Chapter 8 #2
As he hopped in his truck, texts pinged from Olivia. A selfie loaded of her and AB making silly faces inside his SUV before drop-off.
OLIVIA
We changed your radio presets to pop stations. Hope that’s fine!
The eagle has landed in first grade.
No drama to report.
His mouth quirked into a smile.
LUCA
Thx
OLIVIA
Sir, yes, sir.
His insides warmed. He shouldn’t think about her calling him sir.
Luca spent the day in a fugue state, touring locations, squeezing in more work at his shop in Elliotsville. He’d worked straight through lunch and had lost track of time until three o’clock.
Texts popped up from Olivia using the special ringtone he’d given her. So he’d gone through the trouble of figuring out the perfect twinkle sound that reminded him of her laugh. What of it?
OLIVIA
We’ve decided that playgrounds are for babies, and we’re going home to dance instead.
LUCA
K
OLIVIA
…Is that not okay?
He frowned at his phone, confused.
LUCA
I said K?
OLIVIA
That’s what somebody says if they hate the other person.
Well that was news to him.
LUCA
What should I say instead?
A photo of AB making a goofy face from Olivia filled his screen.
OLIVIA
You know what? K is just fine.
As long as it means you don’t hate me.
I could never hate you, he typed out, but then erased it.
Too real. Too much.
K is what he sent back instead.
Better to keep her at arm’s length.
Don’t let yourself fall even further.
* * *
That night, Luca finally got Annabelle to sleep after reading her ballerina bunnies book two times in a row.
He checked his phone as he closed her door.
OLIVIA
Hi there! There’s a permission slip on the counter for you to sign for a Girl Scout lock-in.
Also, I will be over at 6:30 again tomorrow.
Was that okay?
Please let me know if it wasn’t.
Luca lingered over every message, savoring it.
Here in his private space, just by himself, he let himself enjoy every bit of Olivia that he got.
She was thoughtful, remembered small details, and open and warm with him.
Some people were intimidated by his tattoos and his size. He sort of liked it that way. Made him feel like no one would fuck with him.
But she saw right past it to his heart, it felt like.
More texts came in like waves lapping at the shore. He savored each one.
OLIVIA
I can let you know when I’m heading over or when I’m about to come in, if you prefer.
Also, we’ll do leftover pancakes tomorrow morning.
And maybe some scrambled eggs.
Hope you have a good night.
K, he typed.
Wait, don’t be an asshole. She’s being so nice, and I was kind of a jerk this morning.
At least texting allowed him to be more articulate and not revert to a caveman that wanted to stare at her perfectly sized tits or get lost in her dimples.
He thought for a second about how to respond.
She deserved to be treated with the most kindness in the world. The most consideration.
He drafted a message and read it three times to make sure he didn’t misspell anything or sound stupid.
LUCA
I’m sorry if I made you feel bad this morning. I apologize.
Still needs more, he thought, looking at the wall of texts she’d sent him. Don’t want her to think I hate her.
You did a good job, he typed. Then rolled his eyes.
He deleted the draft, groaning. You did a good job was what you told a ten-year-old after they mangled their first chore. Not the stunning woman you entrusted your child to, who had actually been far better than he’d thought to hope for.
He groaned as he walked downstairs. He needed a drink for this.
He eyed his phone on the counter while he poured a drink, trying to think of the right thing to say.
After a swig of whiskey, he just went for it.
LUCA
AB had a great day thanks to you.
So did I.
He sent it.
Wait, no. Fuck. Is that stupid? It’s probably stupid.
He was probably bothering her. But also, she’d asked him a question he’d forgotten to answer like an idiot.
It’s fine for you to come in any time tomorrow. Have a good night.
He sent the message quickly, so he would stop bothering her. He could see her lights were on next door, but he didn’t want to hound her after hours.
OLIVIA
Is it my birthday????
I’m getting more than one-letter responses.
He huffed out a laugh into his glass.
You had a good day?
Tell me more.
Luca stared at his phone, as if it was his enemy, and slowly sipped his whiskey as he looked at the message.
He leaned against the counter, weighing his options.
She’s probably just being nice.
She seems like a person who would go out of her way to be nice.
But then…she asked for more?
Do I tell her that when I grabbed a cord from the SUV, my evening was better because the car smelled like her?
Or that AB couldn’t stop talking about how much fun they’d had after school all through dinner?
And bath time.
And bedtime.
Olivia had shown AB videos of her ballet performances, and now AB was using words like fouetté and pirouette. Fucking adorable and educational.
No.
Maybe it’s a bad idea to answer.
Gotta put some distance between her and me so my heart doesn’t get smashed like it’s caught in a hydraulic press.
OLIVIA
Orrrrr
You can just stare at my typing.
Leave me on read.
It’s fineeee! My feelings aren’t hurt.
I’ll see you in the morning!
“Aaaagh.” He scrambled for his phone, sloshing his whiskey over the screen in surprise.
He was being rude again.
Thoughts poured out of his fingers as fast as he could type them.
LUCA
Sorry, I was thinking. You made the day better by being you
I could actually focus on work and wasn’t stressed about being late
Half the time, I’d forget my work or the lunch box or her backpack
Hell, one time I forgot my underwear and my balls hurt so bad by the end of the day
I felt like I could just do the things I needed to get done today
So, thank you
He watched her read all of his texts, her little status bubble plopping down through each message.
He watched his screen for five full minutes waiting for her response, but it was silent.
Goddamn it, I fucked something up. Biting his nail, he reread his messages. Where did I go wrong?
Ah, found it.
LUCA
Sorry for mentioning balls
He grimaced as he downed the rest of his whiskey.
OLIVIA
Hahahahahahaha
A laugh rumbled out of him as sunlight poured into his veins at having made her laugh.
Are you fucking with me?
Maaaaaybe.
I will see you in the morning.
Good night, Olivia.
Yes, you will!
Look to your left!
He looked out his kitchen window across from Georgia’s dining room window. She waved, giving him a bright smile. She was stunning in her purple flannel pajama pants and a clinging V-neck, long-sleeve shirt. Her hair was over her shoulder in a thick, long braid.
Good night, Luca.
He waved back, trying to seem unattached and not completely lovesick over the mere sight of her.
A glimpse of what she was like when it was just her.
Stunning. Sexy. Adorable. Funny.
All those things, but definitely not mine.
She turned out her light and walked out of sight.
A sigh escaped him as he realized this was just the first day in a long string of days.
Can I take another three months of this torture?