16. OLIVIA
CHAPTER 16
OLIVIA
I’m standing in front of the winery, squinting up at its elegant facade, all rustic stone and ivy-covered charm. Beyond it, endless rows of grapevines stretch into the horizon.
It's the kind of place that makes you feel underdressed no matter what you wear—even though, thanks to a flowy sundress and sandals, I'm technically not.
“So… a double date,” I say, folding my arms. “Whose brilliant idea was this again?”
Ethan, standing closest, raises his hand with a self-satisfied grin. “That would be me.”
“Shocking,” I deadpan.
“Oh, come on, Chase,” Jax cuts in, his voice smooth and teasing. “You’re not seriously complaining, are you? Two dates in one day. You should be flattered.”
“I’m one lucky lady,” I deadpan.
“Really, Chase?” Marcus mutters from behind me, his voice carrying a thread of exasperation. “You signed up for this ?” He looks and sounds annoyed which is surprising because he was the most reluctant to be on this side of the screen.
“First of all,” I reply, turning to him, “I didn’t sign up for anything. Ethan ambushed me with this plan.”
“Ambushed is a bit harsh,” Ethan cuts in, his grin widening. “I prefer… inspired.”
“More like desperate,” Jax quips, his eyes flicking to Ethan like a challenge. “You’re sweating, man. Afraid I’m gonna outshine you?”
“Outshine me?” Ethan scoffs, leaning casually against the stone archway. “This isn’t high school hockey, Jax.”
“Yeah,” Jax says, his smirk growing as he takes a slow step closer. “Because I’ve already won.”
I roll my eyes so hard I’m surprised they don’t fall out of my head. “Okay, can we dial it down a notch? This is supposed to be fun, remember? You know, like wine and good vibes? Not… whatever this is.”
Neither of them answers, but their smug expressions remain firmly in place. I sigh and glance at Marcus, who’s looking at me. His frown fades when our gazes meet. I look away, feeling my stomach flip impossibly as my mind flashes back to the night where he had me, my legs perched on his shoulders as he drove into me again and again.
Fuck. We haven’t talked since that night. He’s definitely taking the encounter better than either Jax or Ethan, probably because my walking out of his apartment without an explanation probably hurt his ego, or he isn’t that interested in me. The latter thought leaves me with a bitter taste in my mouth. What am I even doing here?
“I picked this place,” Ethan says. “Look how gorgeous it is. No wrong decisions here.”
“Only because they gave us a sponsorship,” Marcus says. I look at him. Okay, since when did he give into pettiness.
“A pretty sweet one at that,” Ethan says. “We’re set even if we don’t make another episode for a few months.”
“Listen, Liv. This is going to be great. You’ve got two completely different dates planned today. Jax and I have both gone all out for this.”
“You mean you’ve gone all out to one-up each other,” I mutter.
“Same thing,” Jax says with a wink.
I sigh again, glancing between the two of them. Their energy is competitive but not hostile—more like two boys trying to outdo each other on the playground. It’s almost… endearing? I push that thought aside and focus on the task at hand.
“So,” I say, folding my arms. “What exactly is the plan?”
Ethan steps forward, grinning like he’s just been asked to explain his favorite movie. “Simple. Jax and I each get half the afternoon to plan the ultimate winery experience. Wine tastings, food pairings, maybe even some grape stomping. And at the end, you tell us who nailed it.”
I glance at Jax, who’s watching me with that infuriating mix of cocky and charming, and then at Ethan, whose enthusiasm is so genuine it’s almost contagious. Despite myself, I’m intrigued. The idea of two guys competing for my attention would have mortified me a month ago, but now…it’s almost like I’m a different person now, and I can’t tell if my confidence should scare me or not.
“So, who goes first?” I say.
“Let’s not fight about that,” Marcus says, his tone exhausted already. “We can’t waste the light.”
The sun-drenched vineyard stretches out in every direction, and the fresh, earthy scent of grapes fills the air as Jax and I stroll between the rows of vines. The winery staff had set up a small picnic for us under a sprawling oak tree, complete with a basket of cheeses, crackers, and a bottle of chilled rosé. Jax, carrying the basket, looks unusually at ease, his broad shoulders relaxed for once.
"Wow," I say, taking in the setup. "This is… really nice."
Jax grins, setting the basket down on the checkered blanket. "I told you I’d go all out. Ethan’s probably overthinking his plan right now. I figured I’d keep it simple."
“Simple but effective,” I say, settling down onto the blanket. “Points for you.”
He sits across from me, pouring the wine into two glasses. His movements are easy, practiced. “So,” he says, handing me a glass, “what do you think? First impressions?”
I swirl the wine a little, pretending to analyze it like a sommelier. “Decent bouquet. Notes of… competitiveness and male ego.”
Jax bursts out laughing. “Touché, Chase.”
“I did my homework,” he says, a touch defensive but mostly proud. “Wanted to impress you.”
I stop mid-step and look at him with a teasing grin. “Jax Thompson Studying. For a date. Stop the presses.”
“Hey, don’t make a big deal about it,” he says, rubbing the back of his neck. “I just… didn’t want to look like an idiot.”
We eat in comfortable silence for a few minutes, the quiet hum of nature filling the space between us. Then Jax leans back on his hands, his gaze drifting over the vineyard.
"Did you ever think this is where you’d end up?" he asks suddenly, his tone casual but his eyes searching.
"What do you mean?" I ask, popping a grape into my mouth.
“I mean your company—being back in the city and all this attention,” he says.
I laugh softly. "Not exactly. But life has a funny way of surprising you."
He nods, a small smile playing on his lips. "Yeah. Funny how that works."
There's a moment of quiet again, but this time it's heavier, like he's holding something back. I tilt my head, studying him. "What's on your mind?"
Jax hesitates, then sighs. "I guess... sometimes I wonder if I’ve peaked, you know? Like, everyone remembers me as the guy stereotypical jock who dated hot cheerleaders. That’s great and all, but it’s not... enough."
The vulnerability in his voice catches me off guard. Jax is always so confident, so sure of himself. Seeing this other side of him feels intimate, almost disarming.
"Peaked?" I echo, setting my plate down. "Jax, you're on a successful channel with your friends, reaching thousands of people. You’re more than just the guy who played hockey.”
“Yeah, but what do I really bring to the table than just being the eye candy,” he says, breaking a tuft of grass.
I resist the urge to roll my eyes.
“You’re not just that,” I say firmly, my gaze meeting his. “You’re thoughtful, and kind, and… okay, maybe a little too confident for your own good. But there’s so much more to you than people think. And if they can’t see that, it’s their loss.”
He looks at me, something soft and unspoken passing between us. For a moment, the world seems to quiet, the only sound the distant rustle of leaves in the breeze. Then he smiles—small, genuine, a little shy—and it’s like the sun breaking through the clouds.
“Thanks, Chase,” he says quietly. “That means a lot. But there’s many occasions but I was definitely stupid.”
“Like what?” I say.
Jax is stretched out across from me, his broad shoulders relaxed, his easy grin as charming as ever.
I catch myself staring at him through my lashes as he talks about some ridiculous high school prank he pulled, the sound of his laugh deep and infectious.
I should be focusing on the wine, the scenery, the whole atmosphere of this vineyard. But no—my attention keeps drifting back to him. To the way his eyes crinkle when he laughs. To the way the sunlight catches the slight scruff on his jaw. To the way he’s so much more than I expected.
And the thing is, I’ve never thought of Jax like this before. Not really. Sure, I’ve always known he’s attractive—objectively, ridiculously attractive. But this? This is something else entirely.
My stomach twists, and I sip my wine to cover my unease. I shouldn’t be feeling like this. Not about Jax. Not when there’s Ethan to worry about. And Marcus? I would rather not take my thoughts there.
“You okay, Chase?” Jax’s voice cuts through my thoughts, and I realize he’s watching me, one eyebrow raised in curiosity.
“Huh?” I blink, heat rushing to my cheeks. “Yeah, I’m fine. Just… soaking it all in.”
“Uh-huh.” He doesn’t look convinced, but he doesn’t press the issue, either. Instead, he leans back on his elbows, his grin returning. “You know, you’re pretty bad at hiding whatever’s going on in that head of yours.”
“Excuse me?” I narrow my eyes at him, grateful for the distraction. “I am an excellent secret-keeper, thank you very much.”
“Sure, sure,” he says, his grin turning teasing. “Except for the fact that your face totally gives you away.”
I open my mouth to retort, but then he does something that completely throws me off: he reaches over and tucks a strand of hair behind my ear, his fingers brushing lightly against my skin. The gesture is so simple, so casual, but it sends a jolt of electricity through me.
“See?” he says softly, his eyes locking onto mine. “Right there. That look.”
My heart stutters in my chest, and I quickly glance away, pretending to adjust the hem of my dress. But the truth is, I don’t know what to do with the way he’s looking at me. The way he’s making me feel.
The tension in the air shifts suddenly, the playful mood evaporating as Jax leans in closer, his hand brushing against mine on the picnic blanket. His eyes are on mine, holding my gaze with an intensity that makes my breath hitch. I know what’s about to happen, and I can’t seem to pull away. I don’t want to pull away.
And then?—
“Well, time’s up.”
I flinch at the sound of Ethan’s voice.
Jax sighs heavily, running a hand through his hair before glancing up at Ethan. “Didn’t realize we were timing the date.”
Ethan’s smile tightens, his tone icy as he replies, “Well, I guess you forgot about the no kiss rule, too.”
Jax straightens, his relaxed posture from earlier completely gone as he rises to his feet. “You keeping a tally now, Ethan? Should I be worried?”
Ethan takes a step closer, his own body stiff with tension. “I’m just saying, we had an agreement. But I guess that doesn’t matter to you.”
“Guys—” I start, trying to interject, but they’re both locked onto each other, ignoring me completely.
“You’re unbelievable,” Jax says, his voice low and laced with irritation. “This whole thing was your idea, and now you’re acting like you’re the only one allowed to be close to her.”
Ethan’s jaw tightens, and his eyes narrow. “Maybe because I’m the only one who actually respects her enough to follow the rules.”
My stomach twists as I glance between them, unsure of what’s happening but certain it’s spiraling out of control. “Guys,” I try again, louder this time. “This is ridiculous.”
“Oh, you respect her?” Jax fires back, his voice rising. “Right, because barging into her date just screams respect.”
“That’s rich coming from the guy who can’t keep his hands to himself,” Ethan snaps, taking another step forward.
“Stop it!” I say, my voice sharp now, cutting through the argument. Both of them freeze, finally turning to look at me. “What is wrong with you two?”
Ethan’s mouth opens like he’s about to say something, his brow furrowed with an intensity I don’t usually see. “Olivia, I think I?—”
My phone buzzes in my pocket, cutting him off mid-sentence. “Hold that thought,” I say quickly, pulling it out. The screen flashes with my lawyer’s name, and my stomach twists into a knot. I swipe to answer, glancing between Ethan and Jax, who are still standing far too close to each other.
“Ms. Chase, it’s me,” my lawyer says, his tone clipped. “I’ve just been served an injunction by a judge, ordering the immediate takedown of all Love Lab episodes. The petition was filed by Charlie Green’s legal team, citing reputational damage and personal harassment.”
I blink, my grip tightening on the phone. “What? She filed for what?”
“It’s bad,” he says bluntly. “If we don’t comply, we risk a contempt of court charge, not to mention possible damages.”
I squeeze my eyes shut, willing my racing thoughts to slow down. “We already pulled the restaurant episode, didn’t we?”
“We did,” he confirms, “but her argument hinges on a claim that even the other episodes have caused harm due to the association. She’s coming after the entire series.”
“This is ridiculous,” I mutter, pacing a small circle in the grass. “Can you quash it?”
“I can try,” he says, a hint of hesitation in his voice. “But it’ll be costly, and there’s no guarantee the judge will reverse the order quickly.”
“Do what it takes,” I say firmly. “I’m not backing down. Not now.”
He sighs. “Understood. I’ll start filing immediately, but Olivia, you need to prepare for this to get uglier before it gets better.”
“Thanks for the pep talk,” I deadpan before hanging up. Stuffing the phone back into my pocket, I glance over my shoulder at Ethan and Jax, who are still watching me, their earlier animosity momentarily replaced with curiosity.
“What is it?” Ethan asks.
“We’ve been served,” I say. “Charlie Green wants Love Lab gone from the internet.”