Chapter 33 #2
“Nah,” Pop chuckled in his gravelly way. “Fell for your mom the minute I saw her. Just was an idiot and thought I’d ruin everything if I told her. Took me too long to fix that mistake.” Pop eyed Luca with a subtle arch of his brow as he slid a platter between them.
I get it, I get it.
“Cheese fries for the lady, and two cups of coffee that taste halfway decent.”
“Thanks,” Luca said to Pop, who winked and slowly toddled back to the kitchen.
Olivia’s mouth was still open in surprise. “You got my favorite cheese fries that don’t technically exist anymore and good coffee.”
That warm, happy, gooey feeling radiated in his chest as he took in her pretty face.
“The first time I saw you was right here last Christmas. Carol and Ed took Annabelle to this Christmas train thing in Cooperstown after we did presents. I was dreading coming here, but Pearl had made me promise. And then I saw you. I couldn’t stop staring.
I turned around for one second, and you were gone.
Poof. Couldn’t find you anywhere. I looked in the parking lot only to see your car drive away.
I’d always look for you when I came into the diner.
So, this is sort of our place in my head. ”
He gulped at sharing all that, and her eyes went dreamy as she adorably chewed a cheese fry.
“Our place?” She puffed out her lower lip as if he was adorable. “We’ve had a place this whole time? What did Pearl say when you told her after the Christmas party?”
He smirked and rolled his eyes as he held her hand from across the table. “I kept it to myself. It sounded crazy. ‘Hey, there’s a woman I saw briefly as I walked through a room, and can you help me find her, please?’ She’d have probably slapped me.”
Olivia snorted as she sipped her coffee.
“I was so out of it that day. I’d performed two shows the day before, caught a red-eye, and got home at 10 a.m. for Pop’s last Christmas party at the diner.
Then drove back to the airport for a flight to perform the next day.
I assumed I’d hallucinated you, honestly. ”
Luca laughed and grabbed her hand, interlacing their fingers.
“For our main course.” Pop delivered two heavy diner plates with burgers and salads.
Olivia’s eyes widened. “Did you cook these here?” Olivia said, poking the burger hesitantly.
“Brought it from home.” Pop rolled his eyes in disgust. “It’s a mess back there.” He untied his apron and patted Luca’s shoulder as he walked out. “Hey, kid, key’s by the door. Lock up when you leave.”
Olivia’s phone buzzed in her purse. She checked it briefly. “I’m still getting messages about the clips I posted on social media.”
In the very last number, he’d recorded some of her dancing so she’d have the memory.
“You still riding the high?” he said, savoring the delicious burger he’d missed so badly.
Olivia took a bite of her burger and sighed over it. “I mean, it’s hard to compete with the high of this burger,” she said through a mouthful of food.
He could have leaped over tall buildings at making her so happy.
She sighed as she chewed. “I’ve decided the bravest, best thing I can do is be honest with myself. That dancing will always be part of me, but I still feel empty.”
Anxiety wracked his body at what might be coming.
She continued. “I’ve been searching for what’s next, and what’s next has been greeting me in the mirror for thirty-three years.
Finding out what I really like, beyond dance.
Not because it’ll make me worthy to love.
But because I really just… like it. Giving myself permission to try new things.
To have hobbies, and drink too much at ladies’ night with my friends, and see my mom and Pop every day if I want to.
I’m giving myself permission to live out my sloppy twenties, find what I want to do, find myself, and surround myself with as much love as I can take in.
It turns out I’ve been running on a love deficit for fifteen years, and I have a lot of catching up to do. ”
Was she staying here? Don’t push her. Just support her.
He smiled. “Would you try going to college?”
“Maybe.” She munched a cheese fry contemplatively. “Reading would be different now. I could ask for help.”
“I talked to Annabelle’s teacher last week, by the way. Apparently, she had the same concerns and gave me some tips to help her at home. We’re going to keep an eye on it. Maybe follow up with a specialist after Christmas. She’ll get whatever help she needs because of you.”
Olivia had worn her hair down in loose curls, and it swung to the side as she cocked her head, giving him a sappy smile. “Good. That makes my heart happy.”
God, she is gorgeous, inside and out.
They chatted about their days as he asked even more questions about her dancing.
She’d been surprised that he wanted to know absolutely everything.
How did she know all of that choreography?
What had it been like to rehearse, and more importantly, was the guy she’d danced with in a loving and committed relationship with somebody else so that Luca didn’t have to worry about it anymore?
That had made her almost choke on her pickles with laughter.
It had been a long time since he’d had a grown-up conversation over dinner, losing track of time and enjoying somebody’s company.
He hadn’t thought it could get better being with her, and yet here they were, chatting away until he realized he was late for the next part of their date.
After putting their plates in the sink and locking up, Luca told her about the rest of their evening plans. “There is a part two,” he said. “Annabelle is staying with Pearl for a girls-only slumber party.”
She smiled, and the simmering heat of it went straight to his cock. “Well, whatever shall we do with a house to ourselves?”
Just you wait.