23. Olivia
Chapter twenty-three
Olivia
I t feels like a dream, but it isn’t. Elliot Sharp is here, in my house, in my bed, staring at me with those intoxicating brown eyes. Sometimes, I fear it’s a dream I’ll eventually wake up from, but it’s been a week—an entire week of loving this man and discovering sides of him I didn’t think existed.
Is this how he is when he’s in love? Smitten and even more breathtaking than I ever imagined? How could anyone ever think of hurting a man like him? Maybe it was the many curveballs life threw at him that led him to me, and I have no intention of letting him go.
“I can tell you’re deep in thought. Care to share?” he asks, breaking the silence. I stretch and sit up, noticing the breakfast tray he set beside me.
“When did you do this? You barely got enough sleep last night with all the changes you’re making to your new restaurant,” I say, gently massaging his shoulders.
“Well, everything is almost set up. Maybe I should send Aaron over there; he’s becoming a pain in my neck,” he grumbles.
His love-hate friendship with Aaron is amusing to watch. Although Elliot would rather dress up as a princess than admit he loves Aaron, I know he does—just as I know he secretly enjoys Aaron’s snarky comments.
“I think Aaron is cool. He’s not grumpy like someone else I know,” I tease, and Elliot leans over to tickle me.
“Oh yeah? Yet you fell for the grump?”
Laughing, I try to wiggle out of his hold. “That’s the heart for you. We never truly understand how it works,” I respond, settling in and cuddling up with him.
He’s smiling, his dimples making him even more irresistible. “I do know what my heart is saying. It’s only calling one name: Olivia Reed,” he says, planting a soft kiss on my forehead.
I hug him tightly, but as his gentle strokes on my back slow down, I sense a shift in the air. “What’s wrong?” I ask, pulling back to look into his eyes.
“Nothing, just thinking of Daniel. I hate leaving him in the dark about this,” he sighs. I understand, but my brother's reaction is hard to predict.
I spoke to Julia about it, and she was excited, but I want to tell Daniel in person. I want to look him in the eyes and explain things myself. While it’s tough for Elliot to keep this from his best friend, it’s only for another week before they return. I’m worried that my brother’s concerns about Elliot’s past might ruin everything.
“They’ll be back next week; we’ll tell him then,” I promise, squeezing Elliot’s palm in reassurance.
He nods and slowly starts to rise to his feet. “Alright, babe, I have to go to the restaurant now. Eat up.”
“Babe? I didn’t know you were so mushy,” I tease, poking his side playfully.
“Well, after some practice, it’s not so bad. Babeee,” he winks, and I can’t help but laugh.
Grabbing my breakfast tray from the bedside shelf, I take a big bite of the homemade croissant he made for me. “I’ll come to the restaurant later. I’ll bring Max too,” I call after him.
“You can bring him, but you’ll have to deal with that dog when he starts having the zoomies,” he yells back.
“Isn’t he your dog?”
“He is, but he loves you more than he loves me now,” he replies, and I listen until I hear the door shut and his car drive away.
As I continue enjoying my breakfast, I decide to post a new entry on my blog. A lot has happened since my last post, and I’m left wondering if this is fate or simply luck—and if I might run out of it soon.
Lady Luck or Fate
I’ve been pondering whether soul mates really exist. You know, like that guy you meet in the park and instantly connect with. The gentle brush of fingers igniting a flame in your heart, leaving you burning with a new intensity.
Is it Fate, or is Lady Luck just playing her hand?
Ultimately, it doesn’t matter which it is—every romantic should have a few clever tricks up her sleeve, too.
I linger in bed, savoring the peace and taking my time to craft my own fairytale—a life where every moment is spent with Elliot. A story where each page is written with the ink of our unending love. I can picture it vividly; I just pray he sees it the same way.
Finally, I decide to take a shower before joining Elliot at the restaurant when my phone rings. It’s Aaron.
“Hey, Aaron, what’s up?” I say into the receiver.
“I’m alright. Can you tell Elliot we could use his help at the restaurant? There’s a tourist buzz today,” he says breathlessly, and I can hear the ruckus of pots and pans clanking in the background.
“That’s strange; he left a while ago. Maybe he went home first. Have you tried calling?”
“Of course I did, but he didn’t answer. That’s why I thought he was with you. Listen, I’ve got to go now, but let me know when you hear from him.”
I stare at the phone in my hand, a sense of unease creeping in. He probably just stopped by his house, so that’s where I’ll go after I freshen up. “Everything is fine,” I repeat to myself as I rush through my shower.
When I come out, my phone is buzzing incessantly with missed calls from Julia. I hope nothing terrible has happened to my brother during their trip. Today is taking a turn I’m not too fond of. The phone rings again, and I answer it immediately.
“Why didn’t you pick up, Ollie?” she yells once I answer.
“What’s wrong, Jules? You’re scaring me,” I panic, sensing her voice is shaky.
“It’s Daniel. He knows, Ollie, he knows,” she stammers. “He knows about you and Elliot.”
The world crashes beneath my feet as I struggle to comprehend what she’s saying. “How? I don’t understand. Did you tell him?”
“Of course not. He saw our chat, and now he’s back in town. Where’s Elliot? Sure he still has all his teeth in his mouth?” she says, trying to infuse humor into the grim situation.
The pieces start falling into place, and as they do, the consequences become increasingly clear. “No, no, no, Elliot. He went to meet Daniel,” I say, frantically pulling whatever I can find from my wardrobe.
“I’m on my way back. I’ll talk to him. You just find Elliot,” Julia reassures me before ending the call.
Racing down the stairs, I unlock the door to find Daniel standing on the other side, his face etched with a frown.
“Hey, I wasn’t expecting you,” I stutter, hoping he doesn’t notice my nervous fidgeting.
He steps into the house, his gaze fixed on me. “I know that. Care to tell me where you’re heading, or would you rather lie to my face again?”
He’s hurt—I can tell by his clenched fist. “Please, Danny, calm down and hear me out,” I plead, but his anger only intensifies. He runs a hand through his hair, clearly struggling to keep his emotions in check.
“Elliot? Of all people, it had to be Elliot? Are you really that clueless?” he snaps, his voice laced with irritation.
Shaking my head, I respond, “No, Danny. You weren’t supposed to find out like this.” Tears stream down my face. “Please, I was going to tell you in person. I’d never keep this from you.”
“But you did, Ollie. What’s more sad is that Julia helped you and Elliot keep this secret while I remained clueless, big brother. That’s not how you treat people you love,” he says, disappointment flooding his blue eyes.
My brother, who for the twelve years since our parents died has always been a source of smiles and jokes, is now yelling at me and heartbroken. He’s devastated because of me, and I begin to regret not having told him sooner.
“I’m sorry, Danny. Truly sorry, but I love Elliot. I love him a lot,” I plead.
Letting out an exasperated breath, he turns to look me in the eye. “That’s too bad because whatever you have going on ends today. I made sure of it.”
“What have you done?” I yell, dialing Elliot’s number, but it goes to voicemail.
“What I should have done a long time ago. You forget about him, Ollie,” his words fall on deaf ears as I race out the door.
“Please, Elliot, please don’t let him get to you,” I pray under my breath as I run.