Once we were both presentable, he placed one more kiss to my lips and walked out. I leaned against the counter and waited for Oaklyn.
“That was bold,” she said, washing her hands.
I shrugged. “Please tell me Aaron is gone.”
Her smirk gave me an answer before she did. “He’s waiting for his Livvie-baby.”
“Blech.”
“God, Olivia. Just tell him to fuck off.”
“I know. I wasn’t going to. But I feel like it’s going to take a sign and an ultra-big blow to his ego to get through that thick skull of his, and I didn’t want to do that here where I’m working.”
“I will happily paint a sign tonight and hit him in the head with it,” she offered.
“Such a good friend,” I laughed.
“Come on. Let’s go before Daniel murders A-a-ron.”
“That would solve my problem,” I said wistfully.
Turned out, my problem was solved because Aaron was walking out the door.
“Said he had to go,” Kent explained with a smirk.
I could imagine what he’d said to make him leave.
“That guy is a douche, Olivia,” Daniel sneered. “Don’t date him.”
“Good thing I’m not then. He’s not my boyfriend.”
“Keep it that way,” Kent murmured.
Daniel patted Kent on the back. “See, I love having her here with you. I know she’s safe with you keeping an eye on her, and away from all the perverts like that.”
Oaklyn coughed next to me but turned away before I could give her my full glare.
A muscle ticked in Kent’s jaw, and he nodded toward the door. “Come on, D. Let’s go meet Carina and sign these papers.”
My heart sunk when he avoided my gaze. I knew he wasn’t happy that he had to pretend around Daniel. I knew I was screwing this up, but I didn’t know how to fix it. I didn’t know how to believe it wouldn’t explode in my face.
I didn’t know how to have faith that Daniel wouldn’t see me as everyone else did, and nothing I could say would fix it. And maybe when he saw me for what I truly was, he’d make Kent see me that way too.
God, I wanted to sink to the floor, disappointed in myself. Here I was walking around all proud, strong, and aloof, and the reality was that Olivia Witt was a big fat scaredy-cat.
The reality was that I had two men who saw me, and I didn’t want to disappoint either one, and the further I got into this, I didn’t know how to get to the other side without losing both.
24 Kent
“I’m seeing someone.”
Everyone at the table froze. I almost laughed at the picture they made.
My mom was the first one to lift wide eyes to mine. My dad’s eyes quickly following. Jacob held a fork halfway to his mouth, his lips slowly stretching into a smirk. The undying support of my sister-in-law, Lily, smiled like a proud mom as she perched my niece, Ava, in her lap who had even stopped squeezing mashed potatoes through her fat fists.
Jacob broke the silence first. “Like once?”
I glared across the table. “Like seriously, asshole.”
“Language,” Mom reprimanded. Her eyes darted over to Ava, who had resumed playing in her food.
“I think it’s about time,” Lily said.
She always told me it was a matter of time, I just needed to find the right woman. My brother found it hilarious that she was so dead-set on me falling in love. Especially when I hadn’t even been looking to settle down.
I returned Lily’s smile, feeling good to have someone’s support and confidence.
Somewhere along the drive to our family dinner, I decided to tell someone about Olivia. Maybe saying it out loud to someone would help with not being able to say it out loud to Daniel. I also knew I couldn’t stand much longer without punching anyone who dared to look at what was mine.
“Well, why didn’t you bring her?” my mom asked.
A knot eased in my chest at her raised eyebrow. Sharing my relationship with Olivia felt like handling a bomb. You were careful with it, but in the wrong hands, it could go off in your face. And like Mom always did, she handled everything with care.
“I want to meet the woman who can make you stop for more than a date since Ivette.”
“She’s busy tonight.”
I toyed with the idea of bringing her, but she’d had to study for an exam and prepare a presentation.
Because she was a college student. A twenty-one-year-old college student. That was seventeen years younger than me.
The knot that had eased a moment ago twisted again. I could sit here and pretend that the worst part was announcing that I had a girlfriend, but what would their reaction be when I told them how young she was?
“Well, don’t make us drag it out of you,” my dad said. “What’s she like?”
An easy smile stretched my lips just thinking about her. “She’s beautiful, of course, but she’s also so full of life. She’s smart and tenacious, always going after what she wants. She definitely keeps me in line with her smart mouth.”