Chapter 29
Olivia
So Easy (To Fall In Love) - Olivia Dean
I’m late. Not like oops-I-snoozed-the-alarm late on a Saturday.
I mean full-blown, arm-juggling, near-death sprinting through Wattle Creek’s sleepy main street with a five-year-old and an avalanche of Hot Wheels in my tote bag.
“Why are we running?” Teddy pants beside me.
“We’re not,” I say, not slowing down. “We’re simply power walking.”
Truthfully, I wasn’t supposed to bring him.
Sebastian had been called to work at the last minute—some court prep for a trial, something too serious for me to question further—and he’d texted, asking if I could watch Teddy for a few hours.
And I, being an idiot with no self-preservation skills and zero boundaries, said yes. How could I say no?
So here we are. When we finally reach the café, Amelia’s already seated outside at one of the sun-drenched tables, cupping her latte with both hands. She looks up when she sees us, and her expression bounces from confusion to amusement.
“Oh! You brought a date?” she says, leaning forward with a smile.
“Sort of.” I huff, nudging Teddy gently toward the seat beside her. “I need to watch him for a few hours, and I didn’t want to bail. I’ve been a crap friend lately, I’m sorry.”
Amelia waves me off. “You haven’t. Well, maybe just a tiny bit. But this”—she gestures to Teddy—“kind of makes up for it. I’ve missed you.”
“I’ve missed you, too,” I say, sliding into the chair across from her with a breath of relief.
My shoulders finally unclench. Coffee and sunshine.
Two things I didn’t realise I needed this badly until right now.
The waiter comes out to take our order, notepad already in hand.
I rattle off my usual before gesturing toward Teddy.
“He’ll have a babyccino, with extra chocolate on top, and a cheese and tomato toastie, please.”
As the waiter disappears inside, Amelia leans toward Teddy with a curious smile. “What’s your favourite car, Teddy?”
He glances up at me first, like he’s waiting for permission. He’s been doing that a lot lately; seeking reassurance, checking my face before answering a question or making a choice. It’s subtle, but I’ll be damned if that doesn’t melt me from the inside out.
“The red one,” he answers Amelia.
“Excellent choice,” she says brightly. “Red ones are always the fastest.”
She sips her coffee, then turns to me. “So, why the impromptu babysitting?”
Without looking up from where he’s playing with his Hot Wheels, Teddy says, “Daddy had to go to work. Said it was something important.”
“Oh. I think Brad mentioned something about that…” Amelia’s gaze snaps back to me, more thoughtful now. “Does Sebastian tell you about his job?”
I hesitate, just for a beat, before schooling my expression into something easy. I’m not sure if he should be telling me about it, but it’s not like I’m reporting back to anyone.
“Only when I ask,” I say, forcing a smile. “He doesn’t exactly offer up details on his own.”
She hums. “Sounds like your brother.”
We both laugh.
“So,” she tilts her head, “how are you doing?”
Now, that’s a question I should be answering honestly.
One that deserves a real response. But instead of telling her that I think I’m starting to develop feelings for Sebastian, that I had the best sex ever with her husband’s, my brother’s, best friend…
or that I’m drowning in the kind of secrecy I’ve never had with her before, I smile and deflect.
It guts me a little that I haven’t told her.
Amelia wouldn’t care. She’d probably clap.
But it feels like a dirty little secret.
“I’m good,” I say, too cheerfully. “Tired. But good. What about you? How’s work? Still ruling over Koala Creek Primary like a queen?”
Amelia perks up a little, smiling. “I love my kids; you know I do. But it’s getting a bit… repetitive. I’m kind of itching for something more. I’ve been eyeing the curriculum coordinator role if it opens up.”
I nod, picturing it immediately. “You’d kill that. Honestly. You’ve got the calm presence, the know-how, and enough stationery to run the whole education system.”
“You’re not wrong.” She pauses, brushing crumbs from her lap. “Also, we’re hiring more learning support officers. Watching you with Teddy now… I don’t know, you’ve got a good way with kids. Have you ever thought about doing something like that?”
Before I can answer, the waiter returns with our order. Teddy immediately grabs his babyccino with both hands, like it’s liquid gold.
“Toastie first,” I warn, handing him a napkin. He huffs, but obeys, picking it up with both hands and taking a dramatic bite. I glance up and find Amelia watching us.
“What?” I ask, narrowing my eyes.
“Nothing.”
“You’re staring.”
“I am not.”
“You are. Don’t even try to deny it. You’ve got that squinty thing going on.”
She smiles, slow and soft, and wraps her hands around her coffee cup again. “You’ve changed, Liv.”
Her words are gentle, landing with a weight I was not expecting. I offer a smile, lean back in my chair, sip my coffee, and watch Teddy carefully separate the crust from his toastie.
“Oh,” Amelia adds casually, like it’s just another part of the conversation, “Bradley’s birthday barbecue is next Saturday. At ours.”
“Yep,” I say, nodding. “How could I forget?”
She pauses for a second, watching Teddy, then lowers her voice. “Sebastian’s invited too… which means Teddy is as well.”
Right. Yes, of course he’s going—obviously, because he’s my brother’s partner at work, so naturally he’s invited, which means Teddy is too. Great. Cool, cool, cool.
Amelia watches me a little too closely, so I school my reaction and focus on Teddy instead, watching him push his toy car along the edge of the table while he eats.
And just like that, the moment passes, but my nerves don’t.
The kettle’s still hissing after being boiled, and I’m about to pour in my peppermint tea for the afternoon, when Sebastian’s voice echoes down the hallway.
“Yeah, Ma. I know,” he says, his voice carrying like he’s on speakerphone. “No, I’m not doing anything… because I don’t want to make a fuss. That’s the point.”
My hand pauses mid-stir.
Birthday?
I don’t mean to eavesdrop. Truly. But the man is basically shouting as he comes down the stairs, boots heavy on every step.
“I’m serious,” he goes on, clearly unaware I’m within earshot in the kitchen. “No cake. No dinner. No—You’re not roping Teddy into anything either.”
I freeze, spoon dangling over my mug, staring at the wall. He still hasn’t rounded the corner, so I keep listening, ears perked, and I’m not even ashamed.
“Sandra, please,” he pleads. “It’s just a day. One I’d like to pretend doesn’t exist.”
Well, that explains a few things. Footsteps retreat, and I hear him drop onto the lounge, probably into that sunken spot on the couch he refuses to admit is his favourite.
I peek around the wall, and sure enough, Sebastian catches me, like he knew I’d been listening.
Then flips me off right over Teddy’s head.
Subtle. I grin sweetly and raise my mug in a toast. He hangs up, and the second his phone hits the coffee table, I pounce.
“So. Your birthday, huh?”
“No.”
“No, what?”
“No, we’re not talking about it, Trouble.”
I gasp dramatically. “Oh, yes, we are. I don’t even know when your birthday is!”
“Exactly.” He smirks.
“That’s a problem.”
“It’s really not.”
“It is for me,” I argue. “What if I want to buy you socks? Or a jigsaw puzzle? Or, I don’t know, a stripper?”
“What’s a stripper?” Teddy asks, bright and innocent.
Sebastian’s eyes go wide before he snaps his attention to his son. “Nothing, champ.” Then he looks back at me, glare fully loaded. “Absolutely not.”
“Daddy’s birthday is the ninth of December,” Teddy adds, completely unbothered.
My mouth drops open.
Sebastian groans, dragging a hand down his face. “Mate…”
Teddy shrugs. “What?”
“Well,” I beam. “Would you look at that?”
“Nothing is happening, Liv. Please,” Sebastian pleads, already sounding tired. I notice the defeat in his shoulders and, since I’m feeling generous, decide to ease off. Just a little. For now.
“Okay.” I sigh. “Grumpy. Party pooper.”
He lifts a brow. “You sound like my sister.”
That just makes me smile wider. “Well,” I say, swirling my tea with a flourish, “clearly, your sister and I have great minds. Unlike you.”
I stick my tongue out at him. Teddy spots it and immediately copies me, poking his tongue out, eyes wide with glee.
Sebastian points at him like he’s been personally betrayed. “Oh, that’s it.”
“Uh-oh,” I squeak, already backing away.
He lunges for Teddy, who giggles and bolts down the hallway, Diesel barking at full volume as he tears after them. I get a two-second head start before Sebastian pivots and charges straight for me, sweeping me off my feet with an undignified yelp. It’s chaos. Glorious, unfiltered chaos.
And I wouldn’t trade a second of it.
The air hums with that sticky November warmth—lazy, lingering heat that clings to your skin and reminds you spring hasn’t quite finished showing off.
The scent of grilled meat drifts through the backyard, mingling with bursts of laughter and the clatter of beer bottles knocking together.
Kids are everywhere—chasing bubbles, or balancing paper plates in little hands.
Teddy, however, hasn’t left my side. He’s been glued to my hip all afternoon, his fingers either tangled in the hem of my shirt or pressing against my palm, as if anchoring himself.
I don’t mind. Not even a little. He’s quiet, watching the younger kids play.
Every now and then, he leans into me and whispers something only I’m supposed to hear. My heart squeezes each time.
Brushing the hair off his forehead, I crouch to his level. “You okay?”
Teddy nods, clutching his juice box tighter.