Chapter 31
Robbie
New Year’s
I was hoping for more alone time with Olivia, but every time we’ve had a moment to ourselves, something or someone would intervene. First it was my brother Michael, needing to borrow some tools. Then, Ash, barging into my house like he owned it, complaining about not having a date to the party. Like he needs a date. He’ll pick up someone regardless. While the party is not a huge rager, it’s also not a small gathering. Every person I invited asked to bring three or more friends with them, so it will be packed in my living room. There will be plenty of hookup prospects for Ash.
“But I don’t want to hookup,” he whines at the kitchen island while Olivia and I mix together ingredients for various dips.
“Then what do you want?” I ask exasperated.
“A date. Like, someone to date. For longer than a few hours.”
“And you thought waiting until the last second was a good idea to find a date?” I deadpan.
Olivia sighs and elbows me. “Ash, did you have someone in particular in mind that you wanted to be your date?” she asks gently. The fucker just pouts and props his head on his hand with a heavy sigh. I give Olivia an exaggerated look of, Why the hell is he still here complaining? but she just rolls her eyes at me and moves next to Ash, giving him a hug.
He hugs her back tightly then notices me staring and smirks at me over her shoulder. Ass. She pulls back and puts her hands on his shoulders, giving him a stern look. “Ash, I think you need to tell whoever this person is that you’re pining over how you feel about them. I know it’s not easy to open up to someone like that, but if you just hang on to those feelings and don’t vocalize them you will regret it later.”
I’ve never seen Ash like this before, so whoever this person is must have really made an impression on him. He looks so sad as he says, “But what if they don’t feel the same way?”
“Then it’s their loss, because you’re amazing and you’re going to do great things. But also, you deal with it. You move on. It won’t be easy, but in time you’ll get over them.” Ash gives her a lopsided smile and hugs her again. No sign of a smirk on his face this time as he blinks back tears.
I wipe my hands, throw down the towel on the counter and join in on the group hug. “If you need a wingman, you know I got you, man.”