Chapter 11 – Oliver
PRICK
OLIVER
Vale’s hiding her face because she doesn’t want me to see her blush.
She doesn’t realize that I can hear her heart rate quicken.
I can feel the heat radiating off her and see the way she’s shifting her thighs—I see how uncomfortable she is.
Though I can read the minds of most mortals, I rarely need to.
They tend to broadcast their feelings with body language.
Shae is pulling at my arm like a child begging for candy.
She’s annoying, but I need to be able to feed, which means I need to have a social life.
The kind of social life that’ll bring me into the fold, make me one of them.
Make me a proper man in Silver Springs. And Shae has those connections.
She’s a real estate agent and thinks we should do business together, but I know what she really wants, especially when her inner voice continues to call me her “future husband.” She thinks she has a chance with me even after I told her the truth that I don’t date.
I don’t need Shae’s business, I have enough money to last many lifetimes, but it’s about being accepted when you’re obviously not like the others.
I don’t necessarily get close to mortals, but I don’t want to be the person they gossip about either.
Speculation is a bad thing when you’re an immortal, it leads to paranoia.
And paranoia leads to torches and pitchforks.
So in the end, I play nice, to blend in as much as possible.
I can’t have them question why I’m unmarried and alone.
I’m in the South, so the moment casseroles start showing up with daughters on arms, that’s when I need to get the fuck out of there.
I’m the affable playboy in their story, carefully curated for the least amount of attention and drama.
Just a fun-loving libertine. That’s all I’ll ever be in their memories.
I grab her arm gently and lead Shae away from Vale. I don’t like how she’s looking at her, how she talked to her. I escort her to the car with the rowdy boys. “Can you make sure Shae has a good night tonight, boys? Maybe next week we can get together.”
They both wink. “Oh yeah, we can show her a good time, right, Shae?” Vinny says with a knowing smile.
“Who’s the hottie?” Brian asks from the driver’s side. “She can come too. Wouldn’t mind getting a piece of that tonight.”
I grind my teeth. My fists clench. She’s mine, I want to scream. The monster inside me lifts its head and I struggle to keep him down. “She’s off-limits.”
Brian looks at me with brown eyes gone wide with fear. He feels it, he’s on thin ice. “Yeah man, I got you,” he says, then turns away, unable to look me in the eye.
Shae giggles and jumps in the car. “Call me,” she chirps out the window before they take off. Brian almost shreds his tires trying to get out of here. Good, I hope he’s scared.
I turn back to Vale, but she’s putting the car into reverse again, trying to escape me. I step behind the car again, hoping she has fast reflexes. I don’t want to get run over tonight. She slams the brakes again. It’s like a dance with this one, a game. I want to play.
“What the fuck, Oliver?” Vale yells. She shuts down the engine and jumps out of the car. “What’s wrong with you?”
I love it when that fire is in her eyes. She’s so beautiful when she’s angry. I wonder how far I can push her. How angry can I get Vale Granger this evening? Then again, why would I want to? Gosh, what’s wrong with me? This girl fucks with my head.
“Nothing’s wrong with me. You don’t have a license, Vale. Nick told me,” I try to explain innocently, like I’m watching out for her and not actually being a prick. I know I’m a prick. Vale knows it too.
Speaking of Nick, he’s coming out the back door right now to see what’s going on. The rowdy boys had peeled out of my driveway like a bunch of idiots. Why do I have to socialize with people like that? Oh yeah, because I don’t want to starve to death.
“What’s going on, Vale?” Nick asks as he takes in the situation.
“Oliver won’t let me leave because he knows I don’t have a license.”
Nick chuckles, his cheeks a bit more pink now as if he’s embarrassed. “I told you not to tell anyone, Vale. You’re gonna get me in trouble.”
He let her borrow the car. I have to say I’m surprised.
He doesn’t seem the type to let her go out driving at night without a license, alone.
This is what he means by letting Vale “get away with murder.” He lets her do just about anything she wants so she can break out of that shell she’s locked herself up in.
“I can drive her. I want to see this meteor shower she’s talking about.”
“Thought you were going out tonight with those hooligans.” Nick studies me for a moment, then smirks.
“I’ve decided a meteor shower sounds more interesting than darts and a pint,” I explain. But it’s a lie. I’m more interested in Vale.
“That’s not necessary,” Vale counters, trying to stop me. She wanted me last night, but now she doesn’t. Why not? I want her to want me.
“I think that’s a great idea actually. Then you won’t get arrested or have to lie about stealing the car and get a felony.”
“I can drive. I’ll be fine.” She’s trying to talk him into it again, but I can tell he’s not going to budge.
“I’d feel so much better if you went with Oliver.
Come on, he wants to see the meteor shower.
It works out for everyone. You might be able to teach him something.
” He might be talking to her, but he’s smiling at me.
What’s he trying to do right now? If I didn’t know better, I’d think he was trying to set me up with Vale.
She slumps her shoulders and gives in without a fight.
Her whole demeanor changes. I don’t like it, how easily she gives up.
She gets back into the car, grabbing her bag.
Then she grabs her stuff from the back seat.
That fire dies to embers, sputtering out like there’s no fight left inside her.
She gives in so quickly, and now I can see what Nick was talking about.
Vale makes her way up the deck and hands Nick the key fob. When she faces me, Nick holds his hands together and whispers, Thank you, so she doesn't see it. I nod my head in reply.
“I’ll take you driving soon,” Nick promises her, but Vale doesn’t say anything back, just waves goodbye. She looks defeated, broken. I hate it.
“Come on,” I tell her, motioning her to follow me. It’s going to be an interesting night.
“Alright, Olly.”
I hope she’s just being snarky.