13. Olivia
THIRTEEN
olivia
I zipped my suitcase, getting ready to leave in just a few minutes.
Our flight was departing soon. And as much as I wanted to stay longer and spend more time with them to make up for the years that were taken from me, I knew we had to go. Luke and I needed to return the rental car, check our bags, and embark on another long flight back to Seattle.
We had a grueling seven-hour nonstop flight ahead, with no breaks to ease the monotony. The thought alone left me feeling exhausted.
“Are you almost ready to go, angel?” Luke’s voice startled me from the doorway.
I turned around, taking him in; he wore dark wash jeans that hugged his body the way I wanted to and a gray V-neck tee with his black leather jacket to top off how hot he was. His dark hair was tousled a bit, and he had the sleepy, sexy vibe going. His eyes patiently searched mine for my response as I got lost in them. They were like looking into the parts of the ocean that we didn’t know existed yet .
“Yeah, I actually just finished,” I told him, feeling bittersweet.
He came up to me, pressing a kiss on my forehead. “I can take this stuff, go downstairs. Your parents are waiting for you.”
I nodded and made my way out of the room and down the stairs to where my mom was packing up the goodies she made for Vera and me. Luke and my dad took the luggage outside to the rental SUV, making small talk that I couldn’t quite hear.
“We were so happy you came to visit, sweetheart,” my mom said, handing me the packed tray of assorted cookies. “Please, do not become a stranger again.”
She hugged me, squeezing me tightly.
“I don’t plan on doing that ever again, I assure you. And Luke deserves all of the credit for the trip,” I told her, blushing.
My face felt hot as my mind wandered to the last few nights of me sneaking into the guest bedroom with Luke.
“I love the way he treats you. I love the way he looks at you,” she said, her eyes taking a faraway look. “Reminds me of how it was when I first met your father.” She was smiling.
“Yeah, he’s really great. It’s so weird to think about the insane circumstance that brought him to me. I never thought we would be where we are now,” I said to her as we stepped out on the porch.
Luke and my dad were standing by the SUV, their backs to us, talking about something quietly. Whatever it was, they didn’t want us to hear it.
“And where exactly is that?” she asked.
“I don’t know,” I said thoughtfully, “I think there could be something serious between us. But part of me wonders if things are moving too fast. We’ve been together for a little over three months now, but it feels like it’s been so much longer.”
“You know what they say, when you know, you know.”
I nodded. Because I did know.
I knew that Luke was it for me. If we were ever to separate, it would change me and the trajectory of not only my life but also who I was as a person.
I knew I would never be able to walk the streets of Seattle the same ever again. Luke was the one for me. As much as I regret spending all those years I did with Matt, and as much as it makes me sick to remember what I allowed him to do to me, I couldn’t help but be grateful that all of those events led me to this mesmeric force of a man, Luke.
“I love you. Thank you for letting us stay,” I said, squeezing her.
Luke had started up the rental and was shaking hands with my dad. He made his way over, most likely to say his goodbyes to my mom.
“It was wonderful having you both. You are always welcome, you know that, but maybe next time, you two can stay at one of the new hotels they built here. You might enjoy the privacy a little more.” She winked at me.
I almost threw up right then and there.
God, did they know what we were doing?
My neck and chest heated with anxiety as my mom chuckled and kissed me on the cheek.
“It was great seeing you both, and meeting Luke,” my dad said to me, pulling me into an even tighter bear hug than my mom. “Let’s make this something we do yearly. We loved having you guys.”
I struggled out a nod since I was being squeezed almost to death.
Luke was hugging my mom, thanking her for the hospitality. She swooned over his southern accent and gave him a quick kiss on the cheek.
“Make sure you let us know when you land and when you get back home!” they both said as we got in the car, waving as we pulled down the driveway until we could no longer see them.
“Did you have a good time, angel?” Luke asked me as he drove us back to the airport. Exhaustion hit my core like a freight train through a small town.
“I had the best time. You’re too good to me,” I said, squeezing his hand.
“You deserve the best, baby. I would do anything for you,” he said.
I yawned and leaned my head back, watching the scenery pass by. I would always love this place for the memories it held, but I felt like home was sitting right next to me. Wherever he was, was where I wanted to be.
“Get some rest; you look tired,” Luke said, glancing over at me from the driver’s side. “I upgraded our seats earlier. Since our flight was longer, I figured we deserved to be comfortable.”
“I’ve never flown anything but economy,” I told him. This felt new and exciting. Something I always felt with Luke.
“Really?” The shock of the statement was ever present in his response.
I laughed. “Yeah, you would think the rich lawyer would fly me around in style, but I was honestly either never invited or never worth the extra to him, I guess.”
He drew my hand to his lips and kissed my knuckles as he turned into the airport.
“You’ll always be worth everything to me, angel.”
For once in my life, I believed that with my entire being.