AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Then make a move. What have you got to lose?”
“Everything. Too much,” I tell her. “I love you guys too much to risk anything happening and then it blowing up in my face. And honestly, I think Oliver is just an excellent actor. No doubt he still sees me as Silly Lilly, the girl he has to rescue at an alarming frequency, and doesn’t think of me romantically at all.”
Before Amy can answer, Oliver exits the bathroom in just a towel, and I almost pass out.
“Amy, I have to go,” I croak, my throat suddenly dry. “Call you later.”
I hang up the phone and stare at Oliver, unable to do the polite thing and look away. Boy, this guy and his muscles. He should be in a museum somewhere.
“Sorry, Lilly. I left my clean clothes out here. Why don’t you use the bathroom, and I can get dressed?”
This snaps me out of my Oliver-induced haze, and I nod with an audible gulp. I scurry around like a frightened mouse, avoiding Oliver’s amused gaze, and sprint into the bathroom, slamming the door behind me. After that display, how am I going to survive another night in that bed alone with Oliver?
CHAPTER 27
Lilly
After another long, cold shower to get my mind out of the gutter, I spend some time getting ready for the evening ahead. I coax my hair out of its usual frizz and into some sexy beach waves. I take extra care with my make-up, attempting a smoky eye and adding a slick of pink lip gloss, and dress in a short, flirty tropical-print summer dress, with a skirt that flares when I spin around. After adding a pair of high-heeled sandals to complete the look, I exit the bathroom in a cloud of perfume. Oliver looks away from the TV show he is watching as I enter the room and just stares. Not saying anything, he stands and walks almost unwittingly towards me, stopping mere inches from me, and says finally, “You are beautiful.”
I blush hard from head to toe and do a small curtsy. “Thank you, kind sir. You don’t look so bad yourself.” Oliver reaches out to tuck a stray hair behind my ear, stroking my cheek, almost like he can’t help himself.
“Are you sure you want to go out tonight?” he asks out of nowhere, his voice taking on a husky quality. “Maybe we can stay in again.”
Tempted, oh so tempted, I say with reluctance, “I’ve committed to going tonight, Ol. And I’m actually looking forward to hanging out with the girls. And I didn’t spend all this time getting ready to stay in the room all night,” I add with a smile.
Oliver waits a beat and then nods. “OK, then we’d better get going.”
Given we have spent all day glued to each other’s side, I am reluctant to part ways with Oliver, holding on to his hand in the elevator down to the reception, where each of the parties are meeting for the evening, not letting go until I literally have to.
“Have fun, Lilly. And be careful. I will see you soon,” Oliver says as he follows the boys out of the foyer, looking back at me one last time over his shoulder before he rounds the corner and is out of sight.
“Your boyfriend is so mad about you,” Melanie says from my side, with a wistful sigh. “He watches you, always checking to see if you are OK. He adores you.”
I turn to look at Melanie, my mind filled with doubt as to what she is seeing. “Really?”
Melanie gives me a strange look and adds, “Yes, he is so protective of you. Every time another guy got even a little bit close to you, there he was, by your side, staking his claim.”
Huh. I think back on the day. Oliver did seem possessive. Like during one of the downtimes we had, between beach volleyball and tug of war earlier today, when I was talking to one of Sebastian’s friends, Oliver appeared out of nowhere, grabbing me around the waist and kissing my temple. Could it be he was jealous? Or is he just very good at acting the part of a protective boyfriend?
“That is just the way Oliver is,” I tell Melanie. “He has always looked out for me.”
“Well, you are a lucky girl. He is delicious.”
I agree with Melanie’s description, while also feeling a bit of possessiveness of my own, and turn to see Sarah gathering the group together to head off for the wine tasting and dinner portion of the night.
Ninety minutes and many wines later, I am in my happy place, feeling relaxed and free. The wine tasting was a lot of fun. Sarah’s friends included me in all their girl talk, and after we finished dinner, we walked over to the local beach bar to continue the night with more drinks and some dancing.
After we arrive at the bar, Sarah orders us a round of shots and then some more shots, and before too long, I am thinking it is a grand idea to get up on the bar to dance. I grab the hand of my new best friend Melanie and drag her up with me as some pop tune blares from the jukebox. As I break into an impromptu line dance, I look up to see Oliver leaning against a wall, watching me from across the room, a small smile on his lips. His beautiful lips. I wave to him and manoeuvre my way down off the bar. Oliver makes quick work of getting to me to make sure I don’t fall, and we end up on the dance floor together at the same time.
“Ollie! You’re here!” I give him an unsteady hug.
“You look like you are having fun,” he replies, shielding me from the people dancing around us.
“Did you have fun with Seb the douche?” I ask in a whisper shout.
Oliver laughs and shakes his head, looking around to make sure I have offended no one. “I had fun but clearly not as much fun as you.”
“There has been wine,” I say. “And tequila. And more tequila. I am feeling good.” I raise my hand for a high five, wobbling a bit on my heels.
