Chapter 18 Oliver
Inviting her was the right call. I saw the way her face lit up, and Addy was so excited, so why does it feel like I’m going to choke as panic grips me and sweat builds on my brow?
We walk to the library. The streets are full of people, some tourists and other locals. Little booths or cars line the sides of buildings, and flowers are in large pots or hanging from planter boxes on windows above the street.
It’s beautiful, and as I trail after Addy and Kat, who walk hand in hand, with the same looks of wonder on their faces, I can’t look away.
Kat scares the hell out of me if I’m being honest.
She’s everything I’ve ever wanted, we’ve ever wanted, and nothing like I thought she would be.
She signed a fucking contract just to try to make me feel better. From what Father said, she didn’t even bother reading it; she knew it took away any claim she had to our money or anything associated with our names and legacy.
It didn’t even faze her.
Any fear I had that she was using us or would tear us apart went up in smoke. Now if she tears us apart, it’s on me. I’m the problem. I’m very aware of that, but I don’t know how to stop.
I’d built a wall between us from the start; Kat, being the perfect woman, respected it even if she didn’t deserve it, and now I don’t know how to tear it down.
I’ve been trying to do better, to be better with her.
That’s why I invited her to come with us to the library, even if Father had to painfully spell it out for me.
I kick a pebble on the ground and huff in annoyance with myself.
“I can go back if you want. I didn’t mean to take up your time with her or interrupt.” I hadn’t even realized they'd stopped until I heard how close she was.
“Mommy.” It’s impossible to miss the pout in that one word, and sure enough, her little lip is out as she looks up at Kat with those big, sad eyes that always make me cave.
Not Kat, though, at least not as often as the rest of us.
Kat crouches so that she and Addy are face-to-face before reaching out to boop Addy's nose with a smile. “Don’t pout, princess. You and Oli can go pick out some books and bring them back to show Daddy and me. Then we can pick one out for Des or Uncle Alex to read to you tonight. But Oli wanted to spend time with you, and it’s not very nice that I’m stealing all of your attention. ”
It blows me away how good she is with her. If I didn’t know she wasn’t Addy’s biological mother, I’d never guess it. I can see why she was a teacher; kids are clearly her calling.
“That’s not what it is, Kat. I was just thinking.”
She turns her attention to me, and I can see the question there.
Yeah, I’m sure I’m not making a lot of sense.
“It’s not something you need to worry about, girls, just my own thoughts getting away from me. Let’s not worry about that right now.” Kat doesn’t look convinced, but she doesn’t fight me either.
She pushes back up to stand, and Addy looks from her to me, not understanding.
Same, kid.
I push past my panic and swallow down the lump in my throat the best I can as I move forward to stand between them. Addy’s little hand reaches for mine on instinct, used to walking with me, but Kat simply stands beside me, regarding me with concern.
Now or never.
I bite down on the inside of my cheek as I reach for her hand, quickly lacing my fingers through hers before I can chicken out or, worse, she can pull away.
Though if she wants to pull away, I wouldn’t blame her. Even believing I have the right to touch her is far-fetched, but…
She had Nathan draft that contract and signed it so fast she didn’t even read it, Dad said.
Everything points to her wanting this…
Wanting me.
My hands are probably sweaty, and I should have let her lead with this kind of thing.
Oh God, what was I thinking? What if she doesn’t want me, or I’m pushing her too fast?
I move to pull away, unclasping my fingers from hers as the air becomes thick and my thoughts continue to spiral out of control.
Her fingers tighten around mine, holding my hand to hers before she gives them a gentle squeeze.
I slowly peel my eyes open, not even having realized I closed them to begin with. I look down at her and find her smiling up at me. Something that had been wound tight loosens.
“Ready?” She nods down the street in the direction we had just been going a moment ago.
I breathe for what feels like the first time in far too long and nod, looking down at Addy, who is also smiling up at me.
“Yeah, let’s go.”
We end up spending the whole day out. The library was beautiful, but it wasn’t much for Addy. I was able to find a bookstore not too far away, well within walking distance, with the help of a combination of Google and the locals, though.
Which is how we lost track of time so completely that I have no less than ten missed texts when I glance at my phone.
Shit.
I quickly scan them before quickly responding to let them know everything’s fine.
“Is everything okay?” Kat’s sudden appearance makes me fumble my phone, and I just barely manage to catch it before it hits the ground. “Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to startle you.”
“No, you're fine. I was just distracted. I might have put my phone on silent and forgotten to check it, so they're freaking out a little.”
Her eyes go wide for a moment before a smile pulls to her lips, and she chuckles. The sound is adorable and pulls a smile to my lips as well.
“Sorry, I don’t mean to laugh at you. I’m just kind of shocked they haven’t tracked us down or called for a search party yet, with the way they are.”
Oh yeah, that could have been bad.
I quickly shoot off a text to ensure they aren’t doing that, and while I get a sea of pissed-off responses, they seem to be still back at Nonna’s house.
“Oli!” Addy runs toward us with a stack of books that isn’t huge but is big for her. They threaten to tumble to the ground, but Kat reaches out and helps steady them just in time, earning her a beaming smile.
“Oli, can you teach me to read these?” I look down at the stack in her hands, plucking the first one up to better inspect it.
It’s written in Italian.
I look to Kat for guidance; schooling and Addy’s curriculum are her forte.
“Don’t look at me. I can’t speak a lick of any language but English,” she says with a shrug, and I can’t help but chuckle at her misunderstanding.
“Would it be okay if I taught her? I don’t want to overstep. I’m not sure what you're teaching as far as language.”
“Big brother Oli can speak sooo many languages!” Addison gushes, full of excitement, and I love that she’s bragging about me, but also, I kind of wish she wasn’t.
I’ve never been good at talking about myself.
Kat’s brow moves up her forehead, and I know what’s coming even before she asks.
“What’s sooo many?”
“We can all speak Italian. Nonna made sure of it. Said we should be proud of who we are and where we come from.” I try to change the subject back to safer things and almost sag in relief when she takes the bait.
“You should be! It’s so amazing that you have family ties all the way across the globe. I’d love it if you took the time to teach Addy. Secondary languages are easiest to pick up as a child and can really open a lot of doors for her future.”
I swear it’s like I can see her physically trying to restrain from asking, so I decide to take pity on her.
“We’ll start with Italian, as that’s important to Nonna, and then we can move on to Mandarin or French.”
Addy lets out a squeal of excitement that has us both hushing her as nearly every head turns in our direction.
“Thank you so much, Oli! This will be great for her! I just know she’s going to catch on so well. She’s so smart.” Kat’s excitement is almost on par with Addy’s; she’s just better at managing it. But I can see why the guys enjoy spoiling her.
And hearing her use my nickname…
Damn it, I can’t get a boner in the middle of a bookstore; I’m not a damn teenager!
“I could teach you too,” I offer, instantly wishing I could eat the words.
Why would I say that? How am I going to survive teaching her anything when I can’t stand looking at her for more than a few minutes without feeling like a creep?
“I mean, if you want, that is, you don’t have to. You don’t have to know another language. Just one is fine…” I’m rambling now, but I can’t make myself stop.
“Really?” Kat cuts me off, and I sigh in relief, thankful that she stopped me before I could make an even bigger fool of myself.
“Of course.”
One second she’s smiling at me, and the next she’s in my arms, her face pressed to my chest and her arms wrapped around my center, threatening to squeeze the air from my lungs.
What a way to die, though.
“Oh god! I’m so sorry!” She releases me before quickly moving back a few steps, her face turning a shade of red that’s so deep it puts her red hair to shame.
“I didn’t mean to literally throw myself at you.
I was just excited. Fuck… I mean, crap.” She glances over at Addy, who seems lost in her own little world as she stacks books in piles that mean nothing to me, but I’m sure have some kind of meaning to her.
“Sorry, I was just excited. But honestly, you don’t have to if you don’t want to.
I’ve never been good with language. In high school, my Spanish teacher told me that language isn’t for everyone, despite his board saying, ‘Spanish is for everyone.’” She chuckles, but it sounds forced, and I kind of hate it.
What kind of teacher would say that to someone?
“Fuck him,” I say before I can really think about it or where we are or even who might be listening.
Kat’s eyes snap up, her eyes wide as she looks at me, and yeah, I don’t swear often, and even if I do, it’s what Des calls soft curse words.
“Don’t worry about what he said. I’ll have you speaking multiple languages before you know it.”
She smiles up at me, and holy shit, I’m fucked, just like the rest of them, aren’t I?
“Let’s grab the books you guys wanted and head back. I think Alex had dinner plans for us tonight.” I move to help Addy get her towers to the register and can’t help but smile when I see that Kat has a few she wanted, too.
I’d been worried she would fight me about it, but I won’t say I’m not grateful for her leaving that for Des and Nathan.
I take the bag, which is much heavier than I’d been expecting, and Kat takes Addy, who looks exhausted. It’s easy to forget how much traveling takes out of little ones.
We make it down the street before I hear her soft snores.
“I guess we wore her out,” Kat says fondly, pushing her hair behind her ear and tucking her head under her chin.
It’s so mundane, so domestic…perfect.
This time, I don’t hesitate as I reach out, lacing our fingers together, and she doesn’t flinch or move away like I fear she might. Just like last time, she gives a soft squeeze before moving closer so that our arms touch.
Anyone looking would probably assume we're a family—mother, father, and daughter—and while that might not be what we are, I know we’ll be tied together forever.
For the first time since I found her in the kitchen that morning, I’m fucking grateful for that.
“Thank you for letting me intrude on your day with her,” Kat says with a soft smile as we walk back up the property toward Nonna’s house.
I can see the guys scattered around on lawn chairs, near the garage, in the window.
None of them are doing a great job of looking nonchalant the way I think they’re going for, but I ignore them.
“It’s not an intrusion. I enjoyed the day and look forward to doing it again.” I pull our joined hands up to my face, pressing my lips to the back of her hand gently. “Maybe next time, just the two of us.”
She sucks in a breath, and again, my cock stirs just looking at her.
I release my hold on her hand and move into the house to collapse because these books are damn heavy.
It was worth it, though; maybe everything has been if it got me here, with them…and her.