Chapter 2 #3
Olivia poses with her chin resting on her fist. “And you just took the first photo of the announcement.”
Moving my hands to mime holding a camera, I snap the picture. “Beautiful.”
“That’s an exclusive. Don’t lose it!”
“Hold on a sec.” I reach for my phone in my back pocket and pause, waiting for her approval. Then I take a real photo. “I give it less than a decade before it happens.”
“There is no way I’d ever become Governor, especially for a huge state like California. Should we have a wager?”
“No need. It’s a prediction. When you become Governor—if you want it—I want to be the first to congratulate you.”
“The call that will never happen,” she chuckles, glancing away as she blushes.
There is no doubt in my mind she’ll accomplish anything she sets her mind to.
I’ve spent years watching her hand raise before everyone else's with thoughtful answers to our professors’ questions.
But this fun, playful side of her—I hope it’s just for me.
If and when she is elected to public office, I’ll absolutely be the first person to call.
Then again, if things were different, I’d be beside her when she got the news.
A woman comes by to let us know they’re closing in a few minutes. Olivia and I still have a half-full plate of nachos and race to finish them. Once we only have a few chips left, I excuse myself and rush over to the register.
“Hi, is it too late to put in a to-go order?”
“Depends on what you’re ordering,” the woman replies, not glancing up from her register.
I quickly scan the menu, then briefly look over my shoulder to Olivia. Her back is still turned, and I rush out, “Two orders of chicken enchiladas?”
“I only have enough for one with chicken, but I can do the other with cheese or beef.”
“Oh, that’s fine. I’ll take one cheese and one chicken.”
I pay and return to the table, pleased to find Olivia’s polished off the last of the nachos. She’s typing something into her phone, frowning as she mutters to herself, “Shit.”
“What’s wrong?”
“Oh, sorry. I was hoping to take the next train, but it’s on a weird schedule tonight due to construction. I have to wait at least another forty minutes.”
“My car is in one of the garages about two blocks from here. I can drive you home.”
“That’s all right,” she insists, all of the joy she’s had over the past half-hour drained out of her. “I can get a rideshare.”
“Olivia.” A beat after hearing her name, her gaze snaps up with a hint of heat in her eyes. “I’ll drive you home.”
“Okay,” she breathes, then swallows thickly. “But are you sure? It’s not close.”
“Even if we had to drive to Jersey, I’d still take you home.”
She wets her lips, pulling my attention to them. “You really don’t have to, I can always just wait for the train.”
“I offered, but if you want, I can wait with you instead?”
“Thank you,” she sighs with a small smile. “Actually, a ride home would be great, if you really don’t mind. I try to avoid commuting this late by myself. Also, I—”
“Order eight-ninety-seven!”
“That’s ours.”
I stand and make my way to the handoff area, and Olivia calls after me, “What do you mean ours?”
Returning to her with the bag, I hold it up. “Shredded chicken or cheese?” Her eyes search mine in question. “For lunch tomorrow,” I add with a shrug. “Since I ate most of your nachos.”
“I’m pretty sure I did,” she laughs with a grin I’d kiss away if she’d let me. “But thank you. Cheese would be great.”
“Come on.” I brave offering my hand instead of my arm.
She slides hers into mine, interlacing our fingers as her sweet smile widens.
Warmth fills me, but a sudden ache festers in my chest. I hate how I’ll only have a few months of getting to know her before I have to leave.
How can the universe give me this chance with her when there’s an expiration date?
I suppose it’s my own damn fault for waiting so long.
We walk a few blocks to the car, and I drive her home.
On the way, she tells me about how she’s not thrilled about her ethics class because the grading system is skewed heavily toward her final paper.
Knowing very little about the course or the professor, I still assure her it’ll work out.
All the while, her hand fits a little too perfectly in mine.
For years I worried that I'd built up the idea of her in my head, but the more time I spend with her, it’s harder to ignore that she’s everything I’ve ever wanted in a girlfriend.
Hell, she’s what I’d want for a wife one day—an equal partner to spend my life with.
Now my biggest concern isn’t that she’s incredible, but that I’ll fall for a woman who can only be mine until December.
What would it take to keep her?
When we arrive at her apartment building, she sighs, “Well, this is me.”
As she’s about to get out, I stop her. “Don’t forget lunch.”
“Oh, right. Thanks.”
I retrieve it from the back seat and put on my hazard lights, then get out of the car and round it.
Opening her door, I offer my hand to help her out, then pass her the enchiladas.
I take my time, desperate for a few extra minutes with her.
Dinner was entirely too short, and I’m already looking forward to the morning.
“Thank you for coming tonight.”
“Thank you for dinner… and lunch,” she beams.
“My pleasure.” Closing the small distance keeping me from her, I resist her lips I’ve been fantasizing about all night. As I lean in, I whisper beside her ear, “I’ll see you in the morning.”
“Morning.” Her echoed word comes out shaky.
I press a soft kiss to the side of her neck, and Olivia’s breath catches in her throat.
My lips linger a second longer than they should as her floral perfume fills my lungs.
Rose, maybe? But there’s also a hint of something sweet, like vanilla.
I’ve never yearned for someone standing right in front of me like this before.
I have to put space between us—immediately—before I take things too far, too fast. If she invites me upstairs, I should decline; one night with her wouldn’t be enough.
I step back, loving how she fails to stifle her whimper. “I’ll be back here at five.”
“Five. Right. For, um…”
“Coffee,” I remind.
“Yeah. Coffee.” As she lightly licks her lips, it takes everything in me to not kiss her. This timid side of her is addicting, but I need to keep my mouth to myself. Lance is right; I’ll fall hard if I’m not careful. If I’m being honest with myself, I already am.
Olivia walks up the steps to her building, scanning her fob to enter.
As she opens the door, she glances back once, and with the lights beaming from the entrance, she looks like an angel.
With a final smile and a small wave, she heads inside.
It isn’t until the door shuts behind her that I get back in the car, and I can’t wipe the grin off my face.
Dating someone like Olivia would likely be the stupidest decision of my life. When the semester is over, I’ll be back home, and will likely spend the rest of my life wondering why I put myself through the torture. Except there’s no reality that I’d want to walk away from this.
Fuck it.
If four months is all I’ll have with her, I’d rather risk heartbreak than live with regret.