Chapter 41
Olivia
Iwatch the way he hesitates at the door, torn between staying and going, the worry etched into every line of his face.
“I’m going to be fine, Kade,” I say gently. “You have meetings today. You need to go.”
He exhales sharply and crosses back to the bed, sitting beside me with a heaviness that makes my chest ache. “I don’t want to leave you alone.”
I reach for his hand, threading my fingers through his. “Aubrey will be here in a couple of hours. Go to work.”
He leans in, resting his forehead lightly against mine. His voice drops to a whisper. “Promise me you’ll call if you need me.”
I nod, my hands sliding up to his wrists, holding him there. “I promise.”
He kisses me—soft, lingering—like he doesn’t want to let go. When he finally pulls back, his thumb brushes my cheek one last time before he heads for the door. He pauses in the doorway, glancing over his shoulder to flash me that signature, playful wink.
I can’t help the soft laugh that slips from me as I watch him disappear. I listen until I hear the quiet click of the front door closing.
“I love you. I know it’s soon. I just needed you to know.”
His words circle through my mind, replaying over and over until they press against something fragile inside me.
He loves me.
I wanted so badly to say it back, it’s there, right on the tip of my tongue, but the words won’t come. Not yet. I know the truth of it in my bones though: I love him. I love him in a way that terrifies me to my core.
Because loving Kade isn’t like surviving Caleb.
Caleb took pieces of me that never belonged to him. He stripped me down, broke me until there was nothing left but ashes and fear.
But Kade…
Kade could break my heart.
And I know without a doubt—if he did—I wouldn’t survive it.
I lean back against the pillows, savoring the faint trace of Kade, his scent still clinging to the sheets like a quiet promise.
Slowly, I push the covers away and let my legs swing over the edge of the bed. The cool morning air brushes against my skin, steadying me just enough to catch my breath.
I pad softly down the hall to the bathroom and switch on the shower, letting the water heat as the memory of last night’s quiet moments with Kade flash in my mind. How he carefully washed my hair, the gentle way he helped me settle into the bath.
When I step in the shower, the warmth of the water hits my skin like a balm, easing the lingering ache in my muscles and the heaviness in my chest. For a moment, I close my eyes and let those tender memories wash over me, grounding me before the day truly begins.
By the time I step out and wrap myself in a towel, I feel steadier. Not whole, but less fractured.
I’m halfway through pulling on a pair of leggings when a soft knock sounds at the front door, followed by the familiar warmth of Aubrey’s voice.
“It’s just me, Liv!”
A small smile tugs at my lips as I grab a cozy sweater and head downstairs.
When I open the door, the sight of Aubrey standing there nearly brings me to tears. She’s juggling a massive bouquet of flowers and several bakery boxes, her arms full and her face flushed from the effort.
“Any chance you could give me a hand?” she laughs breathlessly.
I chuckle, stepping forward to take the boxes from her and moving aside to let her in. We carry everything into the kitchen, setting it all down on the counter.
Before I can even turn around, Aubrey wraps her arms around me in a tight hug. The suddenness of it knocks the breath from my lungs, but I sink into it, steadying myself against her.
“Are you crying?” I tease softly when I feel her shaky breath against my shoulder.
She pulls back, wiping her eyes with a quick, embarrassed laugh. “No,” she lies, her voice thick.
I offer her a small smile and nod toward the flowers. “Thank you. They’re beautiful.”
I fill the sink with water and carefully set the bouquet inside.
“I’m just so glad you’re okay,” Aubrey says softly, her voice barely above a whisper. “You really scared me, Liv.”
I swallow the lump rising in my throat and nod. “I scared myself, too,” I admit quietly.
She exhales, brushing a hand under her eye. “I’ve never seen Kade like that. He was wrecked. Completely.”
I let out a breath, shaking my head slightly. “He didn’t even want to go to work this morning. He kept saying he didn’t want to leave me alone.” I glance at her with a faint, tired smile. “But I need things to feel normal again. What happened… it was horrible. But I can’t live scared.”
Aubrey nods, her expression soft with understanding.
I pull two mugs from the cupboard and glance over my shoulder. “Coffee?”
Aubrey smiles softly. “Always.”
We carry the coffee and bakery boxes over to the couch, settling in as the morning light filters through the windows. It feels warm, familiar, like maybe for a little while, things can feel normal again.
Not wanting to linger on what happened at the Fourth of July party, I shift the focus. “So… Justin?” I tease, raising an eyebrow as I take a sip of coffee.
Aubrey laughs, tucking her legs beneath her. “I’ve known him for years. He actually asked me out before he went traveling, but… my heart was sort of caught up elsewhere.”
I nod in understanding, catching the flicker of sadness that crosses her face. But before it has a chance to settle, she masks it, pulling herself together in an instant.
I reach for her hand—unsure if she wants to talk about it, but unable to pretend I didn’t see it.
“Things with you and Trent…”
“There is no me and Trent.” She cuts me off with a wince, like saying his name physically hurts.
“And you’re okay with that?” I tread lightly, knowing how sensitive this is.
Last time we talked about it, she was afraid that telling him how she felt would ruin everything—and the look on her face now tells me all I need to know.
She doesn’t say anything at first, just looks past me like she’s trying to hold something back. Her fingers tighten slightly in mine, the only sign she’s still present in the moment.
“Sometimes, no matter how hard you try, you just have to face the facts that some things aren’t meant to be.
I’m angry and sad and hurt, and sometimes it feels like my heart’s breaking in half.
But there’s nothing I can do about it. Justin…
he’s a really good guy. Funny, sweet.” She sighs, as if trying to convince herself with her own words. “I just want to be happy.”
The sadness in her voice tugs at something deep in me. Whatever happened between her and Trent, it left marks I don’t think she’s ready to talk about.
“You deserve that,” I tell her gently.
Her eyes glisten with unshed tears, but a fragile smile flickers across her lips—quiet, but undeniable.
“I’m here anytime you want to talk, okay?” I say softly, squeezing her hand gently.
She nods, her voice barely above a whisper. “Thanks.”
The rest of the day slips by in soft comfort.
We curl up on the couch, watching old episodes of Grey’s Anatomy, crying our eyes out when George dies, and devouring every pastry she brought.
By late afternoon, Aubrey orders takeout, and we spend the day laughing, eating, and letting the weight of reality fade for a little while.
It’s exactly what we both needed, just a breath of something normal, the warmth of friendship, and a moment to forget.