What did it mean? Did he not want to make this work? Makewhatwork? We’d never actually talked about anything. But he said I was more than a vacation fling. That had to mean something. Unless the weird vibes I could sense radiating out of every pore in his body were actually regret.
My thoughts swirled all the way home, throughout my shower, and continued while I cozied up under a blanket in front of my TV.
My finger hovered over his contact in my phone a dozen times. I couldn’t bring myself to text him. Now that I was back in my living room, the magic between us felt even more like a lucid fever dream.
So instead of Harrison, I messaged someone else. Charlie was back from Fiji and would lovingly help me dissect the situation like only a best friend could.
TWENTY-SEVEN
Harrison
“Finally.I almost forgot what you looked like.” Oliver slammed the refrigerator door closed and placed a hand over his heart as I stepped into the house.
I rolled my eyes before taking off my shoes and heading straight for the couch. Oliver strode out of the kitchen and hovered over me.
“Tell me all about Greece. How was the town? What did you do? How was the company?” He smirked down at me.
“How was Fiji?” I asked instead of attempting to answer any of his probing questions.
“Oh, you know, pretty good. Up until the last day when I convinced Nathan to go parasailing with me.”
“What’s wrong with that?”
“Nothing, in theory. But it was an especially windy day and we may have lost a teensy bit of control up there. We were fine, but Charlie wasn't thrilled. I think I’m banned from dragging Nathan on any more death-defying stunts—at least until after the wedding.”
“At least then she’ll inherit everything,” I said.
Oliver snickered. “Still so cynical. But don’t think I’m letting you evade my questions. How was your trip?”
“It was good,” I told him in the understatement of the century.
“Good,” he repeated. “That's it?”
“Yep.” I hardly wanted to confide in Oliver when I was still stressing about how painfully awkward the entire fucking trip home had been.
I had convinced myself I needed to make some sort of declaration or grand gesture, but when it came down to it, I had no clue what the hell I was doing. Each silent moment kept building on the last until all of a sudden there had been this insurmountable wall of uneasiness between us. I had created it, yet I still didn’t know how to tear it down.
“Spill,” Oliver insisted.
I got up and brushed by my best friend. “I need a shower,” I said, eager to delay this conversation for at least a little while longer.
But Oliver was nothing if not persistent. I had just stepped into the shower and dipped my head beneath the spray when I heard the door to the bathroom open.
“A little privacy, please,” I barked out.
“It’s my house,” he said.
I tore the curtain away to glare at him, but he was just sitting on the closed lid of the toilet without a care in the world.
“What happened between you and Lila?” he asked. “Was it weird traveling with her?” He asked the questions like he already knew everything.
I rinsed the shampoo out of my hair and sighed. “Did Charlie say something?”
“Nope. But your tone just told me everything I need to know.”
“Damnit, Oliver. We haven't figured out anything yet. The last thing I want to do is share all the details with you.”
“No, that’s exactly what you should do, so I can make sure you don't mess anything up.”
