Chapter Twenty-Four
Jace
Olivia and I rode the elevator down from our office on Friday night just like we had every other day that week.
After the chaos that’d happened on Monday afternoon, the rest of the week had passed in a relative state of calm.
Liv moved me seamlessly through my days, listened to me vent after Martin threw a fit about the increase in costs for the rehab facility—a literal fit that Olivia heard through the phone while she was sitting on the other side of my desk going through my mail—and brought me coffee twice a day.
I hadn’t yet had the heart to tell her, but Liv’s coffee was terrible. I was amazed that someone who’d worked in the restaurant industry as long as she had could be so bad at brewing a pot of coffee. Still, I couldn’t complain. I’d rather have her here than any one of my previous assistants.
When we were done at the office, she’d go home to Kaylee, and I’d go to my art studio before spending the remaining hours of my evenings with Kayden in his apartment or mine.
I could tell he wasn’t ready for anything outside the safety of our homes, but I desperately wanted to take him out.
I wanted to take him to dinner, and hold his hand in public, and show the world that he was mine.
In short, I had it fucking bad. But I wasn’t willing to put pressure on him about us.
We were great, and he had enough nervous energy right now waiting for Olivia to decide when he could meet Kaylee.
She didn’t talk to me about her plans for them to meet and I didn’t ask.
It felt strange not to be involved in something so important to her, but I didn’t want to pressure her to include me.
I wasn’t Kaylee’s parent, and despite my love for and support of Olivia, I cared for Kayden in a way that prevented me from being objective.
Liv’s phone dinged as we stepped off the elevator. She looked at it before slowly lowering it and glaring at me. “Jace, why is your cousin texting me to ask if I napped a lot during the first trimester of my pregnancy?”
I snorted and scratched my beard. “Oh, I told him I wouldn’t be asking you anymore pregnancy-related questions on his behalf.”
“So you gave him my number?” she asked, a hand on her hip.
“Yes. But just think, you have the number of a famous hockey player. You could probably sell that thing on the black market for a fortune.”
“Unbelievable.” She laughed, firing off a response before smiling proudly at me.
“What did you say to him?”
She handed me the phone and Leo’s response popped in while I read.
Liv: Yes, I napped a lot. I was growing an entire human and so is your wife. You want some free pregnancy advice, hockey boy? Love your wife about fifteen percent less than you are right now or you’re going to earn yourself a lot of sleepless nights on the couch.
Leo: She would never make me sleep on the couch. But she just saw your response and told me I have to leave you alone now. Thanks for answering.
I laughed and handed the phone back to Liv. “Yeah, sorry. I should have given him a fake number.”
“Yes, you should have,” she said with a shake of her head as we walked into the cool evening air. “So, tomorrow morning. Do you want to just meet at your moms’ when I drop off Kaylee?”
“Sure,” I said.
“And what exactly did you tell them about this?”
“That I’m going to the bridal shower with you since it turned into a Jack and Jill and you didn’t want to go alone.”
“Thanks,” she said, “For not making me look ridiculous by sharing my stupid lie.”
“You’re not ridiculous, Liv. I’m looking forward to spending a few hours with you outside of work. It’s been a long week.”
She took a deep breath. “It has. I’ve missed you.”
My heart skipped a beat. “I’ve missed you too. Even though I saw you for more than forty hours because of our impromptu sleepover at Kayden’s.”
She rolled her eyes and shoved my shoulder playfully. “You know what I mean.”
“I do.”
“I texted Kayden this morning about meeting Kaylee. We agreed that he would come over to my place for dinner on Wednesday after work.”
“Okay,” I said, feeling a stab of disappointment that they were doing this without me. Of course they are. They’re a family, and my role in all of this remains entirely unclear. If push came to shove, I’d step out of their way to see the three of them happy anyway.
“Are you okay with not being there?” Liv asked and I wondered if the disappointment showed on my face.
I took her hand. “Of course, Liv. I want the three of you to do what you need to do to make this work for all of you. I will be involved as little or as much as you want.”
“I want you involved, Jace. I want this to work for you too. I’m not trying to change your role in Kaylee’s life. I just think it might be easier for Kayden if he gets to meet her one-on-one. If you’re there…”
“I get it,” I said with a sigh. “I don’t want to hurt him either and seeing her with me will remind him that she and I are a lot further along in our relationship than they are.”
“Exactly,” Liv said. She wrapped her arms around my neck as we stopped at her car. “Thank you for understanding.”
“Always,” I said. “Honestly, I’m relieved you explained it. I’m terrified of being edged out of her life. And yours.”
“Never, Jace.” She squeezed me tighter. “Kaylee and I need you, and more importantly, we want you.”
“Thanks, Liv. I need you both too.” I let her go and took a step back. “I’ll see you in the morning?”
“Yes,” she said as she opened her car door. “Don’t forget, you’re probably going to be exposed to fortune telling or Tarot cards.”
I laughed. “I can handle it. Maybe I’ll receive good news about what my future holds.”
Olivia chuckled and climbed into the car. “I’m sure your future is very promising, Jace.”
Pretty sure my future includes me being in love with two people at the same time and hoping there’s a way to have them both forever. Seems like a long shot.
The next morning, I walked into Val and Carl’s townhouse with my hand on the small of Liv’s back.
It wasn’t hard to sell this as a fake date, since it just meant I got to touch Olivia in all the small ways I’d wanted to touch her for years.
She’d told me on the car ride over that I should touch her as much as I wanted because even as friends I was a very touchy person and her mother would pick up on it if I held back.
I was pretty sure there was no way her mom would pick up on our charade because Val had made enough comments over the years that I was pretty sure she knew how I felt about her daughter.
I also wasn’t a touchy person with anyone except Olivia and Kayden—but I let that distinction go to avoid making this fake date any more awkward than necessary.
When we stepped through the front hallway and into the living room, my jaw dropped.
The small card tables set up around the room were all filled not with Tarot cards and crystals, but with sex toys.
There was one table piled high with vibrators and dildos; another with blindfolds, whips, and handcuffs; another with cock rings and various strokers.
“Uh, Liv,” I said, unable to look at her as the nature of this party sunk in.
This just became a whole lot more awkward.
“What the hell is happening?” she asked. “This is not what I expected. We can’t fake-date here.”
The sound of panic in her voice snapped me into action. I grabbed her by the waist and turned her to face me. “What do you mean we can’t fake-date here? You and I can fake-date anywhere.”
“This party is filled with sex toys. This is a sex toy party, and everyone is here as a couple and oh my God, Jace. We are not a couple. This is so awkward and I’m just going to go tell my mom I lied and you’re free to go.”
“Liv, wait,” I said taking a deep breath and staring at her until she did the same. “We can still do this. It’s not Tarot cards, but it’s not like someone is going to ask us to pick a toy and play with it at the party.”
She looked around the room again and blushed. “I’m so sorry I asked you to do this. This is all ridiculous. You’re with Kayden and you’re here pretending with me instead of being with him.”
“Liv, I want to be with you right now. I’m happy you invited me to this.” I gestured to the party. “Sure, the details are a little unexpected, but fake date or not, my desire to be with you today is very real.”
“Are you sure? I feel like this lie is going to get out of hand quickly.”
“I’ve got you, okay?” I said as I cupped her face and brushed my thumb over her cheek. “Just leave it to me. I won’t even have to act, I promise.”
She nodded, her breath hitching as I leaned forward and kissed her cheek.
“There you are!” Val came rushing over and pulled Olivia into a hug. “Gosh, you two are adorable. I knew you’d be adorable. Aren’t you glad she finally made a move, Jace?”
I chuckled and hugged her. “If she hadn’t, we might not even be here.”
Olivia snorted and I squeezed her hand in warning.
“You’ve been crazy about her for years, right? Am I wrong?” Val asked.
“Mom,” Liv chided.
“It’s okay, Liv. She’s right,” I said looking at her and not Val. “I’m going to love the hell out of your daughter for as long as she’ll let me.”
Val beamed and Olivia blushed before turning to her mother and fixing her with a glare. “Mom, a warning about the contents of this bridal shower might have been nice.”
“Isn’t this fun?” Val said, rubbing her hands together. “It was a surprise to me too, but I bet you two will find something to spice things up a bit.”
“Thanks, Val, but I already have most of these at home,” I said.
She squeezed my shoulder and squealed as she laughed. “I just love him, Livvy. He’s so funny.” She waved down someone passing us by and disappeared as fast as she’d appeared.
“Really? Aren’t you laying it on a little thick?” Liv asked.
“Not at all. I haven’t lied yet,” I said, taking her hand as I walked us into the living room.
“Really? Mr. I already have most of these,” she said, cocking an eyebrow and mocking me again. “I’ll love her as long as she’ll let me.”