Chapter 18
Chapter Eighteen
Lucian: Just checking in.
You still hungover or have you recovered?
Olivia: I’ve survived worse.
Lucian: Mmm. Impressive.
Would’ve thought last night would do you in.
Olivia: You mean the part where I drank too much, made bad choices, and woke up to regret?
Or the part where I let myself get dragged into your nonsense and now have to live with the consequences?
Lucian: If you say consequences like that’s bad, I might start feeling insulted.
Olivia: Oh, no. However, will you survive?
Lucian: It’s tough. Truly.
But I am strong. I will endure.
Olivia: Please stop it.
Lucian: You first.
Olivia: Unbelievable, you’re the one who texted me.
Consider this conversation over.
Lucian: It can’t be over.
Lucian: Also. You never said thank you.
Olivia: What are you talking about?
Lucian: For last night.
I was very gentle.
Olivia: That’s your definition of gentle?
Lucian: I didn’t send the screenshots to the group chat.
That counts as restraint.
Olivia: We don’t have a group chat.
Lucian: I have one with my family and we like to share.
We’re messy like that.
Olivia: You share sexts?
Lucian: No, which is why I didn’t share.
Olivia: You’re not making sense.
Lucian: You should be touched.
I’m a very considerate man.
Olivia: You’re confusing.
Is this part of your plan to .
. . what could you possibly gain by driving me to the brink of insanity?
Lucian: That’s for me to know and for you to .
. . fall for it.
Olivia: I wouldn’t fall for your antics.
Lucian: Oh, but you are, which is why you keep me close.
Olivia: I need to keep my enemies close.
Lucian: You keep me close because you like me.
Olivia: No.
Lucian: A little.
Olivia: Not even a fraction.
Lucian: That’s fine.
I can be patient, though you need to hurry before we can’t keep doing this.
Olivia: Why?
Lucian: Because I’m leaving soon.
Olivia: . . . then it’s true?
You’re quitting football and starting a new career in plumbing?
Lucian: That rumor is all your fault, but I’ll forgive you since you’re my friend.
I mean I won’t be around as much because I’m heading back to training camp next week.
Preseason starts soon.
Olivia: Oh. There’s a preseason?
I only know about the big game next year.
So you’ll be gone?
Lucian: What?
Did you think I’d be annoying you all day, every day, for the rest of eternity?
Olivia: Honestly? I never thought about you having a real job that would take you away.
Not that I want you around.
Lucian: Cute that you think a training schedule could stop me from harassing you.
Olivia: Why does that actually sound like a threat?
Lucian: Because it is.
Olivia: Wonderful.
Lucian: Anyway.
Since I’m leaving you to suffer in peace soon, let’s be honest for a second.
Olivia: That’s concerning.
Lucian: I know. You don’t do honest.
Olivia: EXCUSE ME?
Lucian: Tell me about him.
Olivia: . . .
Lucian: The guy who made you like this.
Olivia: Like what?
Lucian: Like you don’t trust anyone.
Like you think every favor comes with a price.
Like you refuse to let anyone help you because you think it makes you weak.
Olivia: That’s dramatic.
Lucian: Maybe. But I’m right.
Olivia: Right? Debatable.
Lucian: See? No denial.
Olivia: I’m not talking about it.
Lucian: You don’t have to.
I already know he was an asshole.
Olivia: Oh? Are you psychic now?
Lucian: No, but I have three older brothers.
I have myself, too. I know what we can be like.
Olivia: And?
Lucian: And I’ve seen what a bad relationship does to someone.
Olivia: So, you’ve come from a bad relationship?
What did you do to your ex?
Lucian: Let me guess.
He made you feel like you weren’t enough.
Like you had to earn his affection.
Like love was something you proved instead of something freely given.
Olivia: You’re ignoring my question.
Lucian: Maybe you did everything right.
Maybe you tried harder, worked harder, and became exactly what he needed.
And in the end, it still wasn’t enough.
Olivia: Stop.
Lucian: So, you decided never again.
Never let someone that close.
Never let someone hold that power over you again.
Olivia: Lucian.
Lucian: It wasn’t your fault.
Olivia: I’m going to turn off my phone.
Lucian: So, that means I’m right, but you’re trying to deny it?
Olivia: I don’t know anything.
Lucian: Well, I do. And I’m telling you—some people don’t deserve what they’re given.
That doesn’t mean you weren’t enough.
It just means he wasn’t capable of seeing it.
Olivia: You’re really annoying when you’re insightful.
Lucian: That’s what my brothers say.
Olivia: Speaking of them.
Lucian: Hmm?
Olivia: You said you were spending the weekend with them.
Lucian: Yeah.
Olivia: What’s that like?
Lucian: Loud.
Olivia: That’s it?
Lucian: . . . and obnoxious.
And exhausting. And I’m kidding, it’s the best. My siblings are amazing and we don’t get to be together like this often since everyone has a busy schedule.
Though, sometimes I feel lonely.
Olivia: You, lonely?
Lucian: Well, I’m like the last one standing.
Olivia: Last one standing?
Lucian: Kade just got married.
Killian’s engaged. Leif has Hailey.
Olivia: Ah. You’re the last single one.
Don’t you have a sister and a little brother?
Lucian: Grey is too young to get married and Scottie .
. . I’m yet to meet the guy that can be humble in front of a great woman like my sister.
Olivia: Your family sounds close.
Lucian: We are.
Olivia: Must be nice.
Lucian: Don’t tell me you’re one of those emotionally constipated people who hates family gatherings.
Olivia: No. I just .
. . my family isn’t that close.
Aspen and I are, but that’s it.
Mom is . . . Mom and our father died a year ago.
Not that we were close.
My parents got divorced when I was ten and it was shitty to deal with them.
If they gave you anything, you’d have to be loyal to that parent .
. . it’s like they bought us.
Lucian: That’s . . .
Olivia: It is what it is.
Lucian: A lot of things make sense now.
Olivia: Are you psychoanalyzing me?
Lucian: No, it’s just .
. .
Olivia: Not everyone has a perfect family, life, and relationships.
Lucian: I don’t have perfect relationships.
I suck at those.
Olivia: You would if you wanted to.
Lucian: I did want to, but it ended in disaster.
Now, I choose not to, though.
Olivia: So, what is it?
Some girl didn’t give you her number when you asked?
Lucian: I wish it were that simple.
Olivia: How complicated can it be?
Lucian: The first thing you need to know is that I have the terrible habit of wanting to be better than my brother Killion.
I met Ingrid after Killion had broken up with Camille—the love of his life and now-fiancée.
He was head over heels for her, but fucked it up.
I was so focused on having something like that—whatever that was—that I didn’t pay much attention to what really was going on between Ingrid and me.
Right before the draft, I eloped.
Thankfully, my agent made us sign a prenup agreement or I would be living in a one-bedroom apartment handing all my earnings to my ex.
Olivia: I take the divorce wasn’t pretty.
Lucian: Nope. She envisioned a different life than what I was giving her.
When I rescued Sarah, things went downhill.
I realized we were different people.
Olivia: Sorry about that, but I’m sure you can meet someone nice.
Lucian: Everyone wants me for what I represent.
Olivia: And you said I’m the jaded one.
Lucian: You don’t even like to have friends.
Olivia: Didn’t I tell you about my family?
I always choose the wrong friend, the wrong guy .
. . I’m not saying I don’t have friends.
I’m just very selective.
Lucian: You should put those walls down.
Let someone be there for you.
Olivia: Why do I get the feeling you’re talking about yourself?
Lucian: I’m good. I have my family.
Aren’t you paying attention?
Olivia: Deflecting .
. . interesting.
Lucian: Goodnight, Liv.
Hope you have a good rest of your weekend.