Chapter 13
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Olivia
I stand in front of the full-length mirror in my cozy little apartment, biting my lip and trying to get a look at myself from every angle.
The dress feels… okay. Not too fancy, not too casual. Just right. Well, at least I think it is.
It’s black, simple, flattering, but nothing too outrageous. I don’t want to look like I’m trying too hard, but… maybe a little?
The heels, however? Disaster.
I wobble a little as I take a few unsteady steps across the room, suddenly questioning every single life decision that led me to wear something this high for a date.
Maybe I should have stuck to the boots, but… ugh, I just wanted to feel a little put together for once. I glance at the clock and groan.
Twenty minutes.
What happened to the fun of getting ready? Because right now, all I want to do is throw on sweatpants and curl up in bed with a book.
I glance back at my reflection, adjusting the straps of my dress. The simple neckline’s nice enough, but what about my hair? It’s a mess, a tangle of waves that have no real direction. Not date night ready.
A sigh escapes me as I reach for my hairbrush, trying to untangle the knots. It takes longer than I care to admit. My fingers work through the strands, adding a little more volume than I’d like, before finally settling on a half-up, half-down style.
A few wisps fall around my face, but I can’t decide if it looks messy chic or just… messy.
I turn back to the mirror, examining my face. I haven’t worn much makeup since I arrived in Coyote Glen, but tonight feels like an exception.
After some back and forth, I settled on a simple yet striking look: a light foundation base, just enough concealer to conceal the dark circles from my late nights of work, and a soft swipe of bronzer to add a hint of color to my cheeks.
I add a touch of mascara, hoping it’s enough to open up my eyes without making me look like I’m trying too hard.
The lips? I can’t decide. Do I go bold with red, or keep it neutral? I opt for something in between: a soft berry gloss that adds just enough shine to feel polished without being over-the-top. It’s subtle, but still, I feel… different. Better.
I take a deep breath and look back at my reflection.
Still unsure, I grab a final detail: my necklace. I hesitate for a moment. Should I keep it simple with just my tiny gold pendant or add a little something more?
Eventually, I go for the necklace Ivy gave me for my birthday. It’s delicate, but it adds a little touch of something personal, like a reminder of how far I’ve come.
I wobble back across the room in the heels, checking myself one last time. As much as I want to throw in the towel and opt for something easy, something tells me that tonight deserves a little extra effort.
I hope I’m right.
I grab my phone and open the FaceTime app before I can talk myself out of it. Ivy picks up almost immediately, her face lighting up like she’s been waiting for me to call.
“Oh, my goodness, Liv!” she exclaims, as if I’ve just won an award for most dramatic entrance. “You look gorgeous. Seriously, you’re glowing!”
I blink at her reflection in the screen. Ivy’s face is lit with her usual smile, full of excitement and energy that I know I’ll need in a minute. “You sure about that? I’m about to topple over from these shoes.”
Ivy grins, knowing me better than anyone. “Of course, I’m sure. Those heels are gorgeous, Liv. You’ve got this. Now, tell me everything. Are you still freaked out, or have you put on your brave face?”
I roll my eyes but can’t help the slight grin that tugs at my lips. “I don’t even know why I’m so nervous,” I admit, adjusting the straps of my dress. “I’ve been on dates before, but this feels different. Karl’s… well, he’s Karl. I guess I don’t know much about him yet.”
Ivy leans closer to the screen, suddenly very serious in that over-the-top way she does when she’s about to give me one of her motivational speeches.
“Look, I know it feels wild, but this could be your fresh start.
You're in a new town, you've got a new business, and you're clearly doing a lot better than when you were in that office job. You’ve got nothing to lose except for maybe some dignity… but honestly? You can probably find it again. Plus, Karl is a good guy.”
I snort at her words, her teasing tone making me relax a little. “Yeah, I think I’ve lost most of my dignity at this point, but hey, one more night won’t hurt.”
She winks at me. “There’s the Liv I know. And honestly, this is the perfect opportunity to just… be yourself. No pretenses. No pressure. Just… go have fun! Who knows? You might like him.”
I glance at my phone screen, biting my lip. “You know what’s scary? I already think I do. I like him. A little too much.”
“Ohhhhh,” Ivy says with that singsong voice, her eyes dancing with mischief.
“Well, look at you! Perhaps this is your romantic comedy moment. The one where you fall for the guy and everything turns out perfect. But hey, if it doesn’t, you’ve got the coffee truck.
You’ll be fine. You'll be the one making the dreams come true.”
I take a deep breath and step back from the mirror. “I don’t know if I can do the whole romantic comedy thing,” I admit, fiddling with the ends of my hair. “But I guess I’m about to find out. I just… I don’t want to screw it up, you know? The whole small-town vibe is already weird enough.”
Ivy smiles, and she shrugs. “If you screw it up, that’s just another chapter in the story. We can make a whole series out of your dating life, Liv. But first? You’ve gotta live the story. You’re the one in charge.”
Her words land in my chest like a warm hug. And, of course, I immediately feel a little braver. “Thanks, Ivy. You always know just what to say. Honestly, I’m not sure what I’d do without you.”
She grins. “You’d probably make some wild decisions and call me to cry about it later. But now go get ‘em, Liv! I want all the details. The good, the bad, and the incredibly awkward moments. You’d better have an 'I kissed a fireman' story by the end of tonight.”
I roll my eyes, but I can’t help but smile. “I’ll try, Ivy. Thanks again. I’ll text you later. You’ll hear about everything.”
After ending the call, I stand there for a few seconds, letting her words sink in. Maybe Ivy’s right.
Perhaps I should take the plunge, let go of my nerves, and enjoy the night. Karl might have his issues, and we both know there’s a lot of tension between us, but tonight could be the start of something new.
With one last glance at the mirror, I slip on my jacket, straighten my posture, and head toward the door. I take a deep breath, feeling a little lighter than I did five minutes ago.
There’s nothing left to do but see where this date takes me. After all, what’s the worst that could happen?
“Okay, Liv,” I murmur to myself, feeling like a character in one of those cheesy rom coms Ivy loves. “Let’s make this happen.”
The moment I catch my breath, a soft knock at the door interrupts my thoughts, and I jump slightly, startled. I glance at the clock, right on time.
I peek through the blinds.
There he is.
Karl Madden.
He’s back at his truck, leaning casually against the door, arms crossed, looking like he stepped straight out of some superhero movie with a bad boy twist.
Tall, lean, with messy dark hair that looks like he’s been running his hands through it all day, and a scruffy yet intentional beard. His T-shirt clings to his body in all the right ways, showing off his tattoos and a physique that was clearly designed to make me weak in the knees.
He’s got this confident swagger to him, like he knows everyone is watching him, and frankly, he doesn’t mind one bit.
I try to stay calm, but it’s hard to ignore his dangerous charm. He's the kind of guy who could lead you into trouble and make you love every second of it. But he’s also got that easy, disarming smile, the one that says, “I know you’re intrigued, and I’m okay with that.”
I take a deep breath and open the door. I’m not sure what I expected, but it wasn’t for him to look this good.
“Hey,” I call out, trying to keep my cool, but even I can hear the slight crack of excitement in it.
He straightens up when he sees me, his smirk immediately turning into something more genuine. And that smile could probably get him anything he wanted.
“Hey, beautiful,” he greets me happily.
He looks me up and down, like he’s not sure if he’s about to devour me or kiss me.
He steps toward me, making me feel like I’m under a spotlight.
“You look incredible,” he growls.
I almost forgot how to respond.
“Thanks. You, uh… don’t look so bad yourself.” I mentally slap myself for sounding like such a dork.
He chuckles, stepping even closer, and I get a whiff of his cologne. Woodsy, warm, and a little spicy. It’s the scent of someone who’s seen the world, or at least has lived like he has. He leans down, just a bit, his face coming close to mine, making my heart skip.
“Glad you noticed. Ready to go?”
I blink. “Yeah, of course.”
I take a second to compose myself, but it’s hard with Karl this close. He’s got that thing, the way he makes you feel like everything else is irrelevant when he’s around.
He holds out his arm like it’s the most natural thing in the world, and I can’t help but reach for it, my fingers brushing against the warm skin of his forearm. The contact sends a little jolt through me.
We walk to the truck together, and I try to ignore the fact that I’m feeling a little jittery. He opens the passenger side door for me, and I climb inside. The interior of his truck smells like leather and that same rugged cologne.
Once I’m settled, he slides in beside me, and the engine purrs to life.
The ride feels comfortable, but there’s an undeniable tension between us. Like we’re both testing the waters, wondering if we can move past whatever weirdness was between us last time.