Chapter 16
Collin tossed and turned Thanksgiving night, waking exhausted after repeatedly reliving the angry scene with Olivia. Splashing cold water on his face, he trudged into the kitchen and made a pot of coffee, determined to drink the entire carafe himself.
He had to talk to Olivia. He owed her an apology, and hopefully her anger had cooled enough that she would listen. He had absolutely no intention of renewing his unsuitable efforts at establishing a permanent relationship. Hadn’t he proven his habitual manipulation of those he seemed to “need” in his life? He couldn’t do that to Olivia. That’s why he knew Martha’s suggestion was a terrible idea. On the other hand, he cared about Olivia as a friend, and if he was careful he could keep a tight rein on his tendency to control people.
Collin had decided to pursue Martha’s challenge to marry and have a child. Hadn’t he been seeking that very thing with Olivia long before Martha proposed her bargain at the restaurant yesterday? So her suggestion wasn’t as outrageous as he pretended. He only needed to keep Olivia out of it, safe with her normal life and normal family. And what would protect her more than to take himself out of the picture via marriage?
He could easily choose a suitable candidate and be married within a year’s time. Except this go-round, he would choose a woman from his social group—a woman as manipulative as he. This would leave three months to conceive the first child, a grandbaby for Martha. As was his custom, David was certain to invite an array of single women, thus the party Saturday night would be an excellent time for Collin to pick a woman who would qualify for the position of his wife and the mother of his children. Two of the regulars in David’s clan had expressed interest in the past, though he’d been too obsessed with Olivia to pay much attention. Both Everly and Bella were tough and scheming, possessing suitable social status to satisfy his father and the fortitude to withstand his attempts at control.
Unfortunately, both women were blond—not his preference—but he suspected the hair color was an unnatural phenomenon anyway. Hopefully, his penchant for manipulation wouldn’t pass on to his progeny and, unlike his mother, his wife would choose to remain with the family.
As he found Olivia’s contact on his cell phone, he thought about his mother, a shudder running through his body. Tomorrow morning, he and David would meet with her, an agreement he’d made only to appease his brother. His intention was to zone out and ignore every word she spoke. And he certainly wouldn’t engage her in conversation or ask her questions about why she left or why she hadn’t contacted them in the past twenty-five years. Would she even realize it was his birthday? Probably not.
Like every other time he’d thought about the meeting since David talked him into it two days ago, the compulsion to drown his emotions with alcohol rose up and smacked him in the gut. So far, he’d resisted the urge, but he couldn’t promise he wouldn’t give in Saturday night after the horrendous get-together took place.
“Hello?” Olivia’s voice broke his reverie. When had he pressed send?
“Olivia? It’s me. Collin. Please don’t hang up. I want to apologize.”
“Wait a sec, Collin. Let me turn the volume up. I can barely hear in here.” Rattling noises ensued. “Okay, that should be better. What did you say?”
“I called to apologize, but I can call back another time if you’re busy.”
“No, I can talk now. I’m in a long checkout line. Hitting the after-Thanksgiving sales. And don’t worry, I’m not too mad, anymore.”
His tight muscles loosened, and he blew out a deep breath. “I never intended to trick you, Olivia. I was only trying to protect Blake’s job. But I’m truly sorry.”
“Trying to save his job? That’s all you were doing?” Skepticism painted the edge of her words. “How exactly did kissing me protect his job?”
He felt like he had a mouthful of saltine crackers. He’d hoped she would accept his blanket explanation. “I knew you’d already kissed Blake, so I couldn’t turn you down or you’d have been suspicious.”
“Still, that didn’t give you an excuse to kiss me like…you know, like…that.”
He found himself absurdly pleased at her tongue-tied description of his kiss. “Had to make it good, didn’t I? Figured you’d suspect something was up if it was worse than the one he gave you. But if it was better, you might think he’d improved as he got more comfortable.”
“You’re assuming your kiss was better than his?”
He choked, coughing before catching his breath. “His kiss was better?”
“I don’t think it’s lady-like to compare. Sounds like something men would talk about in the locker room.”
“Right.” He jammed his hand into his pocket to keep himself from pounding his fist into the wall. “But you preferred his to mine?”
An expectant pause followed. “Why did you say you were calling? To apologize? Was that all?”
He could see it was futile to pursue the kissing comparison. Muttering under his breath, he pushed his wounded pride away. “I also wanted to see how school is going. Had any more panic attacks?”
“Not yet. But I have another big test next Friday.” Her tone changed, the heavy fatigue evident in her voice, even though she’d had a few days off from class. No doubt she was still staying up late every night to study. She needed to squeeze some fun and relaxation in there, or she would burn herself out.
“You should come to The Slipstream Saturday night,” he blurted out, without thinking. Awkward silence answered him. Did it sound like he was asking her out on a date? He hurried to correct himself. “Just as friends, of course. David’s inviting a bunch of people. You could bring your sisters. You could even bring a date.”
“A date? You really wouldn’t care if I brought a guy?”
“Of course not,” he lied, in a convincing tone. “We’re friends, you and I. But you can’t bring Blake. He’s working Saturday night. You know how it is, being Santa after Thanksgiving. No time off.”
“I’m done with Blake.”
“Oh. Okay.” Why did his heart do a little happy dance? Wasn’t she better off with Blake?
“You don’t need to bring anyone,” he assured her, sensing she still felt nervous about the invitation. “It still won’t be like we’re together.”
“Why? Are you bringing a date?”
“I’m meeting a girl there.” He scrambled, rifling through a mental list of single women David would likely invite. “Two of them, actually.” He grinned, knowing she’d disapprove.
“You’re going out with two girls at once?”
“At least they’ll know about each other,” he retorted. “Did you tell those guys from your dating website you were also dating Blake?”
“I never dated Blake!”
“I beg to differ. Charlie told me all about their dating rules. She told me the Marshall women subscribe to them, as well. And according to those rules, if the guy pays for something or kisses you, it’s a date. That means you definitely dated Blake. And technically, you dated me as well.” He bit his lips to keep from laughing, wishing he could watch her face turn red.
“That doesn’t count! You were dressed as Santa Claus. I didn’t even know it was you when we kissed.”
“I hope you’re not in a place where people can hear what you’re saying. That sounded kind of naughty.”
Her next words sounded like she was whispering inside a tunnel. “Schmazzel! I’m in line to check out at a department store and this old lady is standing behind me. I think she heard everything I said.”
He laughed out loud.
“Stop it!” she hissed. “This isn’t funny!”
“Can’t help it. And it’s been ages since I had something to laugh about.”
Instantly, her voice was filled with sympathy. “I know you’ve been through a lot lately.”
He closed his eyes, struggling against the urge to use her compassion. He could draw her to him, and she would comfort him. He wouldn’t feel alone. No. He had to drive her away to protect her.
“I’m okay. I’m better since there’s hope for Martha finding a kidney. I heard about that, you know. What’s your source? Something through the medical school?”
She was quiet for a minute, as if she wasn’t sure what to reveal. “I can’t give specifics, but yes, the medical school is involved.”
“I’m praying this will work out, but Martha’s promised to fight it out with dialysis for at least a couple of years.”
“I’m glad. You need her now. Especially with your birth mother causing a ruckus.”
A rock plummeted into his stomach. “I’m meeting with her tomorrow morning.”
“You are? But why? I thought you didn’t ever want to speak to her. Did your dad talk you into it?”
“David, not Dad.” The word tasted bad in his mouth. “I’ll be there to support my brother because he doesn’t deserve to do this alone. He doesn’t know what she’s like. I’m afraid she might say something to hurt him, and I won’t let her get away with it.” Collin had demonstrated repeatedly the veracity of his mother’s accusations against him. But David had only been three years old when she deserted them. Even if David, like his father and him, lacked the ability to love without manipulating, Collin didn’t want him to know.
A few moments of silence passed, and he thought the call had dropped. “Olivia?”
“I’m here. Just thinking. You want me to come? I don’t have to go in the room with you guys, but I could sit outside and be there for you. That’s what friends do, right? They’re there for each other? Like you were there for me when I was panicking Thursday night before my test?”
He should say no. He should tell her he didn’t need her. He should tell her he wasn’t at all nervous about seeing his mother for the first time in twenty-five years. He should do everything possible to drive Olivia away. To keep her safe. But he didn’t.
“I’d really appreciate that.” He cleared his throat, hating the way it warbled. “If you’re sure you don’t mind.”
“I’ll be there.”
* * *
Olivia tuckedher cell phone in her purse, shooting a surreptitious glance at the woman behind her, who still sported a scornful glare. Olivia considered whether she might explain the circumstances behind her statement about being unaware of whom she was kissing. As she ran over the explanation in her mind, she determined it sounded worse than what the woman had already overheard.
Ironic that Collin had called to invite her to his party while she was at the store purchasing a gift for him. It didn’t escape her that he’d neglected to mention his birthday as the purpose of the gathering at The Slipstream. His affirmation of their relationship as friends-only affirmed her decision to match his previous generosity for her birthday with a gift of her own. He wouldn’t read anything into the gesture.
She had to admit, it hurt when he confirmed he was pursuing other women, divulging his plan to attend the event with not one, but two. She wondered if things might’ve turned out differently if she’d seen the real Collin early on, as Charlie had. Now it was too late. At least her stubborn nature had prevented her from falling in love with him, or the rejection would’ve hurt even more. The ache she felt in her chest was hard enough as it was. She was confident they could remain good friends, thus the reason she’d offered her moral support for his meeting with his mother.
As she paid for her purchase, she was careful to keep her credit card hidden, in hopes the disdainful woman to the rear wouldn’t see her name. She cringed when she saw the total on the register. She should’ve spent thirty dollars on a tie rather than the two hundred dollars she’d charged for a leather briefcase. Her only justification was that it was on sale for forty percent off and she was still eligible for her employee discount at Bergman until the end of the month.
At least the conversation with Collin solved one problem for her—what to do about her plans with Fitz on Saturday night. She’d planned to keep her date with him and send her gift to the party via her sisters. But in light of Collin’s revelation that he was bringing two women, Olivia felt comfortable bringing Fitz to the event. Fitz seemed like the type who would jump at the opportunity to be seen on the private floor of The Slipstream. With any luck, he would be so busy parading himself around, he would forget all about her and she could have fun with her sisters.
Feeling the eyes of her condemning judge boring into the back of her neck, she wondered how Collin would handle the situation if he were there. With a jaunty lift of her chin, she turned around and, ignoring the woman’s reproachful expression, leaned toward her and whispered, “Who would’ve dreamed Santa had such a talented tongue?”