I snark. Who else would it be about? Hudson knows I haven’t been with any other girls since I met Olivia months ago. “Well, lay it on me, Sherlock. What’s the easy solution?”
Hudson’s lips straighten, and for a moment I let hope buoy inside me. Is it possible he actually has some advice to offer that’s going help me finally convince Olivia to give me a real shot?
He shrugs. “Guess you’re right. It’s not so easily solvable. Olivia’s got her defenses way up when it comes to you, that’s for sure.”
I let out a groan.
“Swapping with Rhys to go to that gala wasn’t worth it, I take it?” he asks.
Oh, if only he fucking knew. I’d have given my left nut for the morning I had with Olivia. A month of doing Rhys’ laundry and chores for that? The trade of a damn lifetime.
“No, we had a great time,” I say.
And I’m not even talking about her pussy taking me to another plane of existence.
I’m talking about the night before, when we stood out on the heated patio and ate Pretzel M&M’s while drinking expensive champagne. I’m talking about when we spent hours in bed watching The Office, making bets on how long it’ll take Jim and Pam to get together.
I’ve been so in the mood to keep watching the show since I got back, but the thought of watching it while Olivia’s giving me the cold shoulder just feels like a thorn pricking my heart.
“But I know she’s been intentionally avoiding me ever since we got back,” I finish.
“She had a bad experience dating a hockey player in the past,” Hudson says. “A rich, cocky hockey player. Just like you.”
My eyebrows pinch. “I’m not like him at all.”
Hudson chuckles. “How do you know? You don’t even know him.”
I don’t need to. I know I’m nothing like that fucker. Because he hurt Olivia, and I never would.
Kazu stands up. “Finished?” he asks, looking at our empty bowls. We nod, and he clears our table. He suddenly seems to have a plan of action in mind, and when we leave the restaurant, he’s right at the door, turning the Open sign to Closed .
I push out a heavy sigh as we walk back home. I wish showing Olivia that I really, genuinely want to get to know her better and spend more time with her were as easy as buying a damn book.
I know one thing, though: I’m sure as hell not giving up. She’s got my heart wrapped around her finger, and I’ve got no interest in trying to untwirl it.