Chapter Twenty-Six “Olivia. You okay?”
Chapter Twenty-Six
“Olivia. You okay?”
“Yeah, I’m okay, there was just a small hiccup.”
“Are you heading back to the city now? I can meet you at your place in twenty minutes.” Theo’s voice filtered through the phone and settled into her bones like warmth from a fire. “Oh, wait. Make it an hour, my train just got cancelled.”
“About that… I’m not gonna make it back tonight,” Olivia said, her fingers picking at the hem of her sodden dress. She pressed them into the flesh of her thigh, watching the impression turn a stark white before blood rushed back into the spot.
“Oh, are you staying at Danielle’s?”
“Um, no. I’m still in Surrey actually. The rain came out of nowhere, and Edward said it was too dangerous to drive so we’ve got a room at this pub—”
“Wait, you’re still with Edward?” His tone was laced with surprise. A train announcement sounded in the background and he let out a small profanity before muttering, almost to himself, “I guess I’m getting a taxi.”
“You don’t have to worry, he’s been nothing but a gentleman. We’ve got a room and he’s gone to get some food…”
“Nothing but a gentleman…” Theo repeated on the other end of the line.
“Pardon?”
“You’re in Surrey, staying with a stranger on a third date.” Theo spoke each word carefully, as if he was saying it to himself. If Olivia didn’t know better, she’d think he was worried. About her.
“Yes. But I’m safe. We’ll drive back first thing in the morning, you have absolutely no need to worry,” she confirmed carefully.
Placing her phone on the basin, she clicked the speaker button and went back to lift her dress and wiggle herself out of it.
The thin fabric was not budging as she pulled.
On the other side of the bathroom door, she heard the main door click closed and Edward’s voice notified her that he was back.
Irritated that the dress was barely budging off her damp frame, she huffed in annoyance just as Theo’s voice came through the speaker again.
“Okay…alright. So how’s it going?”
“I think I found him.”
Theo paused for a moment, before carefully asking, “Your leading man?”
“Of course, silly. Who else?” The small bathroom was decked out with old, gold wall lights and pristine white towels that hung in a zigzag on the rack. Olivia took a deep breath before grabbing the straps of her dress and pulling them down, forcing her arms out of the holes.
“So. Do tell.”
Olivia hummed. “Well, he’s tall…”
“And?”
“Theo?”
“Kind.”
“And…?”
“Handsome. Very Handsome.” Olivia huffed, perching herself on the edge of the old claw foot bath with resounding defeat.
Theo chuckled. “Let me guess. He has dark hair, eyes the colour of chocolate and his name rhymes with Leo.”
Olivia let out a laugh. “Theo...” He was making it impossible for her to wipe the grin off of her face.
“I knew it.” His teasing tone came through the receiver just as a loud thump sounded followed by Theo muttering a small “sorry,” to someone.
“And...”
Theo paused once again. “There’s more?”
Grabbing a crisp white towel from the heated rack, she unfolded it, before beginning to cocoon herself in the fluffy material. If she couldn’t take her dress off, then this would have to suffice. “His name is Edward.”
“Oh.” Theo went silent on the phone; all she could hear was a choked inhale that caught mid-way.
Olivia paused, towel half thrown around her shoulders at Theo’s abrupt change in tone. “What do you mean, oh?”
“Nothing.” Theo brushed it off. “Why are you talking to me when you’ve got handsome Edward waiting for you? Hang up.”
“But...” Olivia didn’t understand. One minute they were joking around and then all of a sudden she’s brought back to ground; gravity working its hardest to remind her that only a few steps away she had her personified leading man waiting for her on the other side of the thin wooden door.
“Have fun, Olivia.”
Olivia closed the bathroom door with a swift click. With a jolt she realised Edward was back in the room. How much of her conversation had he heard?
“Did you fin-” she began.
“You didn’t tell me you had a boyfriend.” Edward’s words were low, menacing.
He jumped up and started gathering his things. He was still soaking wet; the thin linen shirt he had been wearing was beginning to crinkle and harden with the remnants of the rain.
Olivia looked at him dumbfounded. “What?”
“Someone called Theo?”
“I don’t have a—”
“Why would you sneak off to call a man when you’re supposed to be here with me?
What kind of person does that?” He shook himself irritably, like he was shrugging her off, ridding himself of her even as she stood there in front of him.
“You should have told me. Why did you even agree to date me if you were already with someone else?”
“I’m not with someone else…” Olivia took a step forward, the old wooden floors creaking under her step. As she did, Edward began to step back towards the door.
“Don’t lie to me, Olivia. I may have been na?ve enough to believe a gorgeous woman like you was single, but I’m not stupid enough to believe you’re not lying to me right now.”
The thin windows rattled under the weight and velocity of the summer downpour outside.
“I… just let me explain,” Olivia muttered, her eyes pricking with tears. She was embarrassed. And ashamed.
“I really don’t want to hear it.”
“I’m an author,” Olivia rushed. “I’ve been dating men because I can’t write a character…”
His laughter spat out like acid. “So it’s all just been a game to you. I’m just some pawn for you, a man to help you write?” Edward’s voice felt like knives against her skin. His tone was accusatory, his question exactly right.
Olivia hesitated for a moment, realising how horrid the situation made her sound. She’d never meant to hurt people’s feelings, that wasn’t part of her research. “Edward…”
“I don’t know what’s worse. You having a boyfriend, or you using me for nothing but a quick research session.
Did you even take any of our dates seriously?
” Edward huffed and walked across the small room, grabbed his damp coat off the back of the armchair and opened the door.
“Don’t answer that question. I’m going to leave now. Enjoy the room.”
“But it’s really coming down out there…” she gasped, taking another step forward.
“I’ll take my chances.” Edward slammed the door shut leaving her in the soft glow of the fireplace, feeling more alone than ever.
Shrugging off the towel from around her shoulders, she hung it on the back of the armchair and pulled the quilted throw off the end of the bed. Wrapping the itchy fabric around her shoulders, she slumped to the floor in front of the warm fireplace and let the tears begin to fall.