34. Leo
34
LEO
I hold up a hand mirror, trying to see my reflection in the bathroom mirror behind me. The scratch marks on my back are blazing red. “Look at those babies,” I say proudly.
Olive extends her hand to touch them, then hesitates. “Do they hurt?”
I check them out again. “A little bit. Don’t worry about it.”
She urges me to the side, then opens the cabinet under the sink and pulls out a plastic container overflowing with bandages, rubbing alcohol, cotton balls… You name it, it’s in there. She sifts through and takes out a tube of Neosporin. “Let me put this on you.”
I lay the mirror on the bathroom counter and talk to her reflection. “Olive, I’m fine. And why are you sorry? I loved it. You staking your claim on me, woman?”
“It’s just… I’ve never done that before.” She nibbles on the inside of her cheek, her face flushed. Her bashfulness is endearing. “I’ve only read about stuff like that in romance books. I didn’t think it really happens.”
“Olive”—I pull her into my arms—“I loved every second. My mission is to get to know you inside and outside the bedroom. I want to know everything you desire or fantasize about. Every. Little. Thing. Be open with me and show me what you like. And I’ll do the same. Everything we’ve done so far makes me want to do it again, especially in front of the mirror.” I kiss her neck.
She rests her chin on my chest and looks up at me. “I don’t know what it is about you. When I’m with you, my inhibitions go out the window. My hormones rage nonstop. I love it, but I’m not usually vocal about it. And that mirror incident was a first and definitely a favorite of mine too.” She teasingly bites my pec.
“Then let’s put that on the list under hell yes .”
She nudges me away and puts the container back under the sink. I get my suitcase and take it to her room. Something on the dresser catches my eye. I step closer to it as Olive joins me.
I point at the bottle with a grin. “That’s my cologne.”
She throws her arms up in surrender. “You caught me red-handed.”
“Now, why would you have that?” I pick up the bottle and spray my neck with some.
Her eyes close when she inhales. “You know I love how you smell. I saw the name when I was in your bathroom.”
I shake my head. “Sneaky. Good idea, though.” I pull on a blue Henley and a pair of black sweats from my suitcase.
She opens the top drawer and pulls out a pair of black socks, then sits on the bed. “It was that or steal a T-shirt drenched in your cologne.”
“You could’ve done that too. I’ll leave something here before I go on Sunday.”
She grabs my hand. “I’d rather you stay.”
I bring her hand to my lips and kiss the top. “I’d love that, or you could come with me.”
She falls back onto the bed. “In reality, I could, since I’m not working. But…no. You know I can’t.”
At that moment, my stomach roars like a lion. I haven’t eaten since breakfast, and we’ve been busy since we arrived.
“Let’s order something. Come with me.” She gets up and leads me to the living room.
An hour later, with a full belly, I’m ready to fall asleep on the couch. Olive’s in the kitchen making us coffee. Her phone buzzes on the coffee table. I pick it up and take it to her.
“Olive, your brother’s video-calling you.”
She puts the milk back into the refrigerator, then takes her phone and swipes the screen. “Hey, what’s up?”
“Just checking on you and your lover boy . Making sure you’re behaving,” Andy teases.
She rolls her eyes and rests her elbows on the kitchen counter. “We’re fine, weirdo. No complaints from the neighbors yet.”
“Then you’re doing something wrong.”
I guffaw, and I show my face on the screen. “Hey, Andy. Nice to meet you.” Is that his apartment in the background? Nice view of San Francisco.
“There’s my man. My favorite soccer player’s friend.”
“ Andy ,” Olive warns.
I rub her back to help her relax. “That’s me.”
“Are you coming to my Super Bowl party? I want to meet you. Olive needs my stamp of approval before she moves to that island.”
“Shut up, Andy,” Olive warns again. She looks at me hopefully and asks, “Does it work with your schedule?”
I nod with a grin. “Yes, I’ll be there. If all goes well, I’ll fly in on Saturday and leave on Monday. In and out. That’s the best I can do.” Olive claps her hands silently, then kisses my cheek.
“Awesome. Do you want to invite Sam too?”
“Andy!” Olive snaps. “Are you fucking crazy?” She glances at me. “You don’t have to do that.”
“And”—he continues as if Olive hasn’t said a word—“if we’re going to be one big happy family in the future, why don’t you ask your sister and brother? The more the merrier.”
He’s hysterical. I like him already.
“Are you high or something?” Olive peers at her brother through the screen, then turns to me. “I apologize for my brother.”
I rub the crease between her eyebrows until it relaxes. “Don’t. I love this.”
“See, Ol. He loves me already. But seriously, Leo, work it for me. You guys can stay here because I have a guest bedroom.”
Olive leans away from the phone and frantically mouths, “No way!”
I wrap my arm around her waist and pull her into view again. “I’ll do my best. Thanks for the invite.”
Andy continues speaking while he styles his hair, using the video as a mirror.
“Focus on us, not your precious hair, Andy. Or hang up,” Olive points out, obviously used to his behavior.
“I’m going out soon. Gotta look good.” He’s a trip. I can’t tell if he’s trying to be funny or is cocky. “My main reason for calling was to wish you luck tomorrow with Mom and Uncle Bruce. He’ll be a good buffer. But, Leo, I think you’ll hold your own.” Someone calls his name in the background. “I gotta run. Call me on Sunday.” The phone disconnects, and Olive deflates against me.
“Do you really think he’s on something?” I ask, concerned.
She shakes her head, looking unfazed by him. “Nope. That’s the way he is. You wouldn’t recognize him at work, though. He’s the complete opposite. Relentless competitor.” She picks up our coffee cups and heads for the living room. I take mine from her and sit at the end of the couch.
“Don’t worry about asking Sam to the party or Tonya and Sully. I can’t believe he put you on the spot like that. I could kick his ass.” She rests her back on the armrest and extends her legs toward me.
“The way he approached it makes me want to ask them.” I can’t stop grinning.
“What’s putting that smile on your face?”
I place my hand on her leg and squeeze it. “This. You and me. The call with your brother. Making plans for the Super Bowl and our future. Why shouldn’t I ask them? The worse they could do is say no.”
“Or ‘what the hell? We don’t even know this guy,’” Olive says, thick with lighthearted sarcasm.
I put my cup down, take hers away too, then crawl over her and nuzzle her sexy neck. “Don’t rain on my parade.”
She caresses my face and holds my gaze. “I’d never do that. If you want to invite them, go for it. I’d love to see them again.”
I slide off the couch and make some calls. Tonya is an instant yes. Sully will need convincing because of Smokey. Then we call Sam from my laptop. Talking to him is difficult because Ellie and Olive are chatting at the same time. Honestly, I didn’t think Sam would have time, but he’s all for it. Ellie is too. The call was chaotic, but I loved it anyway. This is the kind of shit I’ve been missing.
Olive sends Andy a message about Sam, then she plops next to me and gloats, “Andy’s probably twitching in a corner right now. You are officially his new favorite person. I’ve been kicked to the curb.”
I close my computer and pull her onto my lap, squeezing her perfect ass. “And you’re officially mine.”
“What do you want to do now? Stay in or go out?”
“Why don’t we relax and watch a movie together…in one room this time?”
“Sure. It’s your pick. I chose last time. Something funny.” She slides off my lap and takes our empty coffee cups to the kitchen. She comes back with bottles of water and puts them on coasters.
“How about Avengers: Endgame ?”
She puts her hand on her hip and looks down at me. “Seriously? Is that a funny movie?”
I place my hand over my heart in shock. “Are you telling me you haven’t seen Endgame ?” She shakes her head. “Any of the Avenger films?”
“Nope.” She smirks with pride.
“You’re killing me. I’m not sure we can continue this relationship.”
She grabs a pillow and swats the side of my head. I grab the other one and do it to her. An all-out pillow war breaks out, and I learn she’s vicious. “How dare you threaten our relationship,” she yells between swings and our bouts of laughter.
“Come on, it’s a rite of passage. You know who the Avengers are, right?” I duck before she can bop me again.
“What is it with you men?” she snarls, panting. “Of course I know the Avengers. Andy’s a big Marvel fan. I may have been a hermit, but I have TV.”
“I like him even more. I foresee a bromance in the future,” I tease, then bop her one more time on the back. Her eyes dance with mischief, then she pushes me backward. I fall onto the couch, and she straddles my thighs. With our arms around each other, we relax and catch our breaths.
She gives me a sweet kiss. “You make me feel like a kid again. I hope we always have this much fun together. Now that I feel this way, I won’t be able to live without it. Without you.”
“Well, that’s good, because you’re stuck with me.”
I kiss her with sheer intensity to prove how in love I am with her.
Because that’s exactly what this is. Love.