32. Olive
32
OLIVE
I close my apartment door and lean against it, dropping my purse on the floor. I’m wrung out. Today’s therapy session was heart-wrenching, and I didn’t expect that. Our first session was introductory, but today, she dove right in and used every second of those forty-five minutes. And we only discussed my time in LA! Don’t even ask me how I got two appointments a few days apart because I asked myself the same question. Fate?
I appreciated the therapist’s soft, empathetic manner and how she didn’t ask me “how I felt” about any of it. I also liked that she had a motherly presence. I’ll stick with her for now and see how it goes.
I wish Leo could be here waiting for me. We’d cuddle up on the couch, enjoy a glass of wine together, and talk about our day. Soon, Olive.
I load the wash, then pour a large glass of white wine and settle in to rewatch the second season of Bridgerton . Before I start the show, I unpack and set up the cell phone stand I bought earlier today, propping my phone on it. Messages from Leo and Andy appear on the screen. They’re from hours ago.
I read Leo’s message first, and my heart skips a beat. He has a surprise for me! I don’t bother responding and video-call him instead as I get comfy on the recliner. After a few rings, he appears on the screen breathing heavily; his face is bright red. He lifts his finger for me to wait a minute. I watch closely as he drinks water from his bottle. His hair is in a sexy, sweaty, messy bun, with frizzy ringlets sticking out around his face. His biceps bulge and his light gray tank top clings to his body. I want to rip it off him. How can I wait weeks until I can touch him again?
I groan. “You’re such a jerk. You’re too damn attractive and I can’t enjoy it in person. There better not be any women in there.”
His mouth turns up into a comical, cocky grin. “Give me a second. I need to cool down and catch my breath, but when you look at me like that, it won’t be possible.”
“I’m trying to decide whether you look hotter now or when you were in the sauna. This is torture.”
He dries his face and neck while walking slowly on the treadmill. “I aim to please. Let’s keep this conversation PG in case someone comes in. I don’t want any guests to see me with a raging hard-on.”
I smirk. “We wouldn’t want that now, would we? Do you want to call me back?”
“Nope. I was killing time and burning some lingering energy. Let’s talk.”
“I’m sorry I didn’t respond to your message. I must’ve had network problems—I didn’t see it until a couple minutes ago.”
He steps off the treadmill, then sits on the closest workout bench, somehow maneuvering the phone so I can see him. “It’s all good. We’ve both had busy days. It’ll be worse when I’m traveling. Japan is a sixteen-hour time difference.”
“Ugh, don’t remind me. Now tell me what the surprise is?” I lift my wineglass to my mouth.
“Want company this weekend?” He smirks with a hint of insecurity.
I jump off the couch, spilling my drink on my hand and sweatshirt. “What? Really?” I set the glass on the table, relieved I hadn’t had wine in my mouth. “Of course! How?” My heart’s going to burst with excitement. “Hold on a sec!” I dash to the kitchen, rinse my hand under the faucet, shake off the excess water, and wipe it off on my sweatpants. “I’m back.”
“Things got screwed up with my flights, and I can’t fly out until Sunday.”
I curl up on the recliner again. “Omigod, I’m ecstatic. It’s getting harder and harder the longer we’re apart. It feels like weeks, but it’s only been a couple of days.”
“I’ll take a car from the ferry.”
“Nope! The second you walk off that ferry, you are mine. I’ll pick you up and take you to the airport when you leave. You’re flying from Seattle, right?”
“Isn’t that a pain for you? I have no problem finding my way.”
I shake my head and point my finger at the phone. “I want to spend every second I can with you. Don’t deny me this.”
He shakes his head, smiling. “You’re adorable when you get like this. Anything for you.”
I blow him a kiss. “Now I’m not going to be able to sleep tonight.”
“Me either.” He yanks his shirt over his head, pulling more hair out of his bun. Now he looks like a mad scientist. I giggle behind my hand as he pulls on a hoodie. “Can we stay on the phone while I walk home?”
“Of course. You said you had a busy day. What did you do?”
“I went to Corey’s grave.” My eyes widen, but I quickly relax when I see he’s smiling as he heads outside into the dark night.
“And…how did it go? I love that you’re happy.”
During his trek back to the cottage, he tells me why he went and how he talked to Corey and released a ton of emotional baggage.
“And get this,” he says. “When I went to leave, Corey’s mom, my aunt Betty, was standing at my car. I let my wall down. All that heavy weight that was on my chest is gone. We went back to her house and helped plan his memorial with Tonya.”
He unlocks his front door and walks in, turning on the lights. Homesickness—which is crazy—sweeps over me. I miss it there and want to curl up in his bed.
“That’s definitely something to be proud of, Leo. Sometimes you gotta let it all out. It really helps. You wouldn’t believe how much I cried during today’s therapy session. I was surprised the floor wasn’t wet.”
His forehead crinkles. “That bad, huh? Do you like her?”
“So far, yes. I’ll keep going to see what happens next. I understand how you feel, though, after visiting Corey. Tears are cleansing.”
He downs half a bottle of water from the fridge, then sits at the kitchen table. “And you say you’re proud of me? Look at the day you’ve had.”
“And I didn’t even tell you everything. Mom stopped by again.”
“She did? Why didn’t you say anything?”
“I wanted to hear about your day first.”
“Shit. Did she yell at you again?” He growls like a lion. I love that he’s so protective of me.
With a blank face, I say, “Only when I talked about you.”
He scowls. “Seriously? What the hell? Why?”
Yikes. “Just kidding. Who can yell about you? You’re sweeter than gummy worms.”
“Those are sour,” he points out, sounding annoyed. “Be serious. Tell me what happened.”
“Okay, okay. I’m sorry. Don’t be mad. I promise, there was no arguing about anything. However, she’s skeptical, much like your mom, and didn’t say much. But she commented again on how much I’m smiling. I think it made her feel better. This smiling thing will probably be an issue for the rest of my life. You make me so happy.”
“Such a tragedy,” he mocks. “I could stop if you want.”
“You’d better not!”
“Listen, beautiful. I’m cold and hungry. Let me go shower and eat before you tell me more about your mom. We should have dinner with her when I’m there.”
He pulls his sweatshirt off. Perfection . I lick my lips and ogle him with uncontrollable desire.
“Um, hey Olive.”
I snap out of my fantasy world. “Yeah?”
“You might want to wipe the drool off your chin.” He snickers.
“What?” I giggle, but wipe my chin surreptitiously anyway…just in case. “Go take your shower before I beg you to take the phone in there with you.”
“Ooh. That’s kinda kinky. I like it.”
“Shut up and go before this conversation gets out of hand.”
“Fine,” he says, bending over. The phone doesn’t go lower than his stomach, but he grins wolfishly at me as he stands back up. Something wings past the camera. “Oops,” he says. “My sweats are gone. Gotta go. Pick a movie for us to watch together.” He winks, then disconnects the phone.
He’s evil, and I love it. Friday can’t come fast enough.