“Stay,” I whisper to him, bringing his hand to the center of my chest. To my heart. “Please.”
He stops resisting, and I pull him into a hug, resting my head against his chest. His heart is beating beneath my ear as I wrap my arm around him and tug him closer. I rub small circles against his back, inhaling the scent of him, and relax as his arms copy my motions. After a moment, he relaxes in the way that I do, like we hug this way all the time.
Maybe we should, because it’s everything I’ve been wanting.
Chapter Fifteen
Luke
All throughout my life—whether it was the after-effects from my dad, the bad crowd I was hanging around with in high school, or even from my career—I’ve learned that it's extremely hard to trust people. It’s hard to believe what people say, so instead, I watch what they do. Actions really do speak louder than words.
The scariest truth is that even when you think you know someone, their true colors can still be hiding. But with Olivia, I’ve never had a single doubt. I know who she is—and that’s a relief I don’t take lightly.
She’s honest and leads with her heart no matter how many times it’s been bruised. Her loyalty is unwavering for her friends and family, and I’ve always admired that about her. In fact, I wish I were more like her.
I wanted to bolt the second I saw her walking toward my dad. Her heart is bigger than anyone else’s in the room, especiallyhis. It took everything I had to stay in the same room asmy dad. If Olivia weren’t here, I would have rushed away, but since she wanted me to stay, I did.
I’d do anything for her.
She wraps her arms around me, placing them at the base of my back, and I freeze, not sure how to act, not when I finally have Olivia right where I’ve always wanted her, and I can’t fully appreciate it because ofhim.
I move my face down until I’m level with her ear, and I whisper, “I’m glad you’re here.”
I can’t see her expression, since she’s facing the opposite way, but she releases a puff of air as she relaxes against me.
I finally glance down at my dad, who's watching me closely, and beads of sweat start to collect on my forehead. I’m nervous that he will choose this moment as a good time for our talk. I’m not sure I’m ready for that just yet. My body begins to fidget, bouncing on the heels of my feet, looking everywhere but at him.
“Olivia. Luke. Would you two do the honor of adding the star on top of the tree?” Nonni asks, and I gladly take the distraction.
“Both of us?” Olivia asks, and before Nonni can reply, I grab Olivia by the waist and lift her up.
She squeals, and I press my lips together to hide a laugh. I place her onto my shoulders, and she peers down at me with wide eyes. “Of course both of us. We do everything better together,” I add with a wink.
Olivia tenses, her legs squeeze against my shoulders, and her chest expands like she’s taken a full breath and hasn’t let it go. I like knowing I have as much of an effect on her as she has on me.
My grandmother hands Olivia the star, smirking at the two of us, then grabs her cell phone to snap a few photographs. Olivia reaches up, her thighs pressing closer to the sides of my face, and I realize now that this might not have been the smartest idea with how heat coils low in my core.
She fumbles around the branches, searching for the end of the light string to plug in the star. When she finally connects it, the star lights up, but not nearly as bright as the smile that spreads across her face. She looks down at me, nothing but joy written in her expression, and the anxious knot that’s been growing inside me since my dad walked into the room releases a bit.
I squat down, placing my hands on either side of her hips, and help her off my shoulders. As she turns around to face me, I keep my hands on her hips, and as I stand up, I tug her closer to me.
Our moment is interrupted as Aunt Andy announces that they’re going to get the cookies baked and for everyone to help themselves to the lunch that was delivered a few minutes before. The family starts to make their way to the other room, but my focus isn’t on them. It’s locked on Olivia.
Her chest is only inches from touching mine, and it’s taking all my restraint not to pull her against me to close the irritating distance between us. I slide my hand against the soft skin of her cheek, taking a gentler approach at touching her.
It's as if being able to pretend that Olivia is mine has me completely lost in her, and I’m thankful for the hindrance of the stress and worry of this weekend. Plus, I’ll gladly give her all my focus.
I’m aware that everyone has exited the room now, not quite out of sight, since some people are lingering in the hallway, but it’s as if we’re basically alone. And when we’re alone, the “pretending” stops. I want to see how she’ll respond if I continue to treat her as mine even when it’s just us.
She’s watching me with consideration. Having her close like this, I can see the hints of the dark-green halo that rings her irises, reminding me of a forest of evergreens. She is so beautiful it gives my heart a painful thud right in the center of my torso—a reminder that I’m in love with her. I always have been. I want all her laughs and her smiles and for her to shine bright withhappiness because ofme. Desire curls in my stomach, winding tighter with each second that I spend staring at her.
“What’s that look for?” she asks, snapping me out of whatever daze I wandered into.
I shrug my shoulders. “I’m not sure what you’re talking about. I’m just looking at you.”
She grins and smacks my arm playfully. I don’t miss how pink appears in her cheeks or how she’s trying to avoid eye contact with me now. Her fingers linger on my arm, and a spark prickles beneath my skin—my body’s way of reminding me it’s her. It’s such a small touch, but nothing ever feels simple when it comes to Olivia.
Her tongue brushes her bottom lip, and my focus narrows to that one simple motion. My pulse kicks hard, faster, as my mind circles back to a question I’ve tried to ignore—what would it be like to kiss heragain?
