“Why didn’t you call him?”
She winced. “He said he would call me.” But the point hit home. She’d written him off both times when she hadn’t heard from him. She knew he was busy, but she’d immediately jumped into thinking he’d cast her aside. Although he had, she’d made it easy for him.
“It seems you’re at a crossroads,” Mom continued. “You can take the path of least resistance and zero risk and continue to live a life you don’t find personally fulfilling.”
Olivia mulled over her words, hating the fact that her mother was right about her disillusionment. “What’s the other path?”
“If you truly care for Dr.Bedford and want to pursue a possible romantic connection, you should tell him.”
“What if I end up being rejected?” she whispered. He might not do it now, but she was sure once he was busy with work, he would fall into his old habit of overworking and leave her behind. She believed that because they were alike in that way, retreating to what was familiar and predictable.
“That’s the risk you take,” Mom said. “Only you can decide if it’s worth it or not.”
She let that sink in. Was Kingston worth the risk of getting hurt a third time?
I’m hurting now.
“Olivia?”
“I’m here. You’ve given me a lot to ponder.”
“Is there anything else you’d like to discuss? We have plenty of time to converse.”
After she’d asked her mother the standard small-talk questions and half listened to her small-talk answers, hermother said, “I believe it would be prudent for me to end our phone call so you can contemplate your decision.”
“Thanks, Mom.”
“You’re welcome. I’m gratified I was able to help. I’ll admit there were times during your growth and development that your father and I felt out of our depth. But your aunt Bea was always helpful.”
“She’s been a little too helpful lately,” Olivia said. But she knew her aunt’s intentions were always good. “Good night, Mom. Tell Dad I said hello.”
“I will. And, Olivia?”
“Yes?”
“It would be acceptable if we spoke outside our scheduled time, if you’re so inclined.”
She smiled. “I’d like that.”
After she hung up the phone, she stared at the screen. After everything that had happened between them, she wasn’t sure Kingston would be open to a simple date, much less a relationship. Then it hit her. For the most part, she had been seeing their interchanges from only her point of view, not his. Her mother was absolutely right—she wasn’t being fair to Kingston. She’d hidden behind her hurt and fear and had given up the minute things didn’t go her way.
Was it too late to start over? There was only one way to find out.
Chapter19
Erma sat across from Jasper, a mancala board on the table between them. She’d brought it over a few minutes ago, part of the olive branch she needed to extend to him. But the marbles were still in the burgundy velvet pouch as they both stared at each other. After a few more minutes, she said, “Are we gonna play or not?”
He sniffed, his gaze still on her, but he didn’t say anything.
She shouldn’t be surprised he would make this hard on her. A part of her wondered why she’d even come. She and the other partners in crime had apologized to him, and this morning Riley had promised never to interfere again. Erma told her that as long as she held Hayden to that standard, too, everything was fine. Although she had to admit she deserved the comeuppance for her own machinations three years ago.
But Erma had also learned a lesson along the way. Her feelings for Jasper had irrevocably changed, and she had to acknowledge them. Blast it, her friends were right, at least inpart. She didn’t love Jasper, but she did enjoy his company and their sparring. She hadn’t realized how much until she’d almost wrecked their friendship.
Jasper still hadn’t said anything, so she picked up the bag and started dumping marbles into the indented cups on the mancala board. “Blue or yellow?” she asked.
“I ain’t said I’d play,” he groused.
“Youain’tsaid you wouldn’t either.” She finished sorting the colors. “I’ll take blue this time.” She gathered up her marbles.
