Someday.
32
MAGGIE
The scent of cedar and earth fills the air as we pull up to the Point, a huge hill that overlooks a valley. With the waning sunset, everything is awash in a golden hue.
“This is beautiful,” I say.
“Have you ever been here before?” Olly asks as he hands me the cranberry gelato he ordered from the restaurant.
“No, but I had a roommate freshman year who used to come here with her boyfriend to make out.” He smiles and takes a bite of his dessert. When he doesn’t say anything, it makes me wonder. “Why? Have you brought other girls here to do the deed?”
“I’ve never brought anyone here.”
I let out a relieved breath. That bitch Amelia really got into my head last night, and I’m having a hard time shaking it off. But I was going to lose my mind if Olly admitted he’d brought her here too.
Of all the casitas to rent, why did Amelia’s stepfather have to pick mine?
“Hey,” Olly says softly. “Where’d you go?”
He grabs my hand. Mine looks so small in his. “I hate bringing this up because we’ve had a really great evening, but one of our big problems has always been letting things fester instead of just discussing them, so I want to be open about this.” Shifting in my seat so I face him, I rip off the proverbial Band-Aid. “Last night, Amelia asked if it was weird having her around since, you know, you banged her brains out. She listed out every location you two ever had sex, in case I was curious.”
His expression turns thunderous. “Are you serious?”
“I would never ask anything like that. Trust me, I don’t want to know that you guys got freaky in a cabin on the lake or in the bathroom at some fancy gala.”
He winces, and by his expression alone, I can tell she was telling the truth, which depresses me more. I’d half been hoping she was lying or exaggerating.
No such luck.
I switch the gelato to my other hand so I have a reason to let go of his. I’m too annoyed to hold hands. “So… sorry I was upset last night, but between her showing up on the doorstep and me not having your workout room ready after hustling all afternoon to get it done, I just wanted to drop into bed and pull the covers over my head.”
Letting out a groan, he leans forward and scrubs his face with both hands.
Now that he’s not looking at me, it’s easier to say things I might not otherwise. “I’ll just admit I was almost sick with jealousy. I hate that this sounds like a copout, but I’m so hormonal, some things that would never have bothered me before make me crazy now. Like how Amelia said I’m not like all the beautiful, thin girls you date.”
“Fuck.”
“Given that I’m having twins, I’m only going to get farther from your ideal, so that’s a depressing thought. Six months ago, if someone had said those words to me, I would’ve held up both middle fingers, but now… now I guess I’m sensitive about my body. My boobs hurt all the time, my jeans are tight, and my belly is starting to jut out.” I turn to stare out the open window. “And I know you think I was irresponsible with my money because how else would I blow Nigel’s deposit, right? But I had to write a big check for the property taxes. I pay them twice a year, and it almost empties my bank account each time. I feel like all I do is work, but it’s not quite enough.”
“Magnolia.” That’s the only warning I get before he unbuckles my seatbelt and slides me over into his lap. “I’m sorry I snapped at you last night. I was pissed the guys let you carry weights and didn’t notice you fell asleep on the goddamn stairs like you’d passed out from exhaustion.”
“That wasn’t their fault. You should’ve seen how hard they worked to get the treadmill up those stairs.”
“I hope you didn’t spend too much on it.”
“Only spent two hundred on the treadmill, which I thought was a great deal. The rest was a trade.”
“What do you mean?”
“I did some baby shower invites and thank-you cards for a friend. In return, she gave me the weights.”
“That was really fucking sweet of you.” He brushes his thumb over my bottom lip. “I love my workout room. Thank you for going through so much trouble for me.”
“It was no trouble. I know how much you’re giving up to live in my house, so I wanted to try to make it up to you.”
“I’m not giving up anything to be with you.”
