23. Olive
23
OLIVE
“M e?” His heart melting words are going to kill me. With him, it’s no holds barred. It takes a while for me to express what’s in my mind and heart.
I shake my head because of how crazy this is. “I’m no shining light like you are. If anything, I dim your brightness.”
“You’re too hard on yourself. I’ve watched you become happier every day. From the second you arrived, you’ve blossomed. You fascinate me.”
“Are you sure you’re talking about me? Is there someone else in this bed?” I check under the covers. “Nope. Only me. I haven’t changed that much.”
“You don’t think so?”
I already know the answer, but I hesitate. “Well, yes. Maybe. But I’m in a different environment right now. Who knows what will happen when I get back home. My issues aren’t going to magically disappear after a couple of days here. I have, however, had some excellent influence. Some great guy burst my protective bubble and nothing’s been the same since.” I poke his side playfully with the rhythm of the words.
“ Uh huh . Some guy? Who?” He squints his red-rimmed eyes at me. “Oh, I know! It was Louis from the café.”
I laugh, then use the worst accent to reply. “ Non . It was his friend with the crazy hair and awful lip blanket.”
He arches an eyebrow and squeezes my hip. “Sure it wasn’t the tarts?”
“Actually, it was the champagne. I can’t turn down a bottle of bubbly. Louis’s friend must have known somehow.” I lean in and kiss his lips, long and soft. “Did you plan on singing tonight before you got there?”
“Nope. But when you sang, you put all your heart and soul into it. It was amazing. It reminded me of the adrenaline rush I got every time I sang or danced. Seeing you dance the other night and sing tonight flipped a switch in me. You inspire me and give me the courage to stop running. I’ve been doing it for so long, and I’m tired, Olive.” His body deflates, and his eyes glisten. “But I watch you, and I think, here is a woman breaking free and having a blast. Why have I waited all these years to do the same? Then it hit me.”
“What?” My eyes search his for answers. “Tell me.”
He presses his lips together, drawing my eyes to his kissable mouth. Such a temptation. Finally, he says, tapping my chest, “I had to wait for you to show me how exciting life could be again.”
I’m speechless.
He continues. “I pushed you, and you did the same to me without knowing it. We’re opposites in some ways. You show your issues openly, while I conceal mine. When we come together, we connect in the middle, gradually blending into one.”
I melt into him. How is this my life right now? It feels like a dream. Is it too much, too soon? Is it smart to get involved with someone when I’m trying to improve myself? I’m only here for a couple more days, and then he’ll be away at some hotel in whatever country.
“I can see my future, Olive, and there’s one constant.”
“What’s that?” Somehow, I know what he’s going to say, and it both excites and terrifies me.
“Not a what. A who.”
I stop breathing. Will he say it? No, I don’t think so .
“You.”
I’m stunned into silence again.
“That’s why I sang that song,” he whispers, looking away.
Now who’s being shy? I was born to love you . Does he mean it literally? Is he trying to say he loves me? No, he couldn’t.
My chest warms as I melt into the bed. When Mom and Dad met, they fell hard and fast. They knew right away that they’d get married. Why am I thinking about this? I know why, but I’d tell someone else how crazy it was if they were in the same situation. My brain is buzzing like a beehive.
“Leo, I don’t know what to say.”
“It’s all right. I realize how irrational this sounds, but I can’t ignore it. If it turns out that I’m an idiot, I’ll always remember you and what you’ve done for me in such a short amount of time. The rush and the depth of emotions I have for you have blindsided me. How could they be misleading when they feel beyond amazing?”
I toy with the unruly curls that have fallen around his face. “It scares me,” I admit. “When I decided to take off this week, ending up in bed with the most attractive man I know was not even remotely a part of it. This is like a dream I don’t want to wake up from.”
“That’s a good thing, isn’t it?”
“You have no idea.”
He cocks an eyebrow at me.
I laugh. “Right. What am I saying? Of course you do.”
“So?”
“It’s a lot to take in. I’m extremely attracted to you. It’d be easy to dive in headfirst and not look back. But is it smart to get involved when I’m only here for a couple more days, and then you’re off into the world somewhere? I can’t imagine how hard it’s gonna be to say goodbye to you now. If we add more to it?—”
I flip onto my back and groan. I’m already somewhat attached. And we’re both experiencing major life changes. We lie there in silence for a few minutes, then Leo moves to hover over me, his warm eyes locked on mine. How could I not fall in love with him?
“Whatcha thinking about?” he asks.
“About…why do I have to be an adult? We could probably have wild sex every minute until I leave.”
“Mom gave me the rest of the week off.” He waggles his eyebrows.
“Oh, really? Whatever shall we do?” I envision our naked bodies entwined, reflected in the mirror. Him pinning me to the mattress, teasing me until I fall apart in his arms. Damn! I’m turned on every second I’m with him.
“Ooo, you’re blushing. Someone has a naughty mind.” He squeezes my butt, and his hard love stick presses against my leg. “Tell me.”
A giggle slips out, then I give him a stern look. “Nope, not happening. I won’t be able to walk tomorrow. Focus.”
He composes himself. “All right, I’ll be serious again. Just because you’re leaving soon and I’ll be traveling doesn’t mean we can’t visit each other in between. We also have video calls and text messaging. I’ll do everything in my power to see your beautiful face in person and to kiss your addictive lips.”
“These lips?” I tease him by tracing my bottom lip with the tip of my tongue.
“I’ll take whatever I can get.”
If things work out the way he predicts, he’ll end up with everything.
And so will I.