Chapter 34: Brooks
The next few days pass by in a blur. Olive stays at my house every night, letting me drive her home after work and back every morning. I thought it would be a struggle to convince her, but she said that my shower was reason enough. I love spending every evening with her, even if we just sit side by side working on our laptops until I take her to bed.
On Christmas Eve, we sleep in late. Olive finished Chelsea’s wedding cake last night and the bakery is closed until the day after Christmas. I shut down all construction so my employees can all have the next few days off to spend time with their families.
For the first time since Olive and I got together, there is nothing for us to worry about and we can lie around in bed all morning. I take advantage of the extra time by making love to Olive slowly and making her come over and over until she’s a boneless, happy mess.
We shower together before I take her back to the bakery. She has to deliver the cake, which she insisted on doing with Lilah since they have a weird sister mind link thing when it comes to moving cakes. Then she’s meeting up with Chelsea, and the other bridesmaids to get ready. I won’t get to see her until the wedding this evening and the thought makes me scowl.
It’s the most time we’ve spent apart in more than a week and it makes me feel antsy. I just want to be near her but I know I’m being possessive so I try to shove those thoughts down as I drop her off.
She waves to me from the door and starts to go inside but I roll down my window and call out, “No strippers!”
She gives me a thumbs up and an eye-roll before ducking inside.
My drive back home is lonely. Walking back into my house, it feels too big and quiet. I’ve gotten used to Olive being here with me, flopped on the sofa in her fluffy socks while she does her payroll or places orders.
Was I really worried she wouldn’t like my house? I’ve practically got her moved in at this point. Smiling to myself, I pick up the throw blanket she tossed over the back of our couch and fold it neatly before laying it back where she likes it. All of her hair and makeup stuff has made its way over in the last week. She even hung a razor in my shower. A single trip with one of my cargo vans would probably be enough to get everything else.
Would it be a dick move to pack her stuff up and move her in while she’s getting ready for the wedding? Definitely a dick move, I say to myself. I’ll get her moved in soon enough but if I don’t at least ask her first, she’d probably lose her shit and then I’d have Lilah and Luis over here making good on their threats.
Grabbing my duffle bag from the closet, I pack everything I need to stay at the hotel with Olive tonight. I’m careful to stash her Christmas present down in the corner under my socks so she doesn’t see it.